Knowing the bag yield tells you both how many to buy and when bags stop making sense.
Bag yields
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Each bag yields a fixed volume of mixed concrete: an 80 pound bag about 0.60 cubic feet, a 60 pound bag 0.45, a 50 pound bag 0.375, and a 40 pound bag 0.30.
Bags per cubic yard
That works out to about 45 of the 80 pound bags, 60 of the 60 pound bags, or 90 of the 40 pound bags to make one cubic yard.
When to switch to ready mix
Mixing 45 bags by hand is a long, hard day. Once you approach a cubic yard, ready mix delivered by the truck is usually cheaper and far easier than mixing bag after bag.
Count your bags. Concrete Calculator →
Common questions
How many 80 lb bags in a cubic yard?
About 45, since each yields roughly 0.60 cubic feet and a yard is 27 cubic feet.
When should I order ready mix instead of bags?
Around one cubic yard, where mixing by hand becomes impractical and bulk is cheaper.
More Calculators
Concrete New
Enter slab dimensions. Result rounds up with a 7 percent waste allowance.
Gravel New
Enter the area dimensions and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent waste allowance.
Mulch New
Enter the bed area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Topsoil New
Enter the area and depth. Result rounds up with a 5 percent allowance.
Paint New
Enter total wall area and coats. Result rounds up to whole units.
Flooring New
Enter room area and the coverage printed on the box. 10 percent waste added.
Tile New
Enter the area and one tile size. 10 percent waste added.
Drywall New
Enter total area to cover. 10 percent waste added.
Paver New
Enter the patio size and one paver size. 5 percent waste added.
Sand New
Enter the area and depth. 5 percent allowance added.
Roofing New
Enter the roof surface area. 10 percent waste added. Three bundles per square.
Insulation New
Enter area to cover and the coverage printed on the package. 5 percent added.
Fence New
Enter total fence length and post spacing.
Sod New
Enter the area to cover. 5 percent allowance added.
Grass Seed New
Enter area and seeding rate. Default rates suit a new lawn.
Fertilizer New
Enter area, target nitrogen rate and the first number on the bag.
Cubic Yards New
Enter length, width and depth. No waste added.
Square Footage New
Enter length and width.
Board Foot New
Enter board dimensions and quantity.
Material Cost New
Enter quantity, unit price, tax and delivery. Figures are in your own currency.