How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard?
A cubic yard of concrete is a lot of bags — and exactly how many depends on the bag size. This guide gives the full chart for 40, 60, and 80 lb bags, explains the simple math behind it, and shows how to work out the bags for your own project. It is the reference behind our concrete bag calculator.
Bags of concrete per cubic yard
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Each bag of concrete makes a known volume — its “yield” — so the number of bags per yard is simply 27 divided by that yield, rounded up. Here is the full chart:
| Bag size | Yield per bag | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 ft³ | 90 bags |
| 50 lb | 0.375 ft³ | 72 bags |
| 60 lb | 0.45 ft³ | 60 bags |
| 80 lb | 0.60 ft³ | 45 bags |
So a full cubic yard is 45 × 80 lb bags, 60 × 60 lb bags, or 90 × 40 lb bags. Those are heavy numbers — well over half a ton of material — which is why a full yard is almost always cheaper and easier to buy as ready-mix.
The math behind it
The yield is the volume of wet concrete one bag produces. It is printed on the bag, but the industry-standard figures are 0.60 ft³ for an 80 lb bag, 0.45 ft³ for a 60 lb bag, and 0.30 ft³ for a 40 lb bag. To find bags per yard:
Bags per yard = 27 ÷ bag yield (ft³), rounded up
For an 80 lb bag that is 27 ÷ 0.60 = 45 bags. The same formula works for any volume — just replace 27 with your project's cubic feet.
Yields vary slightly by product, so the printed figure on your bag is the one to trust. Fast-setting and high-strength formulas can yield a little less per pound than standard concrete mix, and a partly used or compacted bag yields less than a fresh one. The chart above uses the common industry values, which are accurate enough for ordering as long as you round up and add a little for waste.
Working out bags for your project
You rarely need a whole yard, so the practical steps are:
- Find your volume in cubic feet (length × width × thickness, all in feet).
- Divide by the bag yield for the size you are buying.
- Round up to whole bags, and add a few for waste.
The bag calculator does all three at once for every bag size, and the yardage calculator converts the same volume into cubic yards if you decide to switch to ready-mix.
Worked example: a small landing
Imagine a 4 ft × 4 ft landing poured 4 inches thick.
- Thickness in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- Volume: 4 × 4 × 0.333 = 5.33 cubic feet.
- 80 lb bags: 5.33 ÷ 0.60 = 9 bags (rounded up).
- 60 lb bags: 5.33 ÷ 0.45 = 12 bags; 40 lb bags: 5.33 ÷ 0.30 = 18 bags.
At nine 80 lb bags this is an easy hand-mix job. Compare that with the 45 bags a full yard would take, and you can see why bag size — and project size — decide whether bagging is worth it.
Related reading
For the full estimating method see how to calculate concrete, and for sizing specific pours read how much concrete do I need. To mix from raw cement, sand, and gravel instead of bags, use the mix ratio calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
About 45 bags. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and an 80 lb bag yields roughly 0.60 ft³, so 27 ÷ 0.60 ≈ 45.
How many 60 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
About 60 bags, because a 60 lb bag yields roughly 0.45 ft³ and 27 ÷ 0.45 = 60.
How many 40 lb bags of concrete are in a yard?
About 90 bags, since a 40 lb bag yields roughly 0.30 ft³ and 27 ÷ 0.30 = 90.
Why is mixing a full yard from bags not recommended?
It means mixing 45 to 90 bags by hand — heavy, slow work. Once you need a full yard, ready-mix delivery is usually cheaper and far more consistent.