How Many Bags of Concrete Are in a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. At typical yields that's about 45 bags of 80 lb, 60 bags of 60 lb or 90 bags of 40 lb premixed concrete.
Where the numbers come from
A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft on each side, so it holds 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Premixed concrete bags list the volume they make once mixed. Common figures are about 0.60 cu ft for an 80 lb bag, 0.45 cu ft for 60 lb and 0.30 cu ft for 40 lb. Divide 27 by each yield:
- 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags of 80 lb
- 27 ÷ 0.45 = 60 bags of 60 lb
- 27 ÷ 0.30 = 90 bags of 40 lb
The pattern is roughly proportional to weight, so a cubic yard of mixed concrete weighs in the region of 3,600 lb (45 × 80). That's useful when you're planning a truck or trailer load. Check your vehicle's payload rating before loading bags.
Cubic yards to bags chart
| Cu yd | Cu ft | 80 lb | 60 lb | 40 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 6.8 | 12 | 15 | 23 |
| 0.5 | 13.5 | 23 | 30 | 45 |
| 0.75 | 20.2 | 34 | 45 | 68 |
| 1 | 27.0 | 45 | 60 | 90 |
| 1.5 | 40.5 | 68 | 90 | 135 |
| 2 | 54.0 | 90 | 120 | 180 |
| 3 | 81.0 | 135 | 180 | 270 |
Counts are rounded up to whole bags and include no waste. Add 5–10% for real jobs.
Which bag size should I buy?
Price per cubic foot is the fair comparison. Divide the bag price by its yield. Bigger bags are usually cheaper per cubic foot but harder to carry and mix by hand. Smaller bags make sense for post holes, steps and repairs, or when one person is doing the lifting.
When to stop buying bags
At 45+ heavy bags per yard, labour and mixing time grow quickly. For pours of more than about a cubic yard, get a ready-mix quote too and compare totals. Remember delivery and short-load fees, and whether a truck can reach the site.
Converting from your dimensions
If you don't know the yardage yet: length (ft) × width (ft) × thickness (in) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. A 12 × 12 ft slab at 4 in is 48 cu ft = 1.78 yd³, which is 80 bags of 80 lb before waste. The concrete calculator does this for slabs, footings and round columns.
Related
FAQ
How many 80 lb bags make a yard of concrete?
About 45, at a typical yield of 0.60 cu ft per bag.
How many 60 lb bags in a yard?
About 60, at 0.45 cu ft per bag.
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
Roughly 3,600–4,000 lb for normal concrete; the 45 × 80 lb bag figure gives about 3,600 lb.