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Concrete Bags Calculator

Convert cubic yards or cubic feet into the number of 40, 50, 60 or 80 lb concrete bags.

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Bags needed

Enter your numbers above.

Every bag size costs you the same weight to lift

A yard of concrete is about 3,600 lb of dry mix no matter which bag size you buy. Pick the size based on how you will mix and carry it, and budget roughly one extra bag per 20 for torn bags and material left in the mixer.

How many bags of concrete per yard

Bag counts come from the published yield of each bag size. For standard concrete mix, QUIKRETE lists about 0.30 cu ft for a 40 lb bag, 0.375 cu ft for 50 lb, 0.45 cu ft for 60 lb and 0.60 cu ft for 80 lb. The calculator converts your amount to cubic feet (1 cubic yard = 27 cu ft), divides by each yield and rounds up.

For one cubic yard that gives 45 bags of 80 lb mix, 60 bags of 60 lb, 72 bags of 50 lb or 90 bags of 40 lb. Notice the total weight is the same, 3,600 lb, whichever size you pick. Smaller bags cost more per cubic foot but are easier to lift and mix, which matters on a long day or for one person working alone.

Yields differ between products. High-strength, fast-setting and crack-resistant mixes can yield slightly less per pound than standard mix, so check the bag or the manufacturer's data sheet if you are using a specialty product. Mortar and sand mixes are not interchangeable with concrete mix; for masonry work use the mortar mix calculator.

The optional price line multiplies the 80 lb bag count by your price per bag. Enter a waste percentage if you are converting a raw volume that does not already include one; if your volume came from another calculator on this site that already added waste, leave it at zero.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

  • QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 technical data sheet (40 lb 0.30 cu ft, 50 lb 0.375 cu ft, 60 lb 0.45 cu ft, 80 lb 0.60 cu ft)
  • Sakrete, Estimating Bagged Concrete Jobs

These are planning estimates. Check product labels, your local building code, and a licensed contractor before you buy materials or build.

Frequently asked questions

Are 60 lb bags or 80 lb bags a better value?

Per cubic foot, 80 lb bags are usually slightly cheaper, and you open fewer bags. 60 lb and 40 lb bags cost more per cubic foot but are easier to handle, which can make the job faster if you are mixing by hand or carrying bags a long way.

Why does my bag say a different yield?

Specialty mixes such as high-strength or fast-setting concrete use different aggregate blends and can yield slightly less per bag. Use the number printed on your bag if it differs from the standard 0.60 cu ft per 80 lb.

How many bags fit in a pickup truck?

It depends on the truck's payload rating, not the bed size. A half-ton pickup with about 1,500 lb of payload can safely carry roughly 18 bags of 80 lb mix. Check the payload sticker on the door jamb before loading.

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