General Foundation Sand Volume Calculator
Calculate tonnage and volume of sand required for strip, slab, and trench foundations. Includes compaction coefficients and material cost estimation.
About
Accurate material estimation for foundation sub-bases prevents costly delays caused by material shortages or budget overruns from excessive ordering. This tool determines the precise volume and weight of sand or gravel required for structural cushions under strip foundations, isolated footings, and monolithic slabs. Unlike simple geometric calculators, this utility integrates a compaction coefficient to account for volume loss during tamping.
Geotechnical requirements dictate specific cushion thicknesses based on soil plasticity. Clay soils often require thicker sand beds to prevent frost heaving, while sandy soils may require less. This calculator processes perimeter data for complex trench layouts and applies density formulas to output Total Tonnage, ensuring delivery logistics match site requirements.
Formulas
The core logic accounts for the geometric volume expanded by the material's compressibility.
1. Trench/Strip Volume:
V = L × W × H
2. Adjusted for Compaction:
Vtotal = V × k
3. Mass Calculation:
M = Vtotal × ρ
Where L is perimeter length, W is trench width, H is cushion thickness, k is the compaction coefficient (typically 1.3), and ρ is material density.
Reference Data
| Material Type | Density (kg/m3) | Density (lbs/ft3) | Compaction Factor (k) | Rec. Layer (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Silica Sand | 1600 | 100 | 1.15 | 10 - 20 |
| Wet River Sand | 1900 | 118 | 1.25 | 10 - 30 |
| Crushed Stone (Fine) | 1450 | 90 | 1.20 | 15 - 25 |
| Gravel / Sand Mix | 1850 | 115 | 1.30 | 20 - 40 |
| Compacted Clay | 1700 | 106 | 1.35 | N/A |
| Limestone Screenings | 2500 | 155 | 1.20 | 5 - 10 |
| Topsoil (Loose) | 1200 | 75 | 1.40 | N/A |
| Masonry Sand | 1602 | 100 | 1.25 | 5 - 15 |