When a flood is on the way, there’s no time to guess. Whether you’re protecting your garage, your business, or your entire home, having the right number of sandbags can make the difference between staying dry and serious damage.
But how many do you really need? It depends on:
- How wide your barrier needs to be
- How high you want to build it
- How many entry points you’re protecting
Use our calculator below to figure out your exact sandbag requirements — and compare them with faster alternatives like inflatable barriers or water tubes.
📦 Quick Sandbag Facts
- Each sandbag covers about 1 linear foot at one bag high.
- Stacking 3 bags high per foot of width gives you a basic flood wall.
- It takes around 30 bags to build a 1-foot high, 10-foot wide barrier.
- Most bags cost $0.50–$0.75 and weigh ~40 pounds filled.
- Don’t forget labor — filling and stacking bags takes time!
👇 Use the calculator below to plan your flood defense wall.
Sandbag Calculator: How Many Do You Need?
Enter the length you need to protect, desired wall height, and your assumptions (bag cost, fill rate, etc.). We’ll estimate bags required, total weight, cost, and labor time.
Total bags needed: 0
Total weight: 0 lbs
Total weight: 0 lbs
Estimated cost: $0
Extra (entries): 0 bags
Extra (entries): 0 bags
Labor hours (fill + stack): 0
Hours with your crew: 0
Hours with your crew: 0
Bags per foot: 0 |
Bags per ft of height: 0
Estimates only. Adjust the assumptions above to match your wall design, bag size, and team capacity.
