Concrete Bags Guide: Pallet Counts, Coverage and Project Sizes
How many bags come on a pallet, how far each bag goes, and how many to buy for common projects
Written by M., a general contractor in Richmond, VA · Last updated
A full pallet holds 42 bags of 80 lb concrete mix or 56 bags of 60 lb, 3,360 lb either way.
A cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb or 60 bags of 60 lb. The concrete bag calculator converts any volume to bags for 40 to 90 lb sizes, lists the water each bag takes and compares the cost of bags with a ready-mix truck.
How Many Bags of Concrete on a Pallet?
A pallet of 42 bags of 80 lb mix yields about 0.93 cubic yards, and so does a pallet of 56 bags of 60 lb. Quikrete's 40, 60 and 80 lb Concrete Mix pallets all weigh 3,200 to 3,360 lb, so each lands near nine tenths of a yard. A full pallet usually qualifies for store delivery.
| Bag size | Bags per pallet | Pallet weight | Yield per pallet | Typical products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 lb | 42 | 3,360 lb | 25.2 cu ft = 0.93 yd³ | Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) |
| 60 lb | 56 | 3,360 lb | 25.2 cu ft = 0.93 yd³ | Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) |
| 50 lb | 56 | 2,800 lb | 21 cu ft = 0.78 yd³ | Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix |
| 40 lb | 80 | 3,200 lb | 24 cu ft = 0.89 yd³ | Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) |
Counts are from Quikrete's Concrete Mix and Fast-Setting Concrete Mix product pages; other brands and regional plants may load pallets differently, so check with the store. Yields use the per-bag figures from the Quikrete 1101 data sheet, the same ones our calculator uses (0.60, 0.45, 0.375, 0.30 and 0.675 cu ft).
Coverage per bag
Divide a bag's yield by the slab thickness to get the area one bag covers:
| Bag size | Yield | 2 in thick | 4 in thick | 6 in thick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | 3.6 sq ft | 1.8 sq ft | 1.2 sq ft |
| 60 lb | 0.45 cu ft | 2.7 sq ft | 1.35 sq ft | 0.9 sq ft |
| 50 lb | 0.375 cu ft | 2.25 sq ft | 1.125 sq ft | 0.75 sq ft |
| 40 lb | 0.30 cu ft | 1.8 sq ft | 0.9 sq ft | 0.6 sq ft |
A 10 x 10 ft slab at 4 in is 100 sq ft, so it needs about 56 bags of 80 lb (100 ÷ 1.8) before waste, one full pallet plus 14 bags. With 10 percent added for waste and uneven subgrade, buy 62.
Pre-Calculated Bags for Common Slab Projects
Each count is the slab volume plus 10% for waste, divided by 0.60 cu ft per 80 lb bag and rounded up. For thicker slabs or different bag sizes, use our slab calculator for exact numbers.
| Slab Size | 4" Thick (80-lb bags) | 6" Thick (80-lb bags) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 4 ft | 10 bags | 15 bags |
| 6 x 6 ft | 22 bags | 33 bags |
| 8 x 10 ft | 49 bags | 74 bags |
| 10 x 10 ft | 62 bags | 92 bags |
| 12 x 12 ft | 88 bags | 132 bags |
Weight to haul:
The 62 bags for a 10 x 10 ft slab at 4 inches weigh 4,960 pounds, all of it hauled, opened, mixed and poured by hand. Per cubic yard, ready-mix costs less than bags even with a short-load fee. Under about a yard (45 bags), the plant's minimum order and any flat small-load charge usually make bags cheaper, so get a quote; the bag calculator page has the comparison.
Quikrete vs Sakrete
The standard mixes perform the same: Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) and Sakrete High Strength Concrete Mix both meet ASTM C387, the specification for packaged dry concrete, and both are rated 4,000 psi at 28 days. Both data sheets give the same yields for 40, 60 and 80 lb bags: 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 cu ft.
Where they differ:
- - Bag sizes: Quikrete 1101 also comes in a 50 lb bag; Sakrete High Strength does not. Both list a 90 lb bag, but Quikrete rates its 90 lb bag at 0.675 cu ft and Sakrete at 0.66 cu ft, and Quikrete's 90 lb bag is sold only in some regions.
- - Specialty products are not interchangeable. Fast-setting, high-strength and lightweight mixes such as Sakrete Maximizer differ in yield, set time and strength, so read the bag rather than assuming the other brand's version matches.
- - Availability and price vary by store and region. Buy whichever brand is stocked in the size you need.
