Concrete Bags per Yard: 60 lb and 80 lb Conversions
How many 60 lb and 80 lb bags of premix concrete make up one cubic yard, with per-bag yield and cost break-even points.
One cubic yard of concrete is about 60 bags of 60 lb premix, or 45 bags of 80 lb premix. An 80 lb bag yields about 0.6 cubic feet; a 60 lb bag yields about 0.45 cubic feet.
Yield per bag
- 40 lb bag: about 0.30 cu ft (90 bags per cu yd)
- 60 lb bag: about 0.45 cu ft (60 bags per cu yd)
- 80 lb bag: about 0.60 cu ft (45 bags per cu yd)
Cost break-even
At current retail pricing, bags cost roughly 2 to 3 times more per cubic yard than ready-mix. The break-even is usually around 1/2 to 1 cubic yard once the short-load fee is included. Above 1 cubic yard, ready-mix wins on both cost and pour quality.
Example: 4 x 8 x 4 inch pad
Volume = (4 x 8 x 4) / 324 = 0.40 cu yd = 10.7 cu ft. That is 18 bags of 80 lb or 24 bags of 60 lb. Definitely a bag job.
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Last reviewed . Educational estimates only; local conditions and codes take precedence. Consult a qualified professional for site-specific decisions.