Bagged Concrete vs Ready-Mix: Which Should You Buy?
Bags are simple for small pours. Past about a cubic yard the bag count, the weight and the mixing time climb fast, and a ready-mix truck usually wins on effort and often on quality. Here is where the line falls and what each option costs.
How many bags make a yard
Pre-mixed concrete bags yield a fixed volume. QUIKRETE's data sheet lists 0.30 ft³ for 40 lb, 0.375 for 50 lb, 0.45 for 60 lb and 0.60 for 80 lb. A cubic yard is 27 ft³, so:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 80 lb | 45 |
| 60 lb | 60 |
| 50 lb | 72 |
| 40 lb | 90 |
Cost side by side
At 2026 US averages from Lawn Love (about $125 per cubic yard of ready-mix, $6.29 per 80 lb bag, and a short-load fee of about $60–$110 for loads under a full 8–10 yard truck):
| Concrete needed | 80 lb bags | Bag weight | Bags cost | Ready-mix cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 yd³ | 12 | 960 lb | $75 | $31 + $60–$110 fee |
| 0.5 yd³ | 23 | 1,840 lb | $145 | $63 + $60–$110 fee |
| 1 yd³ | 45 | 3,600 lb | $283 | $125 + $60–$110 fee |
| 1.5 yd³ | 68 | 5,440 lb | $428 | $188 + $60–$110 fee |
| 2 yd³ | 90 | 7,200 lb | $566 | $250 + $60–$110 fee |
| 3 yd³ | 135 | 10,800 lb | $849 | $375 + $60–$110 fee |
Bags cost more per yard, but for very small pours the truck's minimum and short-load fee cancel that out. Local prices vary a lot, so put your own numbers into the calculator's Order options.
When bags make sense
- Up to about 1 cubic yard: fence and deck posts, small pads, steps, repairs.
- Pours spread over several days or places a truck can't reach.
- When you want to work at your own pace.
When to order ready-mix
- Above about 2 cubic yards: driveways, garage floors, large patios.
- When the slab must be poured in one go. Batches from a small mixer set at different times and can leave weak "cold joints".
- When the weight is the problem: a single yard of 80 lb bags is 45 bags, or 3,600 lb to lift, carry and mix.
Between 1 and 2 yards it depends on prices, access and help. Get a delivered quote that includes any short-load fee, then compare it with the bag total.
Ordering ready-mix: a short checklist
- Give the supplier the total from your ticket, which already includes your waste allowance.
- Ask about their minimum load, short-load fee and how they sell part yards.
- Check the truck can reach the forms. If not, ask about a pump or a line pump.
- Have forms set, base compacted and reinforcement in place before the truck arrives.
- Line up enough helpers to place and finish the concrete before it stiffens.
Sources
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet (bag yields)
- Lawn Love: concrete cost, ready-mix, short-load fees and bag prices (October 2026)
- Inch Calculator: concrete slab cost
Estimates for planning. Follow your plans, your supplier's instructions and your local building code.