One cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb concrete, 60 of 60 lb, 72 of 50 lb or 90 of 40 lb.
Written by M., a general contractor in Richmond, VA · Last updated
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and an 80 lb bag of concrete mix makes 0.60 cubic feet, so one cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb. It takes 60 bags of 60 lb, 72 of 50 lb, 90 of 40 lb or 40 of 90 lb. The yields are from the Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) data sheet and the Sakrete High Strength data sheet.
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per cubic yard | Cubic yards per bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 cu ft | 90 | 0.011 |
| 50 lb | 0.375 cu ft | 72 | 0.014 |
| 60 lb | 0.45 cu ft | 60 | 0.017 |
| 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | 45 | 0.022 |
| 90 lb | 0.675 cu ft | 40 | 0.025 |
Going the other way, one 80 lb bag makes 0.6 cubic feet, or 0.022 cubic yards (0.6 ÷ 27).
The 40, 60 and 80 lb yields are the same on both data sheets. The 50 lb and 90 lb figures are Quikrete's; its 90 lb bag is sold only in some regions. Sakrete rates its 90 lb bag at 0.66 cu ft, which works out to 41 bags per yard.
Divide the volume in cubic feet by the bag yield, then add about 10% for waste and uneven subgrade. The 80 lb bag needs the fewest bags per yard and is what most contractors buy; 40 to 60 lb bags make more trips to the mixer but are easier to lift when you work alone.
Example: 4 ft x 4 ft x 4 in slab using 80 lb bags
Volume: 4 x 4 x (4/12) = 5.33 cubic feet
With 10% waste: 5.33 x 1.10 = 5.87 cubic feet
Bags needed: 5.87 / 0.60 = 9.8, round up to 10 bags of 80 lb concrete
Total weight: 10 x 80 = 800 lbs
At $5 to $8 per 80 lb bag, 45 bags make a cubic yard for $225 to $360. Ready-mix costs about $110 to $150 per cubic yard, and an order smaller than a full truck (about 10 yards) usually adds a short-load fee of $40 to $60 per yard. Per cubic yard, ready-mix costs less than bags even with a short-load fee. Under about a yard, the plant's minimum order and any flat small-load charge usually make bags cheaper, so get a quote. A truck also requires that your site is accessible, your forms are ready, and you have enough people on hand to place the concrete before it starts setting.
A cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb mix, which is 3,600 pounds of dry material. The lowest-payload half-tons (about 1,390 lb) carry 13 to 17 bags of 80 lb, depending on how many people ride in the cab; most half-tons carry 17 or more. A three-quarter-ton carries about 39 to 43. A full yard is three trips in most half-tons, four in the lowest-payload ones, and two in a three-quarter-ton. Check the payload label on your door jamb before you load. Bagged concrete has a shelf life of 6 to 12 months when stored in a dry location. Keep bags off the ground on pallets or plastic sheeting and under cover. Once moisture gets into a bag, the cement starts to hydrate and the bag will develop hard lumps that compromise the final concrete strength. In humid climates, buy only what you can use within a few months rather than stockpiling.
An 80 lb bag takes about 6 pints (3 quarts) of water to start and about 9 pints at most, according to the Quikrete 1101 data sheet. Water beyond what the mix needs lowers the final strength and increases cracking. Add water gradually and mix until the consistency resembles thick oatmeal: it should hold its shape when squeezed but be wet enough to flow into forms and around reinforcement. For more than about 10 bags, a portable mixer saves time and gives a more even mix than hand mixing. Measure the water rather than guessing.
Prices checked October 31, 2026. Prices are national ranges from the cost guides below; they vary by region, so get a local quote before you order. Pickup bag counts come from the truck makers' payload ratings, and bag yields from the Quikrete and Sakrete data sheets.
45 bags of 80 lb concrete make one cubic yard. Each 80 lb bag yields 0.60 cubic feet of mixed concrete, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 divided by 0.60 is 45. Buy a few extra bags for waste, spillage and uneven subgrade.
At $5 to $8 per 80 lb bag, bagged concrete costs $225 to $360 per cubic yard. Ready-mix costs about $110 to $150 per cubic yard plus a short-load fee of $40 to $60 per yard on small orders. Per cubic yard, ready-mix costs less than bags even with a short-load fee. Under about a yard, the plant's minimum order and any flat small-load charge usually make bags cheaper, so get a quote.
Bagged concrete has a shelf life of 6 to 12 months when stored in a dry location off the ground. Keep bags on a pallet or plastic sheeting and protected from moisture. Once a bag absorbs moisture, the cement begins to hydrate and develops hard lumps. Hardened or lumpy bags should be discarded because the concrete will not reach its rated strength.
For an 80 lb bag, start with about 6 pints (3 quarts) of water and mix thoroughly. The maximum is about 9 pints; more water than the mix needs weakens the concrete and increases cracking. Add water gradually until the mix reaches a thick, oatmeal-like consistency that holds its shape when squeezed but flows into forms.
Fast-setting concrete sets in 20 to 40 minutes and reaches walkable strength in about 2 hours, making it ideal for setting fence posts, mailbox posts, and sign posts without bracing. Standard concrete takes 24 to 48 hours to set and reaches full strength in 28 days. Use standard mix for slabs, footings, and larger pours where you need more working time to place and finish the surface.
