How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
It takes 45 bags at 80 lb to make one cubic yard of concrete.
An 80 lb bag of standard pre-mixed concrete yields 0.60 cubic feet, and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet: 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45. For other bag sizes it is 60 bags at 60 lb, 72 at 50 lb, and 90 at 40 lb.
At roughly $6.50 a bag that is about $293 per cubic yard against $140-190 for ready-mix delivered — so bags only make sense below about one cubic yard, once you weigh in the short-load fee a plant charges on small orders.
The short answer
45 bags at 80 lb. 60 bags at 60 lb. 72 bags at 50 lb. 90 bags at 40 lb.
Those come straight from the yields printed on the bag: an 80 lb bag of standard pre-mixed concrete makes 0.60 cubic feet, and 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45.
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per cubic yard | Bags per cubic metre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb bag | 0.3 ft³ | 90 bags | 118 bags |
| 50 lb bag | 0.375 ft³ | 72 bags | 94 bags |
| 60 lb bag | 0.45 ft³ | 60 bags | 78 bags |
| 80 lb bag | 0.6 ft³ | 45 bags | 59 bags |
| 90 lb bag | 0.675 ft³ | 40 bags | 52 bags |
| 20 kg bag | 0.331 ft³ | 82 bags | 107 bags |
| 25 kg bag | 0.414 ft³ | 65 bags | 85 bags |
| 30 kg bag | 0.497 ft³ | 54 bags | 71 bags |
What a yard of bagged concrete actually costs
This is where the chart earns its keep, because the per-bag price hides how expensive bagged concrete is by volume:
| Option | Unit price | Per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb bags | $4.00 | $360 |
| 60 lb bags | $5.50 | $330 |
| 80 lb bags | $6.50 | $293 |
| Ready-mix delivered | — | $140-190 plus short-load fee |
Bagged concrete is roughly twice the price per cubic yard of ready-mix. What keeps it competitive on small jobs is that ready-mix plants charge a short-load fee of $60-150 below about 3-5 yards and many will not deliver less than a yard at all.
The break-even lands around 1-2 cubic yards. Below a yard, bags. Above two yards, order a truck. In between, run the numbers both ways and weigh in the labour — 45 bags is four to six hours of mixing, and a slab has to be poured in one go.
Yields vary by mix type
The figures above are for standard pre-mixed concrete. Speciality mixes are denser or lighter and yield differently:
- Fast-setting concrete: about 0.375 ft³ per 50 lb bag — 72 bags per yard.
- High-strength (5,000 psi): similar to standard, roughly 0.60 ft³ at 80 lb.
- Crack-resistant: slightly lower yield, around 0.58 ft³ at 80 lb.
- Sand or mortar mix: not structural concrete — different product, different yield, do not substitute.
Always check the bag. Manufacturers print the yield on the front, and it is the only number that reflects what you are actually buying.
Common questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
45. An 80 lb bag yields 0.60 cubic feet and a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
How many 60 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
60. A 60 lb bag yields 0.45 cubic feet.
How many 50 lb bags of concrete make a yard?
72 bags of standard mix at 0.375 cubic feet each. Fast-setting mix in 50 lb bags has the same yield, so also 72.
Is it cheaper to buy bags or ready-mix concrete?
Ready-mix is about half the price per cubic yard, but short-load fees of $60-150 apply under roughly 3-5 yards. Bags win below one cubic yard; ready-mix wins above two.
How much does a bag of concrete cover?
An 80 lb bag yields 0.60 cubic feet, which is 1.8 square feet at 4 inches thick. A 60 lb bag covers 1.35 square feet at 4 inches.