Every yield below is copied from the maker's data sheet or product page. For your own job, the concrete calculator works out the volume and the bags for any shape.
Yield per bag and bags per cubic yard
A bag's yield is the volume of concrete it makes once mixed with the right amount of water. Within each maker's range, yield goes up in step with bag weight, so heavier bags mean fewer bags for the same job, but more weight to carry.
| Product | Bag | Yield per bag | Bags per cubic yard | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quikrete Concrete Mix | 40 lb | 0.30 cu ft | 90 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Concrete Mix | 50 lb | 0.375 cu ft | 72 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Concrete Mix | 60 lb | 0.45 cu ft | 60 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Concrete Mix | 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | 45 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Concrete Mix | 90 lb | 0.675 cu ft | 40 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix | 50 lb | 0.375 cu ft | 72 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix | 60 lb | 0.45 cu ft | 60 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix | 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | 45 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete | 50 lb | 0.375 cu ft | 72 | Quikrete data sheet |
| Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix | 40 lb | 0.30 cu ft | 90 | Sakrete product page |
| Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix | 60 lb | 0.45 cu ft | 60 | Sakrete product page |
| Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix | 80 lb | 0.6 cu ft | 45 | Sakrete product page |
Yields are the makers' own approximate figures. Bags per cubic yard is our arithmetic: the cubic feet in a cubic yard divided by the yield, rounded up to a whole bag, with nothing added for waste.
Bags for common small jobs
These counts show how quickly the bags add up. A patio-sized slab already takes dozens of the largest bags, which is the point where ready-mix delivery is worth pricing.
| Job | Volume | 40 lb bags | 60 lb bags | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft slab, 4 in thick | 33.3 cu ft | 112 | 75 | 56 |
| 8 x 10 ft shed base, 4 in thick | 26.7 cu ft | 89 | 60 | 45 |
| 4 x 4 ft landing, 4 in thick | 5.3 cu ft | 18 | 12 | 9 |
| 12 in round form, 4 ft tall | 3.1 cu ft | 11 | 7 | 6 |
| Post hole 10 in wide, 3 ft deep, around a 4x4 post | 1.4 cu ft | 5 | 4 | 3 |
Calculated from the Quikrete Concrete Mix yields above: each job's volume divided by the yield of one bag, rounded up. The post hole subtracts the post itself.
How to use these figures
- Work out the volume first, in cubic feet, then divide by the yield printed on the bag you will buy and round up.
- Add extra for waste on top. The calculator's default is 10 percent, within the 4 to 10 percent that a ready-mix industry guide suggests for most pours.
- Check the label. Specialty mixes, such as lightweight or high-yield blends, publish different yields from standard concrete.
- For post holes and round forms, the round form calculator works from the diameter and depth.
Bags or ready-mix?
Bags suit small pours: posts, pads, steps and repairs. For a larger slab, compare the bag count with a ready-mix delivery, which is sold by the cubic yard. The concrete slab calculator gives both figures for a slab.
Common questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a cubic yard?
At the published yield for an 80 lb bag, a cubic yard takes 45 bags, before any extra for waste. The first table shows the count for every bag size.
How much concrete does one bag make?
It depends on the bag size. An 80 lb bag of standard concrete mix yields about 0.6 cu ft per the makers' data, and smaller bags yield proportionally less.
Do bigger bags give more concrete for the money?
They give more concrete per bag, and the yield per pound is about the same across sizes. Compare the price per bag divided by its yield to find the cheapest concrete per cubic foot.
Using these figures
You are welcome to cite the tables on this page. Please link to this page as the source, and check the maker's current data sheet before you rely on a single figure.