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Shopping list converter · Updated 2026

Yards to Bags Concrete Converter: Get Your Complete Shopping List

Enter your cubic yards and get the exact bag count, brand-specific shopping list, pallet count, mixing time estimate, and a side-by-side ready-mix comparison.

Concrete Bags Per Cubic Yard

Bag	Yield	Bags/yd3	Cost/yd3	Vs ready-mix
40 lb	0.30 ft3	90	~$405	+$225
50 lb	0.375 ft3	72	~$396	+$216
60 lb	0.45 ft3	60	~$390	+$210
80 lb	0.60 ft3	45	~$338	+$158
80 lb Max	0.80 ft3	34	~$340	+$160

Ready-mix average used here: $179.89/yd3. Rule: 45 x 80 lb bags = 1 cubic yard.

Three-way converter

Convert cubic yards, bags, or slab dimensions into a shopping list

Inputs

Volume neededCubic yards. Use the cubic yards calculator first if you only know dimensions.Bag sizeBrandWaste factorProjectReady-mix region

Flatwork needs continuous placement and finishing.

Ready-Mix Territory

Ready-mix is strongly recommended and saves about $938 before labor.

Your complete shopping list

269 bags

5.97 yd3 with 10% waste · 80 lb · Quikrete Concrete Mix 80 lb

Bag cost$2,012

Pallets6 + 17

Weight21,520 lb

6 full pallets (42 bags each) + 17 individual bags. SKU: 110180. Ask the contractor desk about pallet pricing.

Cost and delivery comparison

Bagged concrete$2,012

269 bags x $7

Ready-mix estimate$1,074

$180/yd3 + $0 short-load fee

Ready-mix saves $938. At this size, delivery is usually cheaper before counting labor.

Mixing time estimate

Method	Time	Recommendation
By hand	20.18 hrs	Too slow
Paddle mixer	11.21 hrs	Long
Drum mixer	7.5 hrs	90 batches
Ready-mix truck	2-3 hrs	Strongly recommended

Transport warning: 21,520 lbs exceeds a standard pickup payload. Plan about 15 pickup trips or 4 trailer load(s), or use store delivery.

Maximizer savings

Quikrete Maximizer would use 202 bags instead of 269, saving 67 bags and about $97.

All bag sizes compared

Bag size	Bags	Cost	Pallets	Recommendation
40 lb	538	$2,572	6 + 58	Many bags
50 lb	431	$3,439	7 + 11	Many bags
60 lb	359	$2,147	6 + 23	Many bags
80 lb	269	$2,012	6 + 17	Best value
80 lb Max	202	$1,915	4 + 34	Best yield

Printable shopping list

269 x Quikrete Concrete Mix 80 lb (SKU 110180) - $2,012 Wire mesh 6x6 if required by slab design Plastic sheeting for curing, about $25 Drum mixer rental if over 20 bags, about $70/day Concrete vibrator rental for forms or columns Total material estimate: $2,012

Yards to Bags Concrete - Complete Conversion Reference

No waste factor. Multiply by 1.10 for 10% waste, which is recommended for most projects.

Cubic Yards	ft3	40 lb bags	60 lb bags	80 lb bags	80 lb Max
0.25 yd3	6.75 ft3	23 bags	15 bags	12 bags	9 bags
0.50 yd3	13.5 ft3	45 bags	30 bags	23 bags	17 bags
0.75 yd3	20.25 ft3	68 bags	45 bags	34 bags	26 bags
1.00 yd3	27 ft3	90 bags	60 bags	45 bags	34 bags
1.50 yd3	40.5 ft3	135 bags	90 bags	68 bags	51 bags
2.00 yd3	54 ft3	180 bags	120 bags	90 bags	68 bags
2.50 yd3	67.5 ft3	225 bags	150 bags	113 bags	85 bags
3.00 yd3	81 ft3	270 bags	180 bags	135 bags	102 bags
4.00 yd3	108 ft3	360 bags	240 bags	180 bags	135 bags
5.00 yd3	135 ft3	450 bags	300 bags	225 bags	169 bags
7.50 yd3	202.5 ft3	675 bags	450 bags	338 bags	254 bags
10.0 yd3	270 ft3	900 bags	600 bags	450 bags	338 bags

Bags to Yards Concrete Reference

Based on standard 80 lb bags yielding 0.60 ft3 each.

80 lb Bags	Cubic Yards	Cubic Feet	Covers at 4 in	Covers at 6 in
5 bags	0.111 yd3	3.0 ft3	9 sq ft	6 sq ft
10 bags	0.222 yd3	6.0 ft3	18 sq ft	12 sq ft
20 bags	0.444 yd3	12.0 ft3	36 sq ft	24 sq ft
45 bags	1.000 yd3	27.0 ft3	81 sq ft	54 sq ft
60 bags	1.333 yd3	36.0 ft3	108 sq ft	72 sq ft
90 bags	2.000 yd3	54.0 ft3	162 sq ft	108 sq ft
135 bags	3.000 yd3	81.0 ft3	243 sq ft	162 sq ft
180 bags	4.000 yd3	108.0 ft3	324 sq ft	216 sq ft
225 bags	5.000 yd3	135.0 ft3	405 sq ft	270 sq ft
450 bags	10.000 yd3	270.0 ft3	810 sq ft	540 sq ft

Quikrete vs. Sakrete: Which Bags Should You Buy?