For standard 4,000 psi mix, ground prep, water and curing affect the finished slab more than the brand does.
Which Concrete Product Should You Buy?
The main bagged mixes and when to use each:
Standard Concrete Mix (4,000 PSI)
Products: Quikrete Concrete Mix #1101, Sakrete High Strength Concrete Mix
Use for: General purpose work. Sidewalks, patios, shed foundations, small slabs, setting posts (with forms). This is the default for most residential projects. It reaches working strength in 24-48 hours and full 4,000 PSI strength at 28 days.
Fast-Setting Concrete (4,000 PSI)
Products: Quikrete Fast-Setting #1004
Use for: Fence posts and mailbox posts. Sets in 20-40 minutes with no mixing required. Pour the dry mix into the hole and add water. Not suitable for slabs or any job where you need working time. It costs more per bag, but posts need no bracing while it sets.
5000 PSI High Early Strength
Products: Quikrete 5000 #1007
Use for: Projects that need to bear weight sooner or handle heavier loads. Driveways, garage floors, footings, and any pour in cold weather. The higher cement content gains strength faster, which helps when temperatures are marginal (40-50 degrees F). Costs a little more per bag than standard mix.
Crack-Resistant Concrete (4,000 PSI)
Products: Quikrete Crack-Resistant #1006
Use for: Driveways, patios, and any slab where appearance matters. Contains synthetic fibers that reduce shrinkage cracking. The fibers replace the need for wire mesh in many residential applications, but they are not a substitute for rebar where a slab needs structural reinforcement (see the rebar spacing guide). Same yield as standard mix.
Maximizer (lightweight, high-yield)
Products: Sakrete Maximizer
Use for: Large-volume projects where you want fewer bags to haul. Sakrete's data sheet rates an 80 lb bag at 1 cubic foot instead of the usual 0.60, so a cubic yard takes 27 bags instead of 45. It gets that yield from lightweight aggregate, and the sheet lists 4,000 psi at 7 days and 5,500 psi at 28 days.
Hauling and Storage: Practical Logistics
A cubic yard of bagged concrete is 45 bags of 80 lb mix, or 3,600 pounds to move from the store to the site.
Hauling capacity:
- Half-ton pickup: the lowest-payload half-tons (about 1,390 lb) carry 13 to 17 bags of 80 lb concrete per trip, depending on who rides in the cab; most half-tons carry 17 or more.
- Three-quarter-ton pickup (F-250): about 39 to 43 bags per trip.
- Any vehicle: check the payload label on your door jamb before you load. Ten 80 lb bags are 800 lb before passengers.
- Store delivery: Home Depot and Lowe's offer pallet delivery for a fee. Worth it if you need a pallet or more.
At those ratings, 45 bags is three trips in most half-tons, four in the lowest-payload ones, and two in a three-quarter-ton.
Storage guidelines:
- Shelf life: 6-12 months when stored properly. After that, the cement absorbs moisture from the air and begins to harden inside the bag.
- Store off the ground: Place bags on a pallet or plastic sheeting. Ground moisture will wick into paper bags overnight.
- Keep dry: Cover with a tarp if stored outdoors. Even morning dew can start the hydration process in the outer layer of the bag.
- Check before using: If a bag feels lumpy or has hard chunks when you squeeze it, the cement has partially hydrated. Small lumps can be broken up, but if more than 10% of the bag is hardened, discard it.
Buy what you need plus 10% for waste. Bagged mix does not keep long, and stores usually won't take back opened or damaged bags.
Related Calculators and Guides
- Bags to Yards Calculator - Convert between bags and cubic yards for 40 to 90 lb bags
- Bags of Concrete for Post Holes - Bags per hole for fence and deck posts
- How to Calculate Yards of Concrete - Step-by-step volume calculation guide
Sources
Pickup bag counts come from the truck makers' payload ratings, bag yields from the Quikrete and Sakrete data sheets and pallet counts from Quikrete's product pages; the door-jamb label on your own truck governs.
- Ram, 2026 Ram 1500 Payload and Towing (PDF) (2026 model year). Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- Ford, 2026 F-150 Technical Specifications (PDF) (March 31, 2026). Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- Ford, 2026 Super Duty Technical Specifications (PDF) (February 27, 2026). Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) data sheet (PDF) (revised October 2022). Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- Sakrete High Strength Concrete Mix technical data sheet (PDF) (January 2024). Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) product page. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix product page. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
- Sakrete Maximizer Concrete Mix data sheet (PDF) (revision 4-10). Retrieved October 31, 2026.