Concrete Bags vs Ready-Mix: Which Is Cheaper?
Updated 2026-07-01
For small pours, bags of concrete mix are convenient; for anything bigger, ready-mix delivery is cheaper and less work. The break-even sits around one cubic yard — roughly 45 bags of 80 lb mix. Here's how to decide.
Size your pour with the concrete calculator →The quick answer
Under about 1 cubic yard, bags usually win on total cost because ready-mix carries delivery and short-load fees. Over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix is cheaper per yard and vastly less labor.
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, or about 45 bags of 80 lb concrete mix (each yields ~0.6 cubic feet). Mixing 45 bags by hand is a hard day's work.
Cost comparison
Ballpark national figures — get local quotes before ordering:
- Bagged 80 lb mix: $5–$8 per bag. A full yard in bags is roughly $225–$360 in material, plus your labor.
- Ready-mix delivered: $125–$175 per cubic yard, plus a $60–$150 short-load fee under ~5 yards.
- So at exactly 1 yard the two are close; by 2–3 yards ready-mix pulls clearly ahead.
When bags win
- Small jobs: fence-post footings, a small pad, a step, or repairs.
- Access problems: a truck can't reach the site.
- You want to pour in stages over several days rather than all at once.
When ready-mix wins
- Slabs, driveways, patios — anything over about 1 cubic yard.
- You need the whole pour placed continuously (a truck delivers it in one go).
- You'd rather not mix, haul, and place dozens of bags by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How many 80 lb bags make a cubic yard?
About 45 bags of 80 lb concrete mix per cubic yard, since each 80 lb bag yields roughly 0.6 cubic feet and a yard is 27 cubic feet.
At what size should I switch to ready-mix?
Around 1 cubic yard. Below that, bags are usually cheaper and simpler; above it, ready-mix wins on both cost and labor.
Can I mix ready-mix and bags on one project?
It's better not to for a single continuous slab — mixes can differ slightly. Use one source per pour; bags are fine for separate small elements.