Sand Calculator
Estimate how much fine aggregate a concrete pour requires. Enter your planned concrete volume in cubic metres and the sand rate in cubic metres per cubic metre of concrete — the default 0.6 matches a common 1:2:4 nominal mix — and get the loose sand volume to order.
Your result will appear here.
Sand Calculator online
Estimate the sand a concrete volume needs from the mix's sand rate, with the grade, moisture and delivery-format judgements that decide whether the yard runs short on pour day.
How it works
The tool multiplies concrete volume by the sand rate: Sand volume = Concrete volume (m³) × Sand per m³ (m³/m³). With the default rate, 1 m³ of concrete needs 1 × 0.6 = 0.6 m³ of sand. Sand is the fine aggregate: it fills the voids between coarse particles and combines with cement paste, so its rate (typically 0.45–0.65) is always lower than the gravel rate. The result is a loose volume, before compaction and bulking are considered.
Worked example
A driveway slab needing 3.6 m³ of concrete (6 m × 4 m × 0.15 m) at the default 0.6 rate: 3.6 × 0.6 = 2.16 m³ of sand. Add 5–10% for spillage and uneven stockpiles: 2.16 × 1.05 = 2.27 m³, or 2.16 × 1.10 = 2.38 m³. At a loose density of about 1,600 kg/m³, 2.16 m³ weighs roughly 2.16 × 1,600 = 3,456 kg (3.46 tonnes).
Units
Both inputs and the result use cubic metres: 1 m³ = 35.31 ft³ = 1.308 yd³, so 2.16 m³ is about 76.3 ft³. If your supplier sells sand by the tonne, convert with the quoted loose density — damp sand can be 10–20% heavier per cubic metre than dry sand. Confirm whether the quoted price is for loose or compacted cubic metres.
Practical tips
- Match the rate to your mix design: a 1:1.5:3 mix needs about 0.5 m³ of sand per m³ of concrete, while leaner 1:2:4 work uses about 0.6.
- Order sand and gravel together against the same concrete volume so the two aggregates stay in proportion.
- Cover stockpiles — rain changes moisture content and batch water, wind blows away dry fines.
- Treat this figure as a materials-ordering estimate only; have the structural mix, strength grade, and exposure requirements signed off by a qualified engineer before pouring.
Edge cases and limitations
- Grade is not a detail. Concrete wants sharp, washed sand; soft building sand is for mortar and plaster. The rate gives a volume either way, but a load of the wrong grade is a rejected pour, not a rounding error. Match the sand type to the job before the volume matters.
- Bulk bags are not a cubic metre. A typical bulk (tonne) bag holds roughly 0.6 m³ — about 850–900 kg of dry sand. Ordering "five bags" for a 3 m³ requirement leaves you 40% short; convert the result to bags by dividing by 0.6, not by 1.
- Mortar is a different basis. This page prices sand per cubic metre of concrete. Mortar mixes are specified as cement:sand ratios by volume (1:4 to 1:6), and screeds similarly — do not carry a concrete rate into a mortar estimate.
- Ground-stored sand disappears. Sand tipped on bare ground loses its bottom layer to contamination and spreads beyond its pile; a sheet underneath and a boarded bay protect roughly 5% of every load. Frozen or saturated sand also batches badly — cover the pile in wet weather.
Privacy and browser processing
The calculation runs entirely in your browser — your figures are never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What sand rate should I enter for a 1:2:4 mix?
Use about 0.6 m³ of sand per m³ of concrete, which is this page’s default. For 5 m³ of concrete that gives 5 × 0.6 = 3.0 m³ of sand before waste.
Why is the sand number smaller than the gravel number for the same pour?
Concrete uses less fine aggregate than coarse aggregate by volume. At typical defaults, 3.6 m³ of concrete needs 3.6 × 0.6 = 2.16 m³ of sand but 3.6 × 1.1 = 3.96 m³ of gravel.
How do I convert the result to tonnes?
Multiply cubic metres by the supplier’s loose density. With 1,600 kg/m³, 2.16 m³ × 1,600 = 3,456 kg, or about 3.46 tonnes. Always use the density on the delivery ticket, since moisture shifts it.
Does the calculator allow for bulking or shrinkage?
No. It returns the straight product of volume × rate (for example 4 × 0.6 = 2.4 m³). Add your own 5–10% allowance for handling losses, moist bulking, and uneven ground.