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Pool Sand Calculator

A pool sand calculator saves you a second trip to the yard. Pick base sand for the pad under an above ground liner or filter sand for the tank, enter the size, and the tool gives you weight, volume and a bag count. Sand is heavy and cheap, so ordering a little extra beats coming up short.

Pool sand calculator illustration of a sand filter tank cutaway beside a bag of pool filter sand

Run the numbers

Formula used

Base Sand (tons) = Area (sq ft) x Depth (ft) x 100 / 2,000

Your result

Sand needed
4.42 tons
Cubic yards
3.28 cu yd
Total weight
8,849 lbs
50 lb bags
177 bags

Results update as you type. Round up when you buy materials.

How the pool sand calculator works

Base sand is a volume problem. Area times depth gives cubic feet, and pool grade sand weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot dry.

Filter sand is a fixed charge set by the tank diameter. The tool uses standard manufacturer fill weights so you can match your tank without hunting for the manual.

The formula, step by step

Base Sand (tons) = Area (sq ft) x Depth (ft) x 100 / 2,000

  • Work out the pad area, usually the pool footprint plus one foot on every side.
  • Convert the sand depth from inches to feet by dividing by 12.
  • Multiply area by depth for cubic feet.
  • Multiply cubic feet by 100 pounds, then divide by 2,000 for tons.

Worked example

A 24 foot round above ground pool needs a 26 foot pad, which is 531 square feet.

At 2 inches deep, that is 531 x 0.167 = 88.7 cubic feet of sand.

88.7 x 100 = 8,870 pounds, which is 4.4 tons or about 178 fifty pound bags. Bulk delivery is far cheaper at this size.

Watch it done

This short video walks through the same job in real life, so you can match what you see on screen to what you do at the pool.

Video guide: How To Change The Sand In Your Pool Filter by Swim University. Video hosted on YouTube.

Tips before you start

Use masonry sand or pool grade sand for a base. Coarse builder sand does not pack flat and leaves ridges you will feel through the liner for years.

Filter tanks take number 20 silica sand, graded at 0.45 to 0.55 mm. Replace it every five to seven years, since worn grains round off and stop trapping fine debris.

Pool Sand Calculator FAQs

How much sand do I need under a 24 foot round pool?

About 4 to 5 tons for a 2 inch base on a 26 foot pad. Level the ground first so the sand only fills small gaps.

How much sand goes in a pool filter?

A 16 inch tank takes around 100 pounds, a 24 inch tank around 300 pounds. Check the label on the tank for the exact fill weight.

Can I use play sand under a pool?

Play sand is too fine and washes out under load. Masonry or pool grade sand packs better and stays put.

How deep should pool base sand be?

Two inches is standard on level ground. Go to three inches if the site has small stones or rough patches you cannot remove.