Sand Boxes
Sandpits for Schools and Nurseries
Buying guide: How to find the right sandpit for your outdoor area
Sandpits are among the most popular play areas on any playground. To ensure children can play safely and enjoy them for a long time, it’s worth taking a close look at size, material, base and cover before buying. Here you’ll find the key points to consider when choosing the right sandpit.
From what age do children play in a sandpit?
- Which sandpit is best for nurseries and schools?
- What should go underneath a sandpit?
- How much sand does a sandpit need?
- How often should the sand be replaced?
From what age do children play in a sandpit?
Sand play is fascinating even for very young toddlers and stays exciting for many years. While younger children explore the feel of the sand, pouring and moulding, older children use the sandpit for building projects, team games and role play. Plan the size of your new sand area so that several children can play at the same time without it getting crowded. As a rule of thumb, allow around 1 to 1.5 m² of sand area per child.
Which sandpit is best for nurseries and schools?
The “best” sandpit depends on factors such as available space, intensity of use and comfort.
Pay attention to:
++ Safety and standards: Any sandpit in public or institutional use must comply with playground equipment standard DIN EN 1176. Among other things, this ensures there are no pinch or shear points and that the risk of injury is minimised through rounded edges and corners as well as recessed screws.
++ Material: Wooden sandpits blend naturally into their surroundings but require more maintenance than plastic models. High-quality recycled plastic does not rot, never splinters, is extremely weather-resistant and is also sustainable.
++ Space requirements: Sandpits in institutions are used by many children at once. Make sure you choose the right size. As a rule of thumb, allow around 1 to 1.5 m² of sand area per child. When planning the sandpit size, also factor in space for wide, sturdy seating edges. Children can bake and play on them, and supervisors can sit comfortably.
++ Inclusion and accessibility: For inclusive play, ensure there is a solid access route so that the area around the sandpit is easily reachable with wheelchairs or walking aids. Height-accessible sand play tables are a great alternative for children who use wheelchairs.
What should go underneath a sandpit?
On heavily used areas such as nursery grounds or school playgrounds, a well-designed base really pays off. It has a major impact on how clean the sand stays and how well water drains away.
- Drainage: To ensure rainwater drains away, add a 10–15 cm layer of coarse gravel or crushed stone at the bottom, at a depth of around 50–60 cm.
- Separation fleece: Lay a water-permeable but tear-resistant weed control or separation fleece directly on top of the gravel layer. It has two crucial functions: it prevents weeds and roots from growing up into the sand, and it stops the sand from trickling down into the gravel layer and clogging it.
- Play sand: A minimum of 40 cm of certified play sand is essential in institutional settings. If the sandpit also serves as impact-absorbing surfacing (for example because a play tower or slide is integrated), DIN EN 1176 applies.
- Distance to the top edge: The sandpit should not be filled right up to the very top. Leaving a gap of about 5–10 cm below the top of the seating edge helps prevent sand from being pushed straight out of the pit during play.
How much sand does a sandpit need?
To let children dig and build to their hearts’ content, the right amount of sand is crucial. To calculate the required quantity, simply multiply the length, width and recommended fill depth of 0.4 m of your sandpit. For a typical nursery sandpit measuring 3 x 3 m, you’ll need 3.6 m³. As a rule of thumb: 1 m³ of play sand weighs around 1,300–1,500 kg, depending on moisture. In our example, you’ll therefore need roughly 5.4 t of sand.
Practical tip: It’s best to plan an extra 10–15% of sand as a reserve. That way you always have some in hand to top up when, in the hustle and bustle of everyday nursery life, sand inevitably ends up outside the pit.
How often should the sand be replaced?
The replacement interval depends on:
- Frequency of use (daily in nurseries vs. rarely used areas)
- Cover (less contamination with a cover)
- Weather, surroundings (e.g. trees/leaves), cleaning routine
Practical tip: A sandpit cover is a huge plus for cleanliness and low maintenance, as it protects against leaves and all kinds of dirt. Our sandpit covers can be custom-made on request – tailored to the layout and dimensions on site. When ordering, you only need to specify whether you need the cover for a ground-level or raised sandpit.