Short Answer:
4 Head Pans equal 1 wheelbarrow of sand
However:
There are two very important facts about head pans (also spelled headpan) when contemplating measuring with headpans:
- Head pan is not a standard unit of measurement
- Head pans can be under filled
- Head pans can be over filled (by creating a “heaping” head pan, you can increase the volume by 30% or more
However, it is generally accepted that:
4 headpans = 1 wheelbarrow of sand
What is a Headpan
A headpan is a shallow bowl with or without handles. It is most often used in construction and agriculture to transport and move dirt, sand, mulch, and other products. It is carried by hand;. Whereas a wheelbarrow, with its larger bucket, wheel, and handles, makes it easier to transport dirt, sand, and mulch. Because the headpan is commonly used, however, knowing how many headpans are needed to fill a wheelbarrow is useful to know.
The word headpan is derived from the Old English word “headfopanne,” which means “skull.”
Further Reading
How Many Wheelbarrow Loads in a Yard
How Many Wheelbarrows in a Ton of Type 1 Fill Dirt
Wheelbarrows and Gardening Carts
How Many Wheelbarrows in a Yard of Concrete