Does a bigger bag of concrete mix make more concrete per pound? On the QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet, it does not, because yield scales with bag weight. The real choice in 60 lb vs 80 lb concrete is how many bags you buy and how much each one weighs.
QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 gives the same volume per pound in every bag size: about 0.30 cu ft for 40 lb, 0.45 cu ft for 60 lb and 0.60 cu ft for 80 lb. A cubic yard works out to 3,600 lb of dry mix in every size (computed), so size changes bag count and carry weight.
60 lb vs 80 lb Concrete: What Does Each Bag Yield?
A 60 lb bag yields about 0.45 cu ft and an 80 lb bag about 0.60 cu ft, according to the QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet. That sheet covers 40, 50, 60, 80 and 90 lb bags and calls every yield approximate.
It lists the 40 lb bag at about 0.30 cu ft, the 50 lb bag at about 0.375 cu ft and the 90 lb bag at about 0.675 cu ft. Only the 90 lb size is marked as regional availability. The sheet is marked as revised October 2022 and points readers to quikrete.com for current data.
Divide each yield by its bag weight and you get 0.0075 cu ft per pound every time. That division is our arithmetic on the sheet’s numbers, for example 0.30 / 40 and 0.60 / 80. Bag size changes the count and the weight in your hands. It does not change the volume per pound.
How Many Bags Make a Cubic Yard?
One cubic yard is 27 cu ft, so dividing by the yield gives about 90 bags of 40 lb, 60 bags of 60 lb or 45 bags of 80 lb. These counts are computed arithmetic. QUIKRETE does not state them.
| Bag size | Yield per bag (cu ft) | Bags per cu yd (27 / yield) | Dry mix per cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lb | 0.30 | 90 | 3,600 lb |
| 50 lb | 0.375 | 72 | 3,600 lb |
| 60 lb | 0.45 | 60 | 3,600 lb |
| 80 lb | 0.60 | 45 | 3,600 lb |
| 90 lb (regional) | 0.675 | 40 | 3,600 lb |
Each row lands on 3,600 lb of dry mix (90 x 40, 72 x 50, 60 x 60, 45 x 80 and 40 x 90). That is the weight of the dry bags only. The sheet’s figure of approximately 140 lb per cu ft is for fresh concrete, which is a different measure, so 3,600 lb is not the weight of a poured yard.
To count bags for your own dimensions, use the concrete bag calculator. It uses the same 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 cu ft yields. For the wider volume tools, see the concrete volume and ordering calculators.
What Do the Sizes Mean for a 10 x 10 ft Slab?
A 10 x 10 ft slab at 4 in thick, with 10 percent waste, needs 62 bags of 80 lb, 82 bags of 60 lb or 123 bags of 40 lb. Here is the arithmetic, using the 0.60, 0.45 and 0.30 cu ft yields.
- Find the volume. 10 ft x 10 ft x (4 / 12) ft = 33.33 cu ft.
- Add 10 percent waste. 33.33 x 1.1 = 36.67 cu ft, which is 1.36 cu yd (36.67 / 27).
- 80 lb bags. 36.67 / 0.60 = 61.1, so 62 bags. 62 x 80 = 4,960 lb.
- 60 lb bags. 36.67 / 0.45 = 81.5, so 82 bags. 82 x 60 = 4,920 lb.
- 40 lb bags. 36.67 / 0.30 = 122.2, so 123 bags. 123 x 40 = 4,920 lb.
Each size rounds up on its own, because bags are sold whole. That rounding is why the 80 lb total is 40 lb heavier than the other two.
What About Mixer Capacity and Handling?
QUIKRETE says to allow at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity for each 80 lb bag mixed at one time. The sheet gives that figure for the 80 lb bag only and states none for other sizes. As arithmetic, a 3.5 cu ft mixer fits 3 bags of 80 lb at once, because 3.5 / 1 = 3.5 rounds down.
On handling, the sheet lists the 80 lb bag at 36.2 kg and the 60 lb bag at 27.2 kg. That is 20 lb more per bag, and the 80 lb size needs fewer bags, as the slab example shows. The 40 lb bag is listed at 18.1 kg.
The NIOSH ergonomics page names lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying many or irregularly shaped objects as a risk. It advises using assistive lifting devices. That page states no weight limit, and this article cites none.
