Concrete guide
How many bags of concrete make a yard?
A cubic yard of concrete is 27 cubic feet. That takes 45 bags of 80 lb mix, 60 bags of 60 lb, or 90 bags of 40 lb.
By the EstimateCement team ·
The short answer
Bags per cubic yard, by bag size.
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per yard | Cost per yard (at $9/80 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.3 ft³ | 90 | ~$540 ($6/bag) |
| 60 lb | 0.45 ft³ | 60 | ~$450 ($8/bag) |
| 80 lb | 0.6 ft³ | 45 | ~$405 ($9/bag) |
| Ready-mix truck | — | — | ~$150–$200 delivered |
Prices are national-average planning figures, not quotes. Yield is printed on each bag and varies slightly by brand.
Other volumes
Bags for part of a yard, or more than one.
Before waste. Add 5–10% on top for spillage and uneven ground, or let thebag calculator do it from your dimensions.
| Volume | 40 lb bags | 60 lb bags | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 yd³ (6.75 ft³) | 23 | 15 | 12 |
| 0.5 yd³ (13.50 ft³) | 45 | 30 | 23 |
| 0.75 yd³ (20.25 ft³) | 68 | 45 | 34 |
| 1 yd³ (27 ft³) | 90 | 60 | 45 |
| 1.5 yd³ (40.50 ft³) | 135 | 90 | 68 |
| 2 yd³ (54 ft³) | 180 | 120 | 90 |
| 3 yd³ (81 ft³) | 270 | 180 | 135 |
Bags or a truck?
Where ready-mix starts to make sense.
Bagged concrete costs about 2.3× as much per yard as ready-mix at a typical $175/yd³. But a truck comes with minimums: many suppliers charge a short-load fee for orders below a few yards, and you have to place and finish the whole load before it sets.
A practical rule: under about 1 cubic yard, such as a small pad, steps or a few post holes, buy bags. Mixing 45 bags by hand is a long, heavy day, so from 1 to 2 yards rent a drum mixer or call around for a short-load price. Above 2 yards, order ready-mix.
For scale, 1 yard at 4 inches thick covers 81 sq ft, about a 9 × 9 ft slab.
FAQ
Common questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
45 bags. Each 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet of concrete, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 ÷ 0.6 = 45.
How many 60 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
60 bags, at about 0.45 cubic feet per bag.
How many 40 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
90 bags, at about 0.3 cubic feet per bag. That's 3,600 lb (1.8 tons) of mix to lift and blend by hand, which is why 40 lb bags are best kept for small repairs.
Is it cheaper to buy bags or ready-mix concrete?
Per yard, ready-mix is much cheaper: roughly $150–$200 delivered, versus about $405 for 45 bags of 80 lb mix. Bags still win on small pours, because many suppliers add a short-load fee below their minimum order.
Work it out for your project