How much sand for a 24 ft above-ground pool?
A 24 ft round above-ground pool needs about 2.79 cubic yards of mason sand for a 2-inch bed: roughly 3.77 tons, or 151 bags of 50 lb. That leaves out a sand cove, which some makers forbid; if your manual calls for one, add it below.
How to work it out
- Area: 3.1416 × (24 ft ÷ 2)² = 452 sq ft
- Bed: 452.4 sq ft × 2 in ÷ 12 = 75.4 cu ft
- Total: 75.4 cu ft ÷ 27 = 2.79 cu yd × 100 lb per cu ft = 7,540 lb = 3.77 tons
- Bags: 7,540 lb ÷ 50 lb = 151 bags
A 24 ft round pool covers about 452 sq ft of ground, more than twice the footprint of a 15 ft pool, so its sand bed is a real delivery rather than a few trips to the store.
Adjust for your project
- Weight
- 3.77 tons (7,539.82 lb)
- Bags of that size
- 151 bags · 50 lb bag
- Sand bed
- 75.4 cu ft
- Area under the pool
- 452 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.
24 ft round pool by sand bed depth
| Bed depth | Sand to order | Weight | Bags of that size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 1.4 cu yd | 1.88 tons | 76 bags |
| 2 in | 2.79 cu yd | 3.77 tons | 151 bags |
| 3 in | 4.19 cu yd | 5.65 tons | 227 bags |
| 4 in | 5.59 cu yd | 7.54 tons | 302 bags |
Bags or a bulk load for a 24 ft base
At 151 bags of 50 lb (about 170 with a sand cove), this is nearly four tons of sand to lift twice: off the pallet and into the pool area. Most people building a 24 ft pool have it dropped loose by a landscape supplier instead and wheelbarrow it in. Ask for mason sand by the cubic yard, and round up: about 3 yards gives a little to spare for the inevitable spill (3.5 if your manual calls for a sand cove).
- The bed: about 75 cubic feet, 2.8 cubic yards, spread 2 in thick over the 452 sq ft inside the bottom track.
- The cove: another 9 cubic feet or so for a 6 × 6 in ring round 75 ft of wall. Skip it if your manual calls for a foam cove.
- Damp sand: a load straight from the yard is usually wet and heavier than the 100 lb per cubic foot used here, so the tonnage on the ticket will be higher for the same yards.
- Leveling: a 24 ft span makes small slopes add up. Level the soil itself, within the inch side to side Doughboy allows, before the sand goes down.
Once the base is in, the liner is next: see 24 ft round pool liner for a 52 in wall. Smaller pools take far less sand: compare how much sand for an 18 ft above ground pool and how much sand for a 15 ft above ground pool.
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 a 24 ft pool with a 6 × 6 in sand cove?
About 3.14 cubic yards (4.23 tons, 170 bags of 50 lb) for the 2-inch bed plus the cove — only if your manual calls for a sand cove.
How much sand for a 24 ft pool at 3 inches deep?
About 4.19 cubic yards, or 227 bags of 50 lb. Most manuals only ask for 2 inches.
How many 40 lb bags of sand for a 24 ft round pool?
189 bags, for a 2-inch bed (3.77 tons).
Other common sizes
- How much sand for an 18 ft above ground pool — 1.57 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.