The QUIKRETE sheet also says to wear impervious gloves such as nitrile, a mask and eye protection when handling the mix.
Where Do Two Manufacturers Differ?
QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 and Sakrete High-Strength Concrete Mix list the same yields for 40, 60 and 80 lb bags: 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 cu ft. The Sakrete technical data sheet shows them in its package-size table.
The two differ on the 90 lb bag. QUIKRETE lists 0.675 cu ft and Sakrete lists 0.66 cu ft. Dividing 27 by each gives 40 bags and about 41 bags per cubic yard (27 / 0.66 = 40.9), which is arithmetic, not a stated figure.
Mixing water differs as well. QUIKRETE gives about 6 pt as the start for an 80 lb bag, with a final range of 6 pt to 9 pt. Sakrete lists 3.5 qt for its 80 lb bag and calls its water figures a starting reference. These are two products, so follow the water on the bag you hold.
How Do You Pick a Size for Your Job?
No data sheet names a bag size for a fence post or a deck footing, so the sources give no size rule. What they do give is hole geometry and the numbers above.
- Check the yield on your bag. Yield is approximate and differs by product and brand.
- Count each size. Divide the cubic feet you need by that yield and round up, as the slab example does.
- Check the mixer. QUIKRETE allows at least 1 cu ft per 80 lb bag mixed at once.
- Check the carry weight. The sheet lists 18.1 kg, 27.2 kg and 36.2 kg for the 40, 60 and 80 lb bags.
For posts, both QUIKRETE and Sakrete say to dig the hole about 3 times the post diameter and about one third of the post length deep. Both say to wait 24 hours before straining the post. QUIKRETE adds that load-bearing uses should follow local building codes.
Bagged mix is one of two routes. The bagged vs ready mix calculator and the guide on what a yard of concrete asks of you cover the other one.
Enter your dimensions and pick 40, 60 or 80 lb in the tool to get a bag count for your own slab or column.
FAQs About Concrete Bag Sizes
How much concrete does one 80 lb bag make?
About 0.60 cu ft, per the QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet. A 60 lb bag yields about 0.45 cu ft and a 40 lb bag about 0.30 cu ft. Sakrete High-Strength lists the same three figures.
How many 80 lb bags are in a cubic yard?
About 45 bags, computed as 27 cu ft divided by 0.60 cu ft per bag. QUIKRETE does not state that count. It comes to 3,600 lb of dry mix.
Do all brands yield the same per bag?
Not always. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 and Sakrete High-Strength list the same yields for 40, 60 and 80 lb bags. They differ on the 90 lb bag, at 0.675 and 0.66 cu ft.
What is the heaviest bag of QUIKRETE Concrete Mix?
The 90 lb bag, listed at 40.8 kg. The data sheet marks it as regional availability. The 80 lb bag is listed at 36.2 kg.
Is the 90 lb bag sold everywhere?
The QUIKRETE data sheet marks the 90 lb size as regional availability. The product page lists only the 40, 50, 60 and 80 lb bags. Availability by store is not stated.
Does bag size change the strength of the concrete?
The QUIKRETE sheet does not say so. It lists one strength table for the product, 2,500 psi at 7 days and 4,000 psi at 28 days, with no separate figure by bag size.
How much mix can a mixer take per 80 lb bag?
QUIKRETE says to allow at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity for each 80 lb bag mixed at one time. The sheet states no mixer figure for the other bag sizes.
Sources and Further Reading
References Used in This Article
- QUIKRETE, Concrete Mix Product No. 1101 data sheet (revised October 2022), accessed 2026-10-20.
- QUIKRETE, Concrete Mix product page, accessed 2026-10-20.
- Sakrete, High-Strength Concrete Mix technical data sheet, accessed 2026-10-20.
- NIOSH (CDC), Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders overview, accessed 2026-10-20.
Yields are the manufacturers’ printed figures, and the bag counts are computed from them. Yields differ by product and brand, so read the label on the bag you buy before you count. Reviewed for accuracy by Prof. Dr. Khalil Mudassar, PhD. Last updated 2026-10-20.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief, with over 15 years of experience in digital publishing and online tool development. He oversees editorial quality and formula verification to ensure accurate, practical, and easy-to-use calculators.