For standard slabs and driveways, yield and strength are usually equivalent. Buy the cheaper available bag unless a specialty mix fits the job.

Spec	Quikrete	Sakrete	Winner
80 lb bag price	$7.48	$7.28	Sakrete
Yield per 80 lb bag	0.60 ft3	0.60 ft3	Tie
28-day strength	4,000 PSI	4,000 PSI	Tie
Availability	Home Depot	Lowe's	Tie
Maximizer / High-Yield	0.80 ft3/bag	0.80 ft3/bag	Tie
Fast-Setting	50 lb and 80 lb	50 lb	Quikrete
High-Strength	Quikrete 5000	Sakrete 5000 Plus	Tie
Crack-Resistant	Available	Available	Tie
Countertop Mix	Available	Limited	Quikrete

Project-specific brand picks

Post holes: Quikrete Fast-Setting 50 lb or Sakrete Fast-Setting 50 lb.

Large slabs: Quikrete Maximizer 80 lb or Sakrete Maximizer reduces bag count by about one third.

Budget slabs: compare Quikrete at Home Depot and Sakrete at Lowe's on the day you buy.

High-strength work: use Quikrete 5000 or Sakrete 5000 Plus where a 5,000 PSI mix is required.

Countertops: use a dedicated countertop mix instead of standard concrete mix.

Hand Mixing vs. Machine Mixing: When to Rent a Mixer

The right mixing method depends on bag count. Placement time matters because concrete begins setting after water is added.

Method	Best For	Bags/Hour	Cost	Quality
By hand	10 bags or fewer	12-15 bags/hr	$0	Good if done correctly
Paddle mixer	10-25 bags	20-25 bags/hr	$25-$40 buy	Good
Drum mixer	25-100 bags	30-40 bags/hr	$60-$80/day	Excellent
Ready-mix truck	More than 45 bags	N/A	$180/yd3 + delivery	Best

Bags	Hand	Paddle Mixer	Drum Mixer	Verdict
5 bags	25 min	15 min	10 min	Hand is fine
10 bags	45 min	25 min	20 min	Hand or paddle
20 bags	1.5 hrs	50 min	35 min	Paddle recommended
45 bags	3.4 hrs	1.9 hrs	1.3 hrs	Drum recommended
90 bags	6.8 hrs	3.8 hrs	2.5 hrs	Consider ready-mix
180 bags	13.5 hrs	7.5 hrs	5.0 hrs	Ready-mix strongly recommended
245 bags	18.4 hrs	10.2 hrs	6.8 hrs	Ready-mix only viable option

Critical timing note: for a continuous slab, you must place and finish the pour before early batches begin to set. At 90+ bags, ready-mix usually wins on quality even when bags look manageable on paper.

Ready-Mix vs Bagged Concrete Crossover

Bags are best for repairs, post holes, remote locations, and small pours. Ready-mix becomes attractive around 1.5 yd3 and is usually the clear choice above 4 yd3.

Already have dimensions? Use a concrete bag calculator with dimensions or a concrete slab calculator before comparing delivery.

From Volume to Buying Decision

Use a cubic yards calculator when you need volume first, compare ready-mix concrete prices, then check the concrete weight calculator for transport load.

Yards to Bags Converter - Frequently Asked Questions

How many bags of concrete are in a cubic yard?+

It takes exactly 45 bags of 80 lb concrete to make one cubic yard. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and each 80 lb bag yields 0.60 cubic feet. Other common sizes are 60 bags of 60 lb mix, 72 bags of 50 lb mix, or 90 bags of 40 lb mix per cubic yard.

How many bags of Quikrete per yard?+

Quikrete 80 lb Concrete Mix requires 45 bags per cubic yard. Quikrete Maximizer yields 0.80 ft3 per 80 lb bag, so one cubic yard takes 34 bags. Quikrete Fast-Setting 50 lb yields 0.375 ft3 per bag, so it takes 72 bags per cubic yard.

How many 80 lb bags of concrete per cubic yard?+

Exactly 45 bags of 80 lb concrete make one cubic yard because 27 ft3 divided by 0.60 ft3 per bag equals 45. With a 10% waste factor, order about 50 bags per cubic yard.

Is it cheaper to buy bags or order ready-mix concrete?+

For projects under 1 cubic yard, bagged concrete is often cheaper because ready-mix short-load fees are high. For projects over about 1.5 cubic yards, ready-mix is usually cheaper and much faster. The calculator compares bag cost, short-load fees, and ready-mix cost for your volume.

How long does it take to mix bags of concrete?+

Hand mixing takes about 4-5 minutes per 80 lb bag, paddle mixing takes about 2-3 minutes per bag, and a drum mixer takes about 5 minutes per 3-bag batch. One cubic yard, or 45 bags, takes about 3.4 hours by hand or 1.3 hours with a drum mixer.

How many pallets of concrete do I need?+

Standard 80 lb concrete bags are commonly 42 bags per pallet. Divide your total bag count by 42. For example, 245 bags equals 5 full pallets plus 35 individual bags. One pallet weighs about 3,360 lbs, so verify vehicle capacity.

Can I mix concrete bags in a wheelbarrow?+

Yes. A contractor wheelbarrow can usually mix 1-2 bags of 80 lb concrete at a time. Add the measured water first, then mix thoroughly. For more than 10 bags, a paddle mixer or drum mixer is faster and more consistent.