DIY Wood Sandbox Tutorial for Backyard

Learn how to build a simple, durable and classic DIY wood sandbox that will look good in any backyard.

Today we’ve partnered with BLACK+DECKER to bring you a simple tutorial to make a DIY Wood Sandbox for your backyard!

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services we think you’ll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a small commission at no additional cost to you so we can keep the great ideas for the home coming your way. All opinions expressed are our own, derived from personal experience.

A DIY Sandbox for Backyard Play

Carrie and I built a backyard playground for our kids and they loved it!  Our original vision was a playset with a built in sandbox. However, as we started looking around it quickly became apparent that the playsets in our price range had only small sandboxes included, typically 3′ X 3′ or 4′ X 4′.

In our heads we had pictured something about double that size where the boys could spend hours digging and building whatever their minds could imagine. And so we began planning our 8′ X 8′ DIY Wood Sandbox.

Our Favorite Drill to use for DIY projects

This project also gave us a great opportunity to get some hands-on experience with the new BLACK+DECKER AutoSense Drill.  When BLACK+DECKER approached us to sponsor a DIY post that involved their new Lithium AutoSense Drill, they immediately had my attention.  Like most guys, two of my favorite things are tools and technology.

The 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill with AutoSense has two modes, drill and drive. In drive mode, a microprocessor continuously measures the tool’s performance and stops when it senses the screw is flush with the surface.  You get excellent screw head flushness every time; just hold the trigger and let drill take control!

Needless to say I was pretty excited to see how this microprocessor controlled drill could help me complete our DIY Wood Sandbox in record time!

How to Make the DIY Wood Sandbox

What You Need:

• 16 – Landscape Timbers – 8 feet long each
• Hammer
• Framing Square
• 8 – 7″ Galvanized Pole Barn Nails
• 36 – 5″ Exterior Wood Screws  –  I recommend a T25 Torx head.  You’ll pay a bit more, but they will save a lot of strip out frustration.
• Cordless drill/driver (We used the new BLACK+DECKER Lithium Drill, of course!)
• 70 square feet of Weed Barrier
• Utility Knife
• 2-3  yards of sand.  We ordered 3 yards and had quite a bit of sand left.  In retrospect I would have ordered 2 yards and not filled the sandbox quite as full.

Instructions:

Here’s how to make a sandbox for your backyard. It’s pretty simple.

1. Clear and Level the Surface for the DIY Wood Sandbox

Identify the area where you’d like the sandbox located.  Choosing an area that is flat and level will make the installation significantly easier.  Our plans dictated that we place the sandbox in an area that required significant clearing and leveling. Fortunately for me, I have a compact tractor that made the job significantly easier.

2. Use string to mark the area

After you have the area cleared and level it’s time to figure out where your first timber will go. Placing your first timber will position the sandbox.  

In our case, we wanted to keep the sandbox parallel to our playset.  In order to do this, we ran some string between two posts and took measurements from the string to the playset until the line was parallel and positioned where we wanted the front of the sandbox.

3. Frame the box

Once you’ve got your string set up, position your first landscape timber underneath the string.  Tack each end of the timber into the ground with a galvanized pole barn nail (2 total nails).  

Doing this will secure your timber to the ground.  Next, take your second landscape timber and position it perpendicular to the first timber.  In order to get the 90-degree angle you’ll want, you can use a framing square.

Do your best to get it squared up, but also realize that these landscape timbers are not dimensional lumber and will often have bends and bows.  

Once your second timber is positioned go ahead and pin it to the ground with two pole barn nails.  Repeat the process with your third and fourth timbers.  Make sure you take measurements along the way to keep the bottom layer squared.  

One important note is to make sure you alternate the corners.  Each timber should have only one of its end surfaces exposed.  In subsequent layers, you’ll shift the timbers to create an interlocking corner that makes a much stronger box.

4. Put weed barrier down

The next step is to put the weed barrier down.  Weed barrier usually comes on 3′ rolls, so simply roll it out and drape it over top of your box frame.  Repeat the process overlapping a few inches with the previous strip until you’ve got the entire base covered.

Don’t be afraid to have some of the weed barrier hang outside the box.  We’ll trim that in a later step.  

In the picture below you can see how I’ve overlapped the weed barrier on the bottom layer of the frame.  You can either tack it in place with staples or simply let the second layer of timber pinch it down.  Remember that in a few steps you’ll have about a ton of sand holding it in place, so you only need to hold it in place for a short while.

5. Build up the walls

Now that you’ve got the weed barrier down it’s time to add our second layer of timbers.  This is really the quick and easy part, just remember to stagger your timbers so no timber lays entirely on the timber below it.  Use your BLACK+DECKER AutoSense Drill to drive three of your 5″ screws.

Drive one screw on each end and one screw in the middle of each board.  While this project isn’t exactly finished carpentry, I was impressed by the depth control on the BLACK+DECKER AutoSense Drill.  

You can see from the picture below that each screw was automatically driven until it was flush with the top of the board. Continue working around the structure until the second layer is complete.

6. Continue to stack until 4-High

Now that the second layer is finished, repeat the process for the third and fourth layers.  Remember to continue alternating the timber positions so the layers are offset.  

If everything has gone well your four corners will have a nice repeating pattern as shown in the photo below.

7. Fill with sand

Now that you’ve got the sandbox framed in, all we need to do is fill it with sand!

I chose to fill the box up to the level of the third timber – but you can fill it to whatever depth suits you.  Spread and level the sand as you’re filling.

8. trim the weed barrier

Next take your utility knife and trim any of the weed barrier that overlapped outside of the sandbox.

9. Enjoy the new sandbox!

You’re done with your DIY Wood Sandbox!  All that’s left is to add the sand toys and let the kids at it.  All you’re hard work will be worth it when you see the smiles from those little faces!

So there you have it, a DIY Wood Sandbox out of simple materials that your kids will love!  The next step is for us to line the perimeter of the entire backyard playground area with landscape timbers and fill it with playground mulch. If you want to see the finished playground in a few months, be sure to subscribe to Kenarry.

The DIY Wood Sandbox was a great project that both the kids and I really enjoyed.  I was especially pleased to get hands on experience with the new BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill/Driver with AutoSense Technology.  The automatic clutch technology is unlike anything I’ve experienced in a drill.  The great news is that one of our lucky readers will win a brand new drill like the one we used to complete this project!  See below for entry details.

Disclosure: We received a free BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium Cordless Drill for use on this project as well as one to give away. During the giveaway, we also receive a small commission when you click on the links to check out the new lithium drill/driver. All opinions are 100% ours. For more information, see our disclosure policy.

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More DIY Home Project Ideas

Here are some more fantastic and fun DIY home project ideas you can try next.

• DIY Pond with a Waterfall
• Easy DIY Wood Wall Sconces
• DIY Wood Clip Frames

Originally published June 2014. Updated June 2018.