How many bags of concrete make a cubic yard?
One cubic yard takes 90 forty-pound bags, 60 sixty-pound bags, or 45 eighty-pound bags. An 80-lb bag yields about 0.60 cubic feet, and a yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags.
Bags per cubic yard by bag size
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 ft³ | 90 bags |
| 50 lb | 0.375 ft³ | 72 bags |
| 60 lb | 0.45 ft³ | 60 bags |
| 80 lb | 0.60 ft³ | 45 bags |
| 90 lb | 0.675 ft³ | 40 bags |
How to read this table
- 90 lb sits at the top of the table (0.675 ft³) — 40 bags. If your situation looks like this row, plan against the upper half of the range rather than the midpoint.
- 40 lb anchors the bottom (0.30 ft³) — 90 bags. Treat this as the conservative case you should still be profitable at.
- The gap between the top and bottom row is roughly 2.3×. That spread is why a single blended average is close to useless here — pick the row that matches your setup instead of averaging the column.
- With 5 reference points in the "bags per cubic yard by bag size" table, the fastest way to use this page is to find the closest row, take its yield per bag, then stress-test it ±30% before you build a plan on it.
Context
Bagged mix makes sense up to about half a yard — beyond that, you're mixing 20+ bags by hand and paying a premium per yard. At 2026 prices (~$6–8 per 80-lb bag), a yard of bagged concrete runs $270–360 versus $150–190 for ready-mix delivered, before the short-load fee. The crossover is roughly 1–1.5 yards: below that bags win on convenience, above it call the plant.
What moves this number
Regional pricing
Ready-mix, bag, and labor prices vary 30–50% between US metros. Sun Belt markets with many plants run well below Northeast and remote-area pricing.
Waste and site conditions
Uneven subgrade, spillage, and form bowing consume 5–15% extra material. Orders placed at exact volume routinely come up short mid-pour.
Local code requirements
Frost depth, footing dimensions, and reinforcement rules are set by county. The same project can require twice the concrete in a northern climate versus a southern one.
Methodology
Yields are the manufacturer-published values for standard 4,000-psi bagged mixes (Quikrete/Sakrete class). Ready-mix pricing reflects 2026 US national average range of $150–190 per cubic yard before delivery and short-load fees.
Assumptions and caveats
- Volumes are theoretical; order quantities include a waste allowance but site conditions vary.
- Prices reflect 2026 US national ranges — get local quotes before budgeting a real pour.
- Structural dimensions and frost depths are governed by local building code; verify with your building department.
- This page was last reviewed on 2026-10-01. Ranges are updated as new data lands, so re-check before using them in a contract or a plan.
- Use these numbers as a starting range, not a guarantee — your own historical data always beats a benchmark.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of concrete make a cubic yard?
One cubic yard takes 90 forty-pound bags, 60 sixty-pound bags, or 45 eighty-pound bags. An 80-lb bag yields about 0.60 cubic feet, and a yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags.
Which option pays the most in the bags per cubic yard by bag size table?
90 lb, at 0.675 ft³ (40 bags). That row represents the strongest case in this dataset, so use it as an upper bound rather than an expectation.
What is a realistic low-end figure?
40 lb at 0.30 ft³ (90 bags). Plan your costs so the low end still works, then treat anything above it as upside.
Why do the numbers vary so much?
The spread between the highest and lowest row is about 2.3×. Regional pricing and waste and site conditions explain most of that gap — see the drivers section above for the full list.
Where do these numbers come from?
Yields are the manufacturer-published values for standard 4,000-psi bagged mixes (Quikrete/Sakrete class). Ready-mix pricing reflects 2026 US national average range of $150–190 per cubic yard before delivery and short-load fees.
How can I estimate my own number instead of using a benchmark?
Use the Concrete Cost Calculator on RevenueLab — it takes your own inputs and returns a figure specific to your setup, which is always more accurate than a published range.
Model your own numbers
Related reading
More answers in this category
- How do you calculate cubic yards of concrete?
- How do you calculate concrete for a slab?
- How do you calculate concrete for a driveway?
- How do you calculate concrete for footings?
Looking for a calculator?
Search every free tool on RevenueLab — or describe your problem and Rex will pick one.
Last updated 2026-10-01.