Sand Weight & Volume Calculator
Convert between sand weight and volume instantly — tonnes to cubic metres, cubic yards to kilograms, pounds to cubic feet, and more — across 8 sand types with accurate bulk density values.
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Sand Weight & Volume Calculator
Convert between sand weight and volume instantly — tonnes to cubic metres, cubic yards to kilograms, pounds to cubic feet, and more — across 8 sand types with accurate bulk density values.
The sand weight and volume calculator converts between any weight and volume unit for sand and aggregate materials. Enter a weight (tonnes, kg, lbs, short tons) or a volume (m³, ft³, yd³, litres) and select the sand type — the calculator instantly converts to all other units simultaneously. This tool is used by builders, quantity surveyors, landscapers, and suppliers who need to translate delivery quotes from cubic yards into tonnes, or invoice figures from weight into volume. The calculator uses 8 sand density presets based on material type and moisture condition.
Why Use a Dedicated Sand Weight-Volume Converter?
Sand suppliers quote in tonnes. Concrete specs are in cubic meters. Delivery trucks measure in cubic yards. Without a converter, every project involves manual density lookups. There are 5 reasons to use this tool:
- Supplier to site translation — if your supplier quotes 5 tonnes of sharp sand but your plan specifies 3 m³, the calculator confirms whether those are equivalent (they are, at dry sand density).
- 8 material presets — dry sand (1,600 kg/m³), wet sand (1,920 kg/m³), packed sand (1,682 kg/m³), concrete sand (1,500 kg/m³), masonry sand (1,650 kg/m³), fill sand (1,750 kg/m³), gravel (1,680 kg/m³), and topsoil dry (1,200 kg/m³).
- Bidirectional conversion — enter weight OR volume and get all other units instantly; no need to know which direction to convert.
- Moisture factor — toggle between dry and wet density for the same sand type to see how moisture affects weight per cubic meter.
- Bag count output — the result also shows how many 25 kg, 50 lb, or 1-tonne bags are equivalent to the entered quantity.
How to Convert Tonnes of Sand to Cubic Metres
Divide weight in tonnes by the sand density in tonnes per m³ to get volume. For dry sand: density = 1.6 t/m³. 5 tonnes ÷ 1.6 = 3.125 m³. For wet sand: 5 tonnes ÷ 1.92 = 2.604 m³. The same weight of wet sand occupies less volume because water fills the gaps between particles, increasing density. Use the wet density value if the sand has been stored outdoors and has not been dried.
How to Convert Cubic Yards to Tonnes of Sand
Convert cubic yards to cubic metres first (1 yd³ = 0.7646 m³), then multiply by the sand density. For 3 cubic yards of dry sand: 3 × 0.7646 = 2.294 m³. Weight = 2.294 × 1,600 = 3,670 kg (3.67 tonnes). US suppliers quote bulk sand in short tons (2,000 lbs = 907 kg). For 3 US short tons of dry sand: 3 × 907 = 2,721 kg. Volume = 2,721 ÷ 1,600 = 1.70 m³ (2.22 yd³).
Sand Density Reference Table by Material and Condition
All density values are for loose (uncompacted) bulk material unless noted. Dry loose sand: 1,442–1,600 kg/m³. Dry packed sand: 1,600–1,682 kg/m³. Wet sand: 1,800–1,922 kg/m³. Concrete sand (sharp): 1,500 kg/m³. Masonry sand (soft): 1,650 kg/m³. Fill sand (compacted): 1,750–1,850 kg/m³. Gravel: 1,680 kg/m³. Crushed stone: 1,600 kg/m³. Topsoil (dry): 1,200 kg/m³. Topsoil (wet): 1,440 kg/m³. Compaction increases density by 10–20% — use the compacted density values when calculating quantities after mechanical compaction.
Sand types and densities
Use the table as a quick guide when choosing a material setting for your project.
| Material | kg/m³ | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Sand, dry | 1,600 kg/m³ | Multi-purpose sand. Used for joint filling, equestrian arena footing, and general construction. |
| Sand, wet | 1,920 kg/m³ | Unprocessed sand. Used for backfilling, leveling, and trench support. |
| Sand, packed | 1,680 kg/m³ | Coarse, angular sand. Used under pavers, flagstone, and stepping stones at 25–50 mm depth. |
| Concrete sand | 1,500 kg/m³ | Coarse, washed sand. Used for concrete mixing, drainage layers, and pipe bedding. |
| Masonry sand | 1,650 kg/m³ | Fine, screened sand. Used for mortar mix, brick laying, stucco, and finishing work. |
| Fill sand | 1,750 kg/m³ | Unprocessed sand. Used for backfilling, leveling, and trench support. |
Sand Weight & Volume FAQs
Common unit conversion questions for sand, gravel, and aggregate — tonnes to m³, cubic yards to lbs, and density values by material type.
1 tonne of dry sand (1,600 kg/m³) occupies 0.625 m³. 1 tonne of wet sand (1,920 kg/m³) occupies 0.521 m³. 1 tonne of concrete sand (1,500 kg/m³) occupies 0.667 m³. The volume per tonne varies by sand type and moisture content.
1 tonne of dry sand = 0.625 m³ = 0.817 cubic yards. 1 tonne of wet sand = 0.521 m³ = 0.681 cubic yards. 1 US short ton (907 kg) of dry sand = 0.567 m³ = 0.741 cubic yards. Multiply cubic metres by 1.308 to convert to cubic yards.
Dry loose sand: 1,442–1,600 kg (1.44–1.60 tonnes). Dry packed sand: 1,600–1,682 kg. Wet sand: 1,800–1,922 kg. Concrete sand: 1,500 kg. Masonry sand: 1,650 kg. Fill sand: 1,750 kg. The weight per cubic metre varies significantly by moisture content — wet sand weighs up to 20% more than dry sand of the same volume.
1 US short ton (2,000 lbs) of dry sand = approximately 20 cubic feet. 1 US short ton of wet sand = approximately 16.7 cubic feet. 1 metric tonne (2,205 lbs) of dry sand = approximately 22.07 cubic feet (0.625 m³ × 35.31 ft³/m³). There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
Divide kg by the sand density in kg/m³. For dry sand: m³ = kg ÷ 1,600. For 2,400 kg of dry sand: 2,400 ÷ 1,600 = 1.5 m³. For wet sand: m³ = kg ÷ 1,920. For 2,400 kg of wet sand: 2,400 ÷ 1,920 = 1.25 m³. The key variable is always the density value for the specific sand type and condition.
Sand density ranges from 1,442 to 1,922 kg/m³ depending on moisture and compaction. Standard reference values: dry loose 1,442 kg/m³, dry packed 1,602 kg/m³, wet 1,922 kg/m³. ASTM C128 defines bulk density of fine aggregate (sand) as the mass per unit volume including air between particles.
At dry sand density of 1,600 kg/m³: 1 m³ = 1,600 kg. Number of 25 kg bags = 1,600 ÷ 25 = 64 bags. Number of 50 lb (22.7 kg) bags = 1,600 ÷ 22.7 = 70.5 ≈ 71 bags. Number of 50 kg bags = 1,600 ÷ 50 = 32 bags. Bags of play sand (20 kg) per cubic metre = 80 bags.