How many bags of concrete in a cubic yard?
Quick Answer
One cubic yard of concrete requires approximately 45 bags of 80-lb concrete mix, 60 bags of 60-lb mix, or 90 bags of 40-lb mix. For projects larger than half a cubic yard, ready-mix concrete is more cost-effective and easier to work with.
Quick Reference Table
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 80-lb bag (Quikrete / Sakrete) | 45 bags |
| 60-lb bag | 60 bags |
| 50-lb bag | 72 bags |
| 40-lb bag | 90 bags |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
One 80-lb bag of concrete mix yields about 0.60 cubic feet when mixed.
- 2
One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.
- 3
27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags of 80-lb mix per cubic yard.
- 4
For 60-lb bags: each yields ~0.45 cu ft → 27 ÷ 0.45 = 60 bags.
- 5
For 40-lb bags: each yields ~0.30 cu ft → 27 ÷ 0.30 = 90 bags.
Pro Tip
At ~$7 per 80-lb bag, one cubic yard via bags costs $315 vs $150–180 for ready-mix delivered. For anything over 1 cubic yard, order ready-mix — you'll save money and time.
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