How Much Sand for 500 Square Feet? (Bags, Tons & Cubic Yards)

For 500 square feet at 2 inches deep — the standard bedding layer for pavers — you need 3.4 cubic yards of sand. That's 184 bags of 50 lb sand, with 10% waste included.

Answer at a glance — 500 sq ft

Depth	Cu ft	Cu yards	50 lb bags	Tons
1"	41.7	1.7 cu yd	92	2.3
2"	83.3	3.4 cu yd	184	4.6
3"	125	5.09 cu yd	275	6.9
4"	166.7	6.79 cu yd	367	9.2
6"	250	10.19 cu yd	550	13.8

All counts include 10% waste, rounded up.

How we calculated it

Volume = 500 × 2 ÷ 12 = 83.3 cu ft
Cubic yards = 83.3 ÷ 27 = 3.09 cu yd
With 10% waste = 3.4 cu yd
50 lb bags (approx. 0.5 cu ft each) = 184 bags
Tons = 3.4 × 1.35 = 4.6 tons

Compare nearby areas

Area	At 1"	At 2" (paver base)	At 3"
250 sq ft	46 bags	92 bags	138 bags
500 sq ft	92 bags	184 bags	275 bags
1000 sq ft	184 bags	367 bags	550 bags

Sand depth guide by use

Application	Recommended depth
Paver bedding layer	1–2 inches
Sandbox fill	8–12 inches
Under artificial turf	1–2 inches
Lawn leveling	0.5–1 inch
Pool base	2–4 inches

Bags vs. bulk sand

At 3.4 cubic yards, get a bulk quote from a landscaping supplier. Bulk sand is significantly cheaper per cubic foot than bagged sand at this quantity.

Use the Sand Calculator to enter your exact dimensions and depth for a precise result.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much sand do I need for 500 square feet?

For 500 sq ft at 2 inches deep (paver base leveling layer), you need 3.4 cubic yards or 184 bags of 50 lb sand, including 10% waste.

How many bags of sand for 500 square feet?

At 1 inch: 92 bags (50 lb). At 2 inches: 184 bags. At 3 inches: 275 bags. Each 50 lb bag covers about 0.5 cubic feet.

How many tons of sand for 500 square feet?

At 2 inches: 4.6 tons. At 3 inches: 6.9 tons. Sand weighs approximately 1.35 tons per cubic yard.

What type of sand should I use for a 500 sq ft area?

For paver base: coarse or concrete sand. For a sandbox: washed play sand. For leveling under sod: Mason sand. Avoid fine beach sand for structural applications.