Field density from sand cone readings
Enter the sand masses recorded during a sand cone (sand replacement) test together with the wet mass and water content of the excavated soil. The page returns the test hole volume, the field wet density and the field dry density. The difference between the container masses before and after the test, minus the sand retained in the cone and base plate, is the sand that filled the hole; dividing it by the dry unit mass of the calibrated sand gives the hole volume. US field reports usually give dry density in pounds per cubic foot (pcf), so each density is also shown in pcf alongside g/cm³ (1 g/cm³ = 62.428 pcf).
Only mass and volume definitions are used. The dry unit mass of calibrated sand changes with the sand and the pouring conditions, so no default is offered and you enter your own calibration value. The wording of the test standard itself has not been confirmed in an authoritative source. Figures are current as of October 2026, and you should check the standard you work to.
Compaction ratio verdicts and target comparisons are not covered. Use a separate tool when you need to compare against a laboratory maximum dry density. This calculator is for reference and does not replace design work; review by a qualified engineer is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sand left in the cone and base plate never entered the test hole. Subtracting it from the sand used leaves only the mass that actually filled the hole.
Enter the value measured by oven drying the excavated soil. This page does not estimate water content, it uses the number you type.
No. A compaction ratio needs a laboratory maximum dry density for comparison, and that comparison is not covered here.