In short
- A riding arena footing calculator turns length, width and depth into cubic yards, tons and truckloads of sand and base.
- Sand footing is commonly 3 to 4 inches deep over a compacted base of 4 to 6 inches; the right depths depend on footing and discipline.
- Sand weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard and crushed limestone base about 1.4 to 1.5. Order the base roughly 15 to 25% over because it packs down.
- A 100 x 200 ft arena at 3 in of sand and 4 in of base is about 43 truckloads at 16 tons a load. All figures are typical planning numbers.
On this page
This riding arena footing calculator is for Ocala and Marion County horse owners who are planning an outdoor arena and want to know how much sand and base it takes before they talk to a builder. It gives area, cubic yards, tons and truckloads. It uses no prices and supports our riding arena construction guide for Ocala.
En español: calculadora de arena y base para pista de equitación
| Your numbers | Result |
|---|
Material by layer
| Layer | Cu yd | Tons |
|---|
Example: 100 x 200 ft, 3 in of sand over 4 in of compacted base, 20% extra base, 16-ton loads.
How the tons and truckloads are worked out
- Area.
Length times width. A 100 x 200 ft arena is 20,000 sq ft.
- Cubic yards of each layer.
Area times depth in feet, divided by 27. Sand at 3 in: 20,000 x 0.25 / 27 = 185 cubic yards. Base at 4 in: 20,000 x 0.333 / 27 = 247 cubic yards in place.
- Add compaction to the base.
Multiply the base by 1.15, 1.20 or 1.25. At 20% extra, 247 becomes 296 cubic yards to order.
- Convert to tons.
Sand 185 x 1.35 = 250 tons. Base 296 x 1.45 = 430 tons.
- Divide by the load size.
680 tons / 16 tons a load is 42.5, so plan on 43 loads. The range shown above flexes each weight by 0.05 tons per cubic yard.
Common arena sizes and the sand they take
| Size | Area | Sand, 3 in |
|---|---|---|
| 66 x 132 ft (20 x 40 m) | 8,712 sq ft | 109 tons |
| 66 x 198 ft (dressage) | 13,068 sq ft | 163 tons |
| 100 x 200 ft | 20,000 sq ft | 250 tons |
| 120 x 250 ft | 30,000 sq ft | 375 tons |
These use sand at 1.35 tons per cubic yard. For a smaller backyard arena, the quantities fall with the area, but the depth and the base stay the same. See our arena construction guide for sizes by discipline.
How deep should the footing and base be?
| Layer | Typical depth | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sand footing | 2 to 4 in | 3 to 4 in is common. English disciplines are often at the shallow end, western and reining at the deep end. |
| Compacted base | 4 to 6 in | Crushed stone or limestone, compacted and level. Footing is only as good as what is under it. |
| Sand over 6 in | Avoid | Described as hard on tendons. |
Depth is not one number. Sources disagree, and footing that is not sand (sand with fiber, rubber or wood) is mixed and sized differently. Use your trainer's advice and the builder's design, and use this tool only to check the tonnage.
Slope and rain matter as much as depth
A flat arena holds water. University of Kentucky Extension suggests a crown of about 1 to 2 percent for outdoor arenas, which means the middle sits a little higher than the edges so rain runs off. The slope is built into the base, not just the footing. Ocala gets heavy summer rain, so ask where the water goes and how fast the arena recovers after a long downpour.
Native sandy soil can drain fast, but loose sand is not a base, and footing placed straight on it can mix into the soil below. Ask your builder whether your lot needs a compacted base under the footing, and read our guide to permits in Marion County if the arena will be covered.
Questions to ask about quantities
- Is the quote in tons or cubic yards? Ask which, and what weight per cubic yard it assumes.
- How thick is each layer after compaction? Ask for footing and base depth in inches, in writing.
- How much extra base is ordered for compaction? Compare with the 15 to 25% used here.
- How do the trucks get in and where do they dump? Gates, soft ground and overhead lines can change the number of trips.
- Will you give me weigh tickets? Tickets show the tons actually delivered.
Next step: get a written quote
This tool estimates material, not the price or the job. We are a referral service, not an arena builder; we connect visitors with independent local providers. Use the form below to ask independent local builders for a written quote, and read how to choose a horse barn builder first. To compare quotes side by side, use the bid comparison calculator.
Sources
- Riding arena footing material selection and management, Penn State Extension: 12 tons of sand per 1,000 sq ft at 3 in (100 lb per cubic foot); footing is no better than its base; avoid sand deeper than about 6 in.
- University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, ID-265: a crown of about 1 to 2 percent for outdoor arenas.
- The importance of arena footing, Vitaflex (a footing supplier): 3 to 4 in of sand over a 4 to 6 in base is common.
- Arena footing considerations, Northwest Horse Source: caution against sand deeper than six inches.
- Cubic yards to tons, The Calculator Site: typical sand and stone weights per cubic yard. Published weights vary, so ask your supplier.
- Aggregate compaction and ordering, ToolGrit: loose crushed stone shrinks about 15 to 25 percent when compacted.
- Tri-axle dump truck weight guide, HelloGravel: typical tri-axle payloads vary by truck and local limits.
Frequently asked questions
How much sand do I need for a riding arena?
Multiply length by width for the area, then by the footing depth in feet, and divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 100 x 200 ft arena at 3 inches is about 185 cubic yards. Sand commonly weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so that is roughly 250 tons. Penn State Extension's rule of thumb works out to about 12 tons per 1,000 square feet at 3 inches, using 100 pounds per cubic foot.
How deep should arena footing be?
Sources differ and it depends on the footing and the discipline. Many arena suppliers and magazines cite about 2 to 4 inches of sand over a base, with 3 to 4 inches common. One horse-management source puts most English disciplines at roughly 1 to 3 inches and western riding at 2 to 5, and reining usually wants the deeper end. Sand deeper than about 6 inches is described as hard on tendons. Ask your trainer and your builder.
Why do I order more base than the finished depth?
Loose crushed stone packs down when it is compacted, so the volume you pay for delivered is larger than the layer left in place. Calculators and suppliers often use about 15 to 25 percent extra. This tool lets you pick 15, 20 or 25 percent. Your supplier or builder can tell you the factor for your material.
How many truckloads is that?
It depends on the truck and the legal weight limit. A tri-axle dump truck is often quoted at somewhere between 14 and 25 tons for aggregate, so the calculator uses a load size you can change and defaults to 16 tons. Ask your supplier for the real load weight, because weight, not cubic yards, usually limits a load of sand or stone.