Outdoor.
- Step 1: Calculate the area of your sandbox. For square and rectangular sandboxes, that means length x width. If your sandbox is new, you should be ...
- Step 2: Decide how deep you want the sand to be.
- Step 3: Calculate the volume of sand you need.
- Step 4: Determine how many bags of sand you’ll need.
- What about circular sandboxes?
How to calculate the volume of sand in a sandbox?
Multiply this number by pi -- 3.14 -- and then multiply the result by the desired depth of the sand to get the volume. For example, if the sandbox has a radius of 4 feet, and you want the sand to be 1 foot deep, you will need a little more than 50 cubic feet of sand: 4 times 4 times 3.14 times 1 equals 50.24. This example would require just over 100 bags of sand since each bag fills up half a cubic foot. In cubic yards: 50.24 divided by 27 equals 1.86.
How much sand do you need for a sandbox?
For example, if the sandbox has a radius of 4 feet, and you want the sand to be 1 foot deep, you will need a little more than 50 cubic feet of sand: 4 times 4 times 3.14 times 1 equals 50.24. This example would require just over 100 bags of sand since each bag fills up half a cubic foot. In cubic yards: 50.24 divided by 27 equals 1.86.
How many bags of sand are needed for an 8 foot box?
Since each bag fills up half a cubic foot, this example would require 128 bags of sand.
How to measure a square box?
Multiply the first measurement by itself for a square box. For example, for an 8-foot square box: 8 times 8 equals 64. If it's a rectangular box, multiply the first measurement by the second. For example, if the box measures 8 feet long and 6 feet wide: 8 time 6 equals 48.
How to convert cubic feet to yards?
Convert cubic feet to cubic yards, if you are buying bulk, by dividing the number of cubic feet by 27. For the 8-foot square box: this would be 64 divided by 27, for a result of 2.37 cubic yards.
Why do you record measurements and calculations?
Record the measurements and your calculations with each step. This allows you to double check your work.
Does sandbox sand need to be free of silica?
Sandbox sand needs to be free of silica.
How much sand do you need for a sandbox?
The amount of sand you’ll need for your sandbox will depend on the size of the sandbox and how deep you want to fill it. Good depths for a sandbox are 1-3 inches. That will give enough sand for your kids to build castles. But, it shouldn’t be so much that the sand overflows all the time and gets everywhere.
How many cubic feet does 50 lbs of sand fill?
Play sand mostly comes in bags of 50lbs. 50lbs of sand will fill about 0.55 cubic feet of space. So, to find your number of bags, you need to divide your answer from step 2 by 0.55.
What About Circular Sandboxes?
For circular sandboxes, the steps are a bit different. You need to measure the diameter of your sandbox. To get the volume, you need to first divide the diameter by 2 to get the radius. Then multiply this by 𝝅2. Then take this and multiply this by your desired depth in feet. You can then use this number in step 3 to calculate the number of bags of play sand you need.
Can you put cinnamon in sand?
If you live in an area with many ants, it might be worth adding some cinnamon to your play sand. It’s a natural bug repellant and can deter them from making a home in your child’s sandpit. Unfortunately, if there are already ants present, it won’t get rid of them. You’ll need to change the sand.
Is a sandbox a good toy?
Sandboxes are a great toy for kids. Mine love it. No doubt it is messy for us parents, but they do offer many great play options and opportunities for development and active outdoor play, but getting the box is only the first step. Next, you need to know how much sand to get to fill it to a reasonable level.
What Shape of Sandbox Do You Have?
To determine the number of sand bags you need, we have to figure out the volume of sand to fill your sandbox, measured in cubic feet (most standard sand bags are 0.5 cubic feet). Heading back to high school geometry class, the shape of your sandbox will determine how to calculate that volume.
How Deep Do You Want the Sand?
We recommend 4-6 inches of sand in your sandbox. Once you’ve figured out the depth, use this formula to get the volume in cubic feet:
Convert Cubic Feet to Number of Bags
Like I said earlier, each sand bag should be 0.5 cubic feet. So, if you need 15 cubic feet of sand as an example, you will need to buy 30 bags of sand.
About The Author
We're a team of dads who have built countless playsets and love watching our kids explore and have fun.
How to measure sand depth?
With a measuring tape, measure for the diameter and desired depth of sand fill in inches (in).
Do toddlers need sand?
Typically while infants and toddlers are being introduced to play sand they will only need a few inches for sensory stimulation. Adult supervision is strongly recommended to avoid potential ingestion, eye rubbing, etc. As development continues into the preschool and gradeschooler years children will prefer a deeper adventure.
