Sand Calculator
Estimate the sand volume, weight and cost in tonnes and 50 kg bags for plaster, screed or filling, with Indian market rates.
4–6 in for plaster bedding, 2–3 in for tiling screed.
Sand required
1.51 tonnes
1,510 kg
Volume
0.94 m³
50 kg bags
31
Estimated cost
₹3,171
Weight uses the selected sand density. Add 5–10% for compaction and wastage during loading.
Last updated: August 2026
How this calculator is verified
Checked by True Calculator automated test suite on
- Formula verified against a published worked example in the automated test suite
- Edge cases (zero, negative, boundary and unit-mismatch inputs) covered by unit tests
The full verification method is on our how we verify page. Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check it.
When to Use This Calculator
Sand is bought by the lorry in India, and the lorry's cubic capacity never matches what a site actually needs — so buyers order blind without this calculation. Plastering a hall in Hyderabad, laying screed for tiles in Ahmedabad, or filling a plinth in Ranchi all start with the same area-times-depth sum. The weight matters because suppliers weigh vehicles at the check post and bill per tonne, and the bag count matters for small jobs bought from hardware stores in 50 kg sacks. This calculator connects the site measurements in feet and inches to the tonnes and ₹ the supplier quotes, so there are no surprises on the delivery note.
How to Use This Calculator
- Step 1: Enter the area length and width in feet.
- Step 2: Enter the sand depth in inches — 2–3 in for screed, 4–6 in for filling.
- Step 3: Choose dry or wet sand, the bag size, and the price per tonne.
- Step 4: Read the volume, weight in tonnes and kg, bags needed and total cost.
Worked Example
A mason needs sand to bed the floor of a 10 ft × 10 ft room with a 4-inch layer. The volume is 10 × 10 × ⅓ = 33.3 cubic feet, which converts to 0.94 m³. Dry sand at 1,600 kg/m³ weighs 0.94 × 1600 = 1,510 kg, or 1.51 tonnes — about 31 bags of 50 kg. At a quoted ₹2,100 per tonne, the loose sand costs 1.51 × 2100 = ₹3,171, plus transport, which is usually the bigger share of the bill in Indian cities.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- •Tip 1: Wet sand weighs more — at 1,920 kg/m³ the same volume jumps to about 1.81 tonnes, so moisture affects the bill.
- •Tip 2: Add 5–10% for compaction and spillage when ordering loose sand.
- •Tip 3: Compare per-tonne quotes from suppliers against the bagged price; loose is usually cheaper but needs a truck.
- ✗Mistake 1: Ordering sand without accounting for the depth of the screed or filling layer.
- ✗Mistake 2: Paying for wet sand at the dry-sand weight — moisture inflates the tonne figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I estimate sand for plaster or screed?
Measure the area and the sand layer depth, then convert to volume. 10 ft × 10 ft with a 4-inch layer is about 0.94 m³, which weighs around 1.5 tonnes of dry sand.
What is the density of sand in India?
Dry loose sand is about 1,600 kg/m³ and wet sand about 1,920 kg/m³, since water fills the gaps between grains. The calculator uses these two values.
How many 50 kg bags of sand do I need?
Divide the total weight by the bag size and round up. 1,510 kg of dry sand is about 31 bags of 50 kg, or a little over one lorry unit when bought loose.
Is sand sold by weight or volume in India?
Both. Loose sand is usually priced per tonne or per lorry load, while bagged sand is per bag. Enter the rate you are quoted per tonne and the cost updates automatically.
You might also need
Related calculators from other categories
Health & Fitness
Caffeine Calculator
Track your daily caffeine intake from coffee, tea, energy drinks and soda. Check if you're within safe limits.
Finance
Down Payment Calculator
Calculate the down payment you need as a dollar amount or percentage, plus the monthly payment and total loan cost on a home.
Finance
House Affordability Calculator
Find out how much house you can afford based on income, debts, down payment and a lender-friendly debt-to-income ratio.
Finance
Rent Affordability Calculator
Find an affordable rent from your monthly income and debts using the 30% rule. Budget rent for Indian cities before you sign a lease.