# Sandbag calculator

Enter the length and height of the flood wall you need. The calculator uses the standard pyramid method (base three times the height) and typical 14 × 26 in bags.

## How the calculation works

Bags = 1.5 × L × H × (3H + 1), with length L and height H in feet. This reproduces the widely published figures of about 600 bags per 100 ft of wall 1 ft high, 2,100 bags at 2 ft and 4,500 bags at 3 ft. Sand = bags × filled weight.

A standard 14 × 26 in bag filled half to two-thirds weighs about 35–40 lb. Walls above 3 ft should be built only under engineering supervision; sandbags slow water, they do not make a watertight seal.

## FAQ

### How many sandbags do I need for 100 feet?

About 600 bags for a wall 1 ft high, 2,100 for 2 ft and 4,500 for 3 ft, using pyramid stacking with a base three times the height.

### How much sand do I need for 100 sandbags?

At 35–40 lb per bag, 100 sandbags need 3,500–4,000 lb of sand — about 1.75–2 short tons.

### How much does a filled sandbag weigh?

A standard 14 × 26 in bag filled half to two-thirds weighs about 35–40 lb (16–18 kg). Overfilled bags are hard to handle and do not seal well.

### Where can businesses buy empty sandbags in bulk?

Municipalities, distributors and contractors buy empty woven polypropylene sandbags factory-direct. Ask us for a quote on bales of UV-treated bags.