Moisture is the wildcard: the same yard of sand can weigh 2,400 lb bone dry or close to 3,000 lb soaked. Suppliers selling by the ton usually quote as-is from an open yard, so the sand you receive is often damp.
For ordering purposes, use 1.25 tons per yard for washed concrete or masonry sand, and expect slightly more for fine, dense sands that pack tighter.
Sand: yards to tons (dry)
| Cubic yards | Tons |
|---|---|
| 0.5 yd³ | 0.63 t |
| 1 yd³ | 1.25 t |
| 2 yd³ | 2.5 t |
| 3 yd³ | 3.75 t |