How much work is one cubic yard of concrete? In 80 lb bags, it is 45 bags and 3,600 lb of dry mix before any water goes in. A truck delivers the same yard in one pour, but it asks different things of you.
One cubic yard is 45 bags of 80 lb mix, or 3,600 lb of dry mix to lift, using QUIKRETE’s 0.60 cu ft bag yield. Ready-mix comes by truck instead. NRMCA says to order 4% to 10% extra, have the crew ready and give a 60,000 lb truck firm access.
What Is in One Cubic Yard of Bagged Concrete?
One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, which takes 45 bags of 80 lb mix. QUIKRETE’s Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet lists a yield of about 0.60 cu ft for an 80 lb bag, and 27 / 0.60 = 45. That is 45 x 80 = 3,600 lb of dry mix.
The total weight stays the same when the bag size changes. The same data sheet lists about 0.45 cu ft for a 60 lb bag and about 0.30 cu ft for a 40 lb bag. A yard is then 60 bags of 60 lb or 90 bags of 40 lb, and each comes to 3,600 lb. Smaller bags make every lift lighter, not the pile smaller. Yields are one manufacturer’s figures, and other brands differ.
This article covers the work behind a yard. The price side lives in the Bagged vs Ready Mix Calculator. For counts on other bag sizes, use the concrete bag calculator.
Does a Yard Really Weigh About 4,000 Pounds?
NRMCA’s ordering sheet says one cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,000 lb, and the bag math lands close to that once the water is counted. Here is the check, step by step.
The data sheet gives final water of about 6 to 9 pt per 80 lb bag. For 45 bags, that is 45 x 6 = 270 pt, or 33.75 gal, up to 45 x 9 = 405 pt, or 50.625 gal. At about 8.34 lb per gallon, the water weighs 281.5 to 422.2 lb. Dry mix plus water is 3,600 + 281.5 = 3,881.5 lb, up to 3,600 + 422.2 = 4,022.2 lb.
That agreement is a consistency check, not a rule. Plan around NRMCA’s 4,000 lb for what a yard of delivered concrete weighs, and treat the bag totals as a reminder of how much of it you would carry yourself.
How Many Mixer Batches Does a Patio Take?
A 10 x 10 ft patio, 4 in thick, comes to 62 bags and 11 mixer batches with an example 6 cu ft mixer. Each step is below.
- Find the volume. 10 x 10 x 4/12 = 33.33 cu ft.
- Add the extra. NRMCA advises ordering 4% to 10% more than plan volume for ready-mix, and the same range is used here. That gives 34.67 to 36.67 cu ft, or 1.28 to 1.36 cu yd. Use the concrete calculator for the plain volume of other shapes.
- Count the bags. At 10%, 36.67 / 0.60 = 61.1, rounded up to 62 bags. That is 62 x 80 = 4,960 lb of bags lifted.
- Split into batches. The data sheet says to allow at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity per 80 lb bag. A 6 cu ft mixer takes up to 6 bags, and 62 / 6 = 10.33, so 11 batches: ten of 6 bags (60) and one of 2.
The mixer size is an example, not a recommendation. By hand, the data sheet says to work the mix with a shovel, rake or hoe until it is stiff and moldable, with no dry pockets and no standing puddles.
What Does a Truck Delivery Ask of Your Site?
A truck asks for firm access, a ready crew and a plan for the whole load. NRMCA’s ordering sheet says a typical truck mixer holds 8 to 12 cubic yards, which is 360 to 540 bags of 80 lb (8 x 45 and 12 x 45).
The truck weighs more than 60,000 lb, and NRMCA warns it may not maneuver on loose dirt or on residential curbs and pathways. Concrete is perishable. It normally sets two to twelve hours after mixing, so the crew must be ready when the truck arrives.
| Route | What arrives and how much | Who controls water and timing | What the site must provide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagged mix, 80 lb bags | 45 bags per cubic yard, 3,600 lb dry | You add the water (6 to 9 pt per bag on one data sheet) and set the pace, batch by batch | Space to carry and mix, and a mixer with at least 1 cu ft per 80 lb bag |
| Ready-mix truck | One load, typically 8 to 12 cubic yards, about 4,000 lb per yard | The truck’s arrival sets the pace; the producer answers for slump for 30 minutes after the requested or arrival time, whichever is later | Firm access for a truck over 60,000 lb and a crew ready on arrival |
How Much Extra Should You Order, and Who Answers for the Water?
NRMCA’s sheet says to order about 4% to 10% more than the plan-dimension volume. The extra covers waste, spillage, over-excavation, spreading forms, settlement and truck holdback. Hardened concrete is 1% to 2% smaller than fresh, which is part of the reason.
The sheet advises avoiding small clean-up loads of less than 4 cubic yards. It sets no minimum order and gives no prices, so ask your supplier. To turn a plan into yards, try the concrete truck calculator.
Water is where responsibility shifts. NRMCA’s jobsite water sheet allows adding water after arrival only up to the specified slump or water-cement ratio. The purchaser who asks for more takes responsibility. The ordering sheet adds that the producer cannot answer for quality after jobsite additions, or when the truck waits a long time before discharging.
Which Route Fits Your Job?
The answer depends on access, crew and size, because this article weighs effort and not price. Use the points below as a checklist.
- Truck access is poor. A 60,000 lb truck may not manage loose dirt, curbs or paths. Bags are carried in, though the 10 x 10 ft patio still means 4,960 lb of bags.
- No crew is ready. A truck load is perishable, and bags let you set the pace. Eleven batches take time, but each one waits for you.
- The pour is large. A yard is 45 bags, and a truck load of 8 to 12 yards equals 360 to 540 bags. Mixing that by hand or mixer is a different job from a one-time pour.
- The pour is small. NRMCA’s ordering sheet gives no minimum order, so ask your supplier for its smallest load before you decide.
Once the work is clear, compare both routes with your own volume to see bags and truck side by side.
Keep reading: how long to mix concrete in a mixer, how thick a slab should be and what flowable fill is.
More: volume and ordering calculators or all construction guides.
FAQs About Ready-Mix and Bagged Concrete
How much does a yard of concrete weigh?
NRMCA says one cubic yard weighs about 4,000 lb. In 80 lb bags, that is 45 bags and 3,600 lb of dry mix, plus 281.5 to 422.2 lb of mixing water.
How long do I have before concrete sets?
NRMCA says concrete normally sets two to twelve hours after mixing, and it is perishable. Have the crew ready when a truck arrives. For bagged mix, check the bag for its own timing.
How much extra concrete should I order?
NRMCA advises ordering about 4% to 10% more than the plan-dimension volume. The extra covers waste, spillage, over-excavation, settlement and truck holdback, and hardened concrete is 1% to 2% smaller than fresh.
How big is a concrete truck?
NRMCA says a typical truck mixer holds 8 to 12 cubic yards. The truck itself weighs more than 60,000 lb, so it needs firm ground and room to maneuver.
Can a concrete truck drive on my lawn or driveway?
NRMCA warns that a truck may not maneuver on loose dirt or on residential curbs and pathways. It does not rule on lawns or driveways, so ask your supplier before delivery day.
What size mixer do I need for each bag?
QUIKRETE’s data sheet says to allow at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity for each 80 lb bag mixed at one time. A 6 cu ft mixer, for example, takes up to 6 bags.
Who is responsible if I add water to a truck load?
The buyer. NRMCA says water may be added only up to the specified slump, and the purchaser who asks for more takes responsibility. The producer cannot answer for quality after jobsite additions.