Concrete Bags Calculator
There are 45 bags of 80 lb concrete mix in one cubic yard, 60 bags of 60 lb mix and 90 bags of 40 lb mix. That comes from the bag yields on the QUIKRETE and Sakrete data sheets: 0.60, 0.45 and 0.30 ft³ per bag. A full pallet usually holds 42 × 80 lb bags or 56 × 60 lb bags, a little under one cubic yard. Add 5–10% for waste. To count bags for your own project, enter its size below.
How to use the concrete bags calculator
- Pick what you are pouring (slab, footing, tube, steps, post holes…) and enter its size. The example is a 9 × 9 ft slab, 4 in thick: exactly 1 cubic yard.
- Set the waste allowance. It is 0% in the example so the result shows the pure bags-per-yard figure; use 5–10% for a real job.
- Read the bag counts for 80, 60 and 40 lb bags under Bags of concrete mix.
- Enter bag prices under Cost estimate to see which bag size works out cheapest.
How many bags of concrete in a yard?
A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 ft³. Divide that by the volume one bag makes once mixed:
- 80 lb bag: 0.60 ft³ → 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags per yd³
- 60 lb bag: 0.45 ft³ → 27 ÷ 0.45 = 60 bags per yd³
- 40 lb bag: 0.30 ft³ → 27 ÷ 0.30 = 90 bags per yd³
The yield is almost exactly proportional to weight, about 0.0075 ft³ per pound, so the bag size doesn't change how much concrete you get per pound. It only changes how heavy each bag is to carry and mix.
Worked example: 1 cubic yard
The calculator above is loaded with a 9 × 9 ft slab, 4 in thick:
- Volume: 9 × 9 × 4 ÷ 12 = 27 ft³, which is 1 yd³.
- 80 lb bags: 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45.
- 60 lb bags: 27 ÷ 0.45 = 60.
- 40 lb bags: 27 ÷ 0.30 = 90.
- Weight once placed: about 4,050 lb, roughly 2 tons.
With a typical 10% allowance, a cubic yard becomes 50 bags of 80 lb, 66 of 60 lb or 99 of 40 lb. That is more than one pallet, so for anything above a yard, compare with a ready-mix quote.
Bags per pallet
QUIKRETE's manufacturer listing gives 42 bags per pallet for 80 lb Concrete Mix and 56 bags per pallet for 60 lb, both 3,360 lb. Since 42 × 0.60 and 56 × 0.45 both equal 25.2 ft³, one pallet makes about 0.93 yd³ of concrete, whichever of those two bag sizes you buy. We didn't find a primary figure for 40 lb bags, and other brands and plants may stack differently, so ask your store before ordering by the pallet.
A full pallet weighs well over a ton and a half. Check what your truck or trailer can carry, or pay for delivery.
Concrete bags per cubic yard and per pallet
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per yd³ | Bags per yd³ + 10% | Bags per m³ | Bags per pallet | Concrete per pallet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 lb | 0.6 ft³ | 45 | 50 | 59 | 42 | 0.93 yd³ |
| 60 lb | 0.45 ft³ | 60 | 66 | 79 | 56 | 0.93 yd³ |
| 40 lb | 0.3 ft³ | 90 | 99 | 118 | varies | – |
Yields from the QUIKRETE Concrete Mix data sheet (Sakrete lists the same). Pallet counts from QUIKRETE's manufacturer listing: 42 × 80 lb and 56 × 60 lb, both 3,360 lb. Counts can differ by plant and brand, and no primary figure was found for 40 lb bags.
Bags of concrete for common volumes
| Concrete needed | Cubic feet | 80 lb bags | 60 lb bags | 40 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 yd³ | 2.7 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| 0.25 yd³ | 6.8 | 12 | 15 | 23 |
| 0.5 yd³ | 13.5 | 23 | 30 | 45 |
| 0.75 yd³ | 20.3 | 34 | 45 | 68 |
| 1 yd³ | 27 | 45 | 60 | 90 |
| 1.5 yd³ | 40.5 | 68 | 90 | 135 |
| 2 yd³ | 54 | 90 | 120 | 180 |
| 3 yd³ | 81 | 135 | 180 | 270 |
No waste added; add 5–10% for your project.
Choosing a bag size
- 80 lb bags mean fewer bags to open and mix, and are usually the cheapest per pound. They are heavy: plan for two people or a hand truck.
- 60 lb bags are a good compromise for working alone or carrying bags any distance.
- 40 lb bags are easiest to handle and handy for small repairs, but you need twice as many as 80 lb bags.
- Compare price per pound. Divide the bag price by its weight; the yield per pound is the same, so the lowest price per pound is the cheapest concrete.
- Mix whole bags. Splitting bags makes it hard to get the water ratio right. Round up and keep a spare bag for touch-ups.
Frequently asked questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
45 bags. An 80 lb bag makes about 0.60 ft³ and a cubic yard is 27 ft³. With a 10% waste allowance, buy 50.
How many 60 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
60 bags, at 0.45 ft³ per bag. With 10% waste, 66 bags.
How many bags of concrete are on a pallet?
QUIKRETE lists 42 bags of 80 lb Concrete Mix or 56 bags of 60 lb per pallet (3,360 lb). That is about 0.93 yd³ of concrete. Counts can vary by plant and brand.
How much area does an 80 lb bag of concrete cover?
An 80 lb bag makes 0.60 ft³: enough for 1.8 ft² at 4 in thick, 2.4 ft² at 3 in or 3.6 ft² at 2 in.
Are 80 lb bags better value than 60 lb bags?
They give the same concrete per pound, so it comes down to price per pound and handling. 80 lb bags are often slightly cheaper per pound; 60 lb bags are easier to lift and mix by hand.
More concrete calculators
- Concrete CalculatorSlabs, footings, sonotubes, walls, steps and post holes: cubic yards, 40/60/80 lb bags and cost.
- Concrete Slab CalculatorSlab volume and bags, with a size table from 8×8 to 30×40 ft at 4, 5 and 6 in.
- Concrete Slab Cost CalculatorPrice a slab with bags or ready-mix using your local prices.
- Concrete Footing CalculatorStrip and pad footings: cubic yards and bags per footing or per run.
- Sonotube CalculatorConcrete per tube for 6–24 in form tubes, and bags for every tube.
- Concrete Steps CalculatorConcrete for solid steps on grade, with an optional top landing.
- Fence Post Concrete CalculatorBags of concrete per post for 4×4 and 6×6 posts by hole size.
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