Home › Guides › How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard?
How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard?
Short answer: about 45 bags of 80 lb, 60 bags of 60 lb, or 90 bags of 40 lb concrete mix per cubic yard. Here is where those numbers come from, the full table, and how to decide between bags and a ready-mix truck.
The math behind it
Two facts do all the work. First, a cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Second, each bag size lists a "yield" — the volume of wet concrete one bag makes:
- 80 lb bag → about 0.60 cubic feet
- 60 lb bag → about 0.45 cubic feet
- 40 lb bag → about 0.30 cubic feet
Divide 27 by the yield and you get bags per yard:
Bags-per-yard conversion table
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per cubic yard | Bags per ½ yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 lb | ~0.60 cu ft | ~45 | ~23 |
| 60 lb | ~0.45 cu ft | ~60 | ~30 |
| 50 lb | ~0.375 cu ft | ~72 | ~36 |
| 40 lb | ~0.30 cu ft | ~90 | ~45 |
Yields are approximate and vary slightly by brand (Quikrete, Sakrete, etc.). Always check the bag.
That is a lot of bags — should you order a truck?
A full cubic yard is a serious amount of hand-mixing. Forty-five 80 lb bags weigh 3,600 pounds and take hours to mix and place before the first ones start to set. As a rule of thumb:
| Volume | Best option |
|---|---|
| Up to ~½ yard | Bags — cheaper and convenient |
| ~½ to 1 yard | Judgment call — bags for simple pours, truck to save labor |
| 1 yard and up | Ready-mix truck — usually cheaper per yard |
Remember that suppliers often have a minimum load and short-load fees, so knowing your exact yardage first keeps you from overpaying. Get it with the Concrete Cost & Yardage Calculator.
Skip the mental math
Enter your dimensions and bag size and let the tool return the exact bag count with a waste factor built in:
Open the Concrete Bag Calculator →
Frequently asked questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
About 45 (27 cubic feet ÷ 0.6 cubic feet per bag).
How many 60 lb bags are in a yard?
About 60 (27 ÷ 0.45).
How many 40 lb bags are in a yard?
About 90 (27 ÷ 0.30).
Is it cheaper to buy bags or a truck?
Bags win for small pours under about half a yard. At a full yard or more, a ready-mix truck is usually cheaper and far less work.