by Dirtman » Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:59 am
Hi Denise:
Not all sand is silica and pounds per cubic foot depends on the material crushed, whether it’s dry, damp or wet (water is heavy) and the state the material is in (whether it’s in a loose, bank or compacted state). Sand you get from a sand and gravel pit will be damp to wet.
The following weights are for clean, washed sharp sand from a ‘sand and gravel pit’ and they are approximate.
Sand loaded in a truck will be in a ‘loose’ state.
Loose, dry sand weighs approximately 88.9 pcf (pounds per cubic foot),
Loose, damp sand weighs approximately 105.6 pcf,
Loose, wet sand weighs approximately 114.8 pcf.
42 cubic feet * 114 = 4822 pounds / 2000 = 2.4 tons.
If you’re going to compact this sand, add 13% to the weight.
Sorry if this sounds complicated but there’s a little more to the answer than simply “2.4 tons.” A call to the sand and gravel pit where you plan on purchasing the material can give you a closer weight.