Concrete · updated 2026
How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard
"How many bags in a yard" is one of the most-searched concrete questions there is, and the answer is pure division: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, and each bag size yields a fixed volume. This calculator converts any number of cubic yards into exact 80-lb, 60-lb, and 40-lb bag counts, with 2026 costs for bags versus ready-mix delivery. The crossover point matters: at 45 eighty-lb bags per yard, the labor of mixing usually costs more than the truck long before the materials do.
From your slab, footing, or post calculator — 27 cu ft per yard
Show the math
1 cubic yard = 27 cu ft
80-lb bags = 1 × 27 ÷ 0.6 cu ft/bag = 45 (rounded up)
60-lb bags = 1 × 27 ÷ 0.45 cu ft/bag = 60 (rounded up)
40-lb bags = 1 × 27 ÷ 0.3 cu ft/bag = 90 (rounded up)
Ready-mix reference = 1 yd³ × $150–$170/yd³
What the numbers mean
The calculator converts your measurements into a practical purchase quantity using a documented coverage or spacing assumption.
Any whole-unit quantity is rounded up so the result does not leave you short during the project.
Use the cost range as a planning baseline and confirm the final quantity, availability, and delivery charge with your local supplier.
2026 material prices
| Material | 2026 average price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 80-lb concrete mix bag | $6.47 – $7.58 / bag | Yields 0.6 cu ft; 45 bags per yard |
| 60-lb concrete mix bag | $5.00 – $6.00 / bag | Yields 0.45 cu ft; 60 bags per yard |
| 40-lb concrete mix bag | $4.50 – $5.50 / bag | Yields 0.3 cu ft; 90 bags per yard |
| Ready-mix, per cubic yard | $150.00 – $170.00 / cubic yard | Delivered |
Material prices: Wave 1 Batch 1 2026 national-average guide, Sep 2026. Local prices vary. 2026 U.S. national averages. Prices vary by region and retailer — confirm locally before buying.
Pro tips
- Memorize 45-60-90: 45 eighty-lb, 60 sixty-lb, or 90 forty-lb bags per cubic yard.
- One yard of bagged concrete costs roughly $300 in bags versus $150–$170 from a truck — the truck wins on price at 1 yard, on labor well before that.
- Mixing a full yard by hand is a two-person, all-day job; a $75–$100 mixer rental pays for itself in sanity.
- Short-load fees (often $100–$200) apply to truck orders under ~3 yards — still usually cheaper than bags.
- Bag yields assume proper water ratio; soupy mix yields slightly more volume and much less strength.
- For half a yard, buy 23 eighty-lb bags — and seriously consider whether the project justifies a mixer rental.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How many 80-lb bags of concrete in a yard?
45 — a yard is 27 cu ft and an 80-lb bag yields 0.6 cu ft (27 ÷ 0.6 = 45).
How many 60-lb bags in a yard?
60 (27 ÷ 0.45). Forty-lb bags: 90 (27 ÷ 0.3).
How many 80-lb bags for half a yard?
22.5 → buy 23 bags.
When should I order ready-mix instead of bags?
At about 1 cubic yard (45 eighty-lb bags) the truck is cheaper on materials alone — and far less labor at any quantity above half a yard.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?
About 4,000 lbs (27 cu ft × ~150 lbs/cu ft) — relevant if you are hauling bagged mix yourself.
What is cheaper: bags or a truck for 2 yards?
Bags: 90 × ~$7 = ~$630. Truck: 2 × $150–$170 = $300–$340 plus any short-load fee — the truck wins by hundreds.
Related calculators
Planning estimates only. Prices are 2026 U.S. national averages and vary by region — confirm with your local supplier before buying.