Bag yields: the numbers that matter
Every bag of premix makes a fixed amount of concrete, called its yield. Quikrete's Concrete Mix data sheet lists these approximate yields:
| Bag size | Yield (ft³) | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.3 | 90 |
| 50 lb | 0.375 | 72 |
| 60 lb | 0.45 | 60 |
| 80 lb | 0.6 | 45 |
| 90 lb | 0.675 | 40 |
| Bag size | Yield (litres) | Bags per cubic metre |
|---|---|---|
| 20 kg | 9.4 | 107 |
| 25 kg | 11.7 | 86 |
| 30 kg | 14 | 72 |
| 40 kg | 18.7 | 54 |
Other brands publish similar figures for standard mixes, but specialty products like fast-setting post mix, high-strength mix or mortar have different yields. Check the bag. The calculator uses 40, 60 and 80 lb, the most common sizes.
The conversion
Bags = volume in ft³ ÷ yield per bag, rounded up. One cubic yard = 27 ft³ and one cubic meter = 35.31 ft³. With 80 lb bags: 1 yd³ × 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags.
The waste setting raises the volume before dividing. 5% means 1.05 yd³ for a 1 yd³ job.
Bags for common volumes
| Volume | 40 lb | 60 lb | 80 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 yd³ | 23 | 15 | 12 |
| 0.5 yd³ | 45 | 30 | 23 |
| 0.75 yd³ | 68 | 45 | 34 |
| 1 yd³ | 90 | 60 | 45 |
| 1.5 yd³ | 135 | 90 | 68 |
| 2 yd³ | 180 | 120 | 90 |
| 3 yd³ | 270 | 180 | 135 |
| Volume | 20 kg | 25 kg | 40 kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 m³ | 11 | 9 | 6 |
| 0.25 m³ | 27 | 22 | 14 |
| 0.5 m³ | 54 | 43 | 27 |
| 0.75 m³ | 81 | 65 | 41 |
| 1 m³ | 107 | 86 | 54 |
| 1.5 m³ | 161 | 129 | 81 |
| 2 m³ | 214 | 171 | 107 |
Which bag size should you buy?
- 80 lb bags usually cost the least per cubic foot and mean fewer bags to open. They're heavy, though: lifting them dozens of times is real work.
- 60 lb bags are a middle ground for people who can't comfortably carry 80 lb.
- 40 lb bags suit small repairs, tight access, or carrying across a yard or up stairs.
Weight adds up: 45 bags of 80 lb mix is 3,600 lb. Check your vehicle's payload before loading a pallet, and use the store's delivery if you're over it.
Worked examples
Half a yard for a walkway sectionAbout 0.38 m³ for a walkway section
Concrete volume needed 0.5 yd³ · Waste / overage 5 %Concrete volume needed 0.38 m³ · Waste / overage 5 %
- Concrete volume: 0.53 yd³ (14.2 ft³)Concrete volume: 0.401 m³ (401 L)
- 80 lb bags: 2440 kg bags: 22
- 60 lb bags: 3225 kg bags: 35
1.25 yd³ slab with 10% waste0.96 m³ slab with 10% waste
Concrete volume needed 1.25 yd³ · Waste / overage 10 %Concrete volume needed 0.96 m³ · Waste / overage 10 %
- Concrete volume: 1.38 yd³ (37.1 ft³)Concrete volume: 1.05 m³
- 80 lb bags: 6240 kg bags: 57
Mixing many bags
Mixing more than a couple of dozen bags by hand is slow and tiring. A rented drum mixer handles one or two 80 lb bags per batch (check the mixer's capacity). Keep the water dose the same for every batch so the colour and strength stay consistent. Wet cement is caustic, so wear gloves and eye protection. Wear a dust mask when tearing and dumping bags.
Comparing bag prices with ready-mix
A quick way to compare bagged concrete with a ready-mix quote is to turn the bag price into a price per cubic yard: bag price × bags per yard. With 80 lb bags that's the price × 45. For 60 lb bags it's × 60, and for 40 lb bags × 90. Enter your local bag price in the calculator above and it shows the bag cost for your exact volume.
| If an 80 lb bag costs | Bagged concrete per yd³ (45 bags) |
|---|---|
| $5 | $225 |
| $6 | $270 |
| $7 | $315 |
| $8 | $360 |
| If a 25 kg bag costs | Bagged concrete per m³ (86 bags) |
|---|---|
| $4 | $344 |
| $5 | $430 |
| $6 | $516 |
| $7 | $602 |
Bags still include the mixing labour you supply yourself, and ready-mix may carry delivery and short-load fees. Compare the totals, not just the unit price.
Concrete mix vs. other bagged products
This calculator assumes standard concrete mix: cement, sand and gravel. Similar-looking bags do different jobs:
- Concrete mix (with gravel) is for slabs, footings, posts and steps, at the thickness the bag specifies. Quikrete rates its Concrete Mix for pours of 2 in or more.
- High-strength or crack-resistant mixes are for driveways, structural pads or where the plans call for higher strength. They often come in the same bag sizes but may have different yields.
- Fast-setting mix is mainly for posts. It's often a 50 lb bag with its own yield, so use the number on the bag.
- Sand/topping mix and mortar are for thin toppings, repairs and masonry joints. They aren't a substitute for concrete in slabs, and yields differ.
Buying and storing bags
- Keep bags off the ground and covered. Cement reacts with moisture, and a bag that has taken on water can harden into lumps.
- Buy a few more bags than the calculator says, and keep the receipt. Unopened bags are often returnable (check the store's policy).
- Plan the vehicle trips. 30 bags of 80 lb mix weigh 2,400 lb, which is more than many small pickups can carry.
How much water per bag?
Quikrete's data sheet says to start with about 6 pints (2.8 L) of water for an 80 lb bag of Concrete Mix, adding more as needed up to about 6–9 pints (2.8–4.3 L) in total. The target is a stiff, moldable mix with no dry pockets and no standing water. For 30 bags, that's roughly 23–34 gallons of water, so plan a hose or several buckets near the mixer. Too much water makes the mix easier to place but weaker and more prone to cracking, so add it gradually.
Checked against
Each case below is re-run against the calculator by our automated test suite.
| Case | Our result | Checked against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yd³, no waste: 80 lb bags | 45 | Quikrete Concrete Mix data sheet (bag yields) | Match |
These checks use US products and units. Switch to imperial to see them.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of concrete in a yard?
45 bags of 80 lb mix, 60 bags of 60 lb, or 90 bags of 40 lb, using the published yields and no waste.
How many 80 lb bags in a cubic meter?
1 m³ = 35.31 ft³, so 35.31 ÷ 0.60 = 59 bags (rounded up).
How much does an 80 lb bag of concrete cover?
It yields 0.60 ft³: about 1.8 ft² at 4 in thick, or 2.4 ft² at 3 in.
How many bags are on a pallet?
It depends on the store and bag size, so ask your retailer before ordering by the pallet.
Sources & assumptions
The results are planning estimates, and the cost figures only use prices you enter. Product yields, densities and coverage rates vary, so check the label or ask your supplier, and follow local codes. Figures marked "approximate" or "rule of thumb" are general practice, not exact standards.
See how we calculate and test our formulas and the changelog. Last updated 2026-10-08.
Reviewed by the MaterialWhiz Editorial Team. This estimate uses the assumptions shown in the calculator. Review the result against your supplier's product coverage and site conditions. Last reviewed: October 10, 2026. See how we calculate · Report a correction.