How much sand for an 18 ft above-ground pool?
An 18 ft round above-ground pool needs about 1.57 cubic yards of mason sand for a 2-inch bed, about 2.12 tons or 85 bags of 50 lb, before any sand cove (which some makers forbid).
How to work it out
- Area: 3.1416 × (18 ft ÷ 2)² = 254 sq ft
- Bed: 254.5 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 12 = 42.4 cu ft
- Total: 42.4 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.57 cu yd × 100 lb per cu ft = 4,241 lb = 2.12 tons
- Bags: 4,241 lb ÷ 50 lb = 85 bags
Eighteen feet is a popular middle size: big enough to swim a few strokes, small enough to fit most yards. The base is about 254 sq ft, and the sand is the cheapest part of the job but the one that decides how smooth the floor feels.
Adjust for your project
- Weight
- 2.12 tons (4,241.15 lb)
- Bags of that size
- 85 bags · 50 lb bag
- Sand bed
- 42.4 cu ft
- Area under the pool
- 254 sq ft
- Use mason (masonry) sand: Swimline’s instructions say not to use beach or play sand. Rake it level and tamp it before the liner goes in.
18 ft round pool by cove size (2 in bed)
| Cove | Sand to order | Bags of that size |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 in | 1.57 cu yd | 85 bags |
| 6 × 6 in | 1.57 cu yd | 85 bags |
| 8 × 8 in | 1.57 cu yd | 85 bags |
What 85 bags means on an 18 ft pool
Eighty-five bags at a little over two tons is still manageable for two people over a weekend, though a small bulk delivery of a couple of yards may cost less and saves a lot of lifting. This size sits right where bags and bulk both make sense, so price both.
- Bed: about 42 cubic feet at 2 in, inside the bottom track.
- Cove: about 7 cubic feet for a 6 × 6 in ring, roughly 14% of the total. Using the 8 × 8 in cove from the Uni-Bead sheet adds about 5 more cubic feet.
- Frame pools: many 18 ft pools are steel-frame models rather than steel-wall pools, and their manuals give their own base instructions. Check yours before buying anything.
- Water on top: Intex lists its 18 ft × 52 in Ultra XTR at 6,981 gallons, about 29 tons of water pressing the base flat. Bumps and footprints in the sand will show.
If the yard is uneven, take the high side down to the level of the low side; don’t build up the low side with extra sand. For the next size up, see how much sand for a 24 ft above ground pool; for a smaller pool, how much sand for a 15 ft above ground pool. Once filled, the above-ground pool gallons calculator gives the volume for chemical doses.
Different size? Use the full Above-Ground Pool Sand Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Above-ground pool floor padMid-range price
A protective pad over the sand base. Stops rocks and roots from poking through the liner.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Pre-formed foam pool coveMid-range price
Replaces a hand-shaped sand cove at the base of the wall, which keeps the liner from slipping under.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Above-ground pool linerPremium price
Bought by pool size, shape and wall height. Check overlap vs beaded vs J-hook before ordering.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How much sand for an 18 ft pool with a 6 × 6 in sand cove?
About 1.83 cubic yards, 99 bags of 50 lb, for a 2-inch bed and the cove.
How many tons of sand for an 18 ft round pool?
About 2.12 tons of dry mason sand (1.57 cubic yards) for a 2-inch bed. Damp sand weighs more.
How much sand for an 18 ft pool with an 8 inch cove?
About 2.02 cubic yards, or 110 bags of 50 lb, for a 2-inch bed and an 8 × 8 inch cove.
Other common sizes
- How much sand for a 24 ft above ground pool — 2.79 cu yd
- How much sand for a 15 ft above ground pool — 1.09 cu yd
Sources
- Supplemental above-ground pool base instructions (opens in a new tab) — The bottom track must rest on solid ground, not fill or sand; a 2 in thick, level bed of sand; cove at least 6 in up the wall and 6 in out.
- Uni-Bead liner installation instructions (opens in a new tab) — A 2 in layer of brick sand over the entire foundation inside the base rails; cove about 8 in high and 8 in wide.
- Swimline above-ground liner instructions (opens in a new tab) — Clear grass and roots within the pool area and 1 foot beyond; spread a 2 in layer of mason sand; do not use beach or play sand; form a 6 in × 6 in cove.
- Doughboy above-ground pool installation manual (opens in a new tab) — Do not use materials that shift in the cove, like sand, or the pool may eventually rupture (it uses screened damp earth or a preformed cove); base level within 1 in from side to side.
- Swimline — frequently asked questions (opens in a new tab) — The liner should sit on top of a 4–6 inch cove.