sand calculation

[JD]

How do you determine the amount of sand or gravel needed for an area? I have an approximately 200 sq ft area and want 3" of gravel and 2" of sand. Thanks for your help. JD

[Kyle Boatright]

Gravel: 200 sq ft x .25 ft = 50 cubic feet. Divide the cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. (About 2).

Sand: 200 sq ft x .17 ft = 34 cubic feet, or just over 1 cubic yard.

[Richard J Kinch]

By graduating from the 8th grade. Or high school diploma, if its from a public school.

[Robert Allison]

By multiplying length x width x heighth.

2 yards of gravel and 1 yard of sand. Keep in mind before you start getting overly scientific or accurate with the calculations, that after your detailed equation to get the exact number of cubic inches needed, when you get to the yard to pick it up, the loader will ram the front end loader into the pile and that will be one yard.....

[Abe]

Alo, if the sand or gravel will be compacted, don't forget to add a fudge factor of +10% or so.

[Harry K]

Schools must be worse than I thought if it takes the 8th grade to be able to do that. It is basic math and any 4th grader at the latest would be able to do it in my time.

Harry K

[Srgnt Billko]

LOL - how right you are. But I still see geniuses try to get it down to the cubic centimeter. Good for a chuckle.

[Colbyt]

Others have given you the method and accurate figures on the cubic yards and Robert gave you real world expectations. What no one has yet mentioned is that these items are sold by the ton most places. The amount of pounds to cubic yard varies a bit with the size of the gravel. This might help you,

Colbyt

[Renee Burry]

Hi JD, I'm appaled with some of the mean replies you got, but it shouldn't really surprise me, I deal with the clever enlightened ones on a daily basis. Sometimes products are sold packaged by the cu. ft., like wood mulch for flower beds, or river rock for ponds, so just is case you need to find the exact calucation at some later this is how it's done. To get volume you multiply length x width x depth which will give you cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Sand and gravel is usually sold by the cubic yard, check with the gravel business first. First you have to change the 3" of depth to a percentage in order for it to work out.

3" divided by 12" =.25 ( for sand 2"divided by12" = .166) You said you have 200 sq ft area, this could be a 10' x 20' = 200' sq ft or even a 2' x 100' = 200' sq ft. I'll go with 10' x 20' =200'SF x depth .25" 200sq ft x .25" = 50 CF There are 27 cu ft in a cu yard, now divide by 27CY. 50 CF divided by 27CY = 1.85 CY, you can round up to 2CY which will take care of the fudge factor Abe mentioned. I hope this will be of help, just send me a e-mail if you ever need calucation help. Good Luck JD. with any of your future endeavours. PS. thanks for helping me with the groundwater ubiquity score, you were right :-) Renee Burry NL. Canada

[willshak]

Sand and gravel are not sold by volume. They are sold by weight (tons).