Concrete Bag Calculator
Find how many bags of premixed concrete you need for a small pour, and see the point at which a short-load or volumetric truck makes more sense.
Concrete Bag Calculator — ConcreteNear.com
| Volume incl. waste | 8.8 ft³ |
| Same volume in yards | 0.33 yd³ |
| Total bag weight | 0.6 tons |
| 80-lb equivalent | 15 |
| 40-lb equivalent | 30 |
Cost estimate U.S. average prices
| 80-lb bags 15 bag × $6.50 | $97.50 |
| Estimated total | $97.50 |
| Alternative: Ready-mix instead (1 yd³ minimum) 1 yd³ × $160.00 | $160.00 |
| Alternative: Short-load fee 1 load × $150.00 | $150.00 |
- Bagged: about $97.50. Ready-mix (1 yd³ minimum + short-load fee): about $310.00.
- Bags win at this size — rent or borrow a mixer if it is more than ~20 bags.
| Inputs | |
| Length | 6 ft |
| Width | 4 ft |
| Thickness / depth | 4 in |
| Bag size | 80 lb (0.60 ft³) |
| Extra for waste | 10% |
| Short-load minimum (for the comparison) | 6 yd³ |
Planning estimate only — confirm with your supplier or contractor.
Prices used — edit any price to match your local quote
| Item | Unit price | Basis & source |
|---|---|---|
| 80-lb bag of concrete mix per bag | starting estimate Starting estimate for a retail shelf price. Check your store. | |
| Ready-mix concrete per yd³ | public source NRMCA Performance Benchmarking Survey — average 2023 U.S. selling price per cubic yard (2023 data) — Plant price before delivery, short-load, wait-time and fuel fees. Concrete Financial Insights reports $179.95/yd³ for 2025 across four public producers (likely higher than small residential pours). | |
| Short-load fee (per truck under the minimum) per load | starting estimate Starting estimate. Ready-mix producers charge a flat or per-yard fee for small loads; ask your dispatcher. |
How to use this calculator
- Enter length, width and depth.
- Pick the bag size you plan to buy.
- Add 5–10% for spillage.
- Compare bag cost with a ready-mix or short-load delivery.
Formulas
ft³ = length × width × depth (in) ÷ 12 × (1 + waste %)Bags = ceiling(ft³ ÷ yield): 80 lb ≈ 0.60 ft³, 60 lb ≈ 0.45 ft³, 50 lb ≈ 0.375 ft³, 40 lb ≈ 0.30 ft³
Questions
How many 80-lb bags make a yard of concrete?
About 45 bags (27 ft³ ÷ 0.60 ft³ per bag).
How many 60-lb bags make a yard?
About 60 bags (27 ÷ 0.45).
When should I order a truck instead?
Once you are past roughly 1 yd³ (45 × 80-lb bags, 1.8 tons to lift), a short-load or volumetric truck is usually cheaper once you count your time.
Sources & assumptions
Prices checked 2026-11-10. State pricing multiplies national figures by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (goods for materials, services for labor and services). RPPs compare general consumer price levels (U.S. = 100). They are not construction-specific; we use RPP Goods for materials and RPP Services: Other (excludes rents) for labor and services.
- Ready-mix concrete — NRMCA Performance Benchmarking Survey — average 2023 U.S. selling price per cubic yard (2023 data). Plant price before delivery, short-load, wait-time and fuel fees. Concrete Financial Insights reports $179.95/yd³ for 2025 across four public producers (likely higher than small residential pours).
Starting estimates No public price series was found for: 80-lb bag of concrete mix; Short-load fee (per truck under the minimum); 60-lb bag of concrete mix. These defaults are editable placeholders — replace them with a local quote.
Results are planning estimates, not quotes or engineering advice. Codes, specifications and your supplier's numbers govern.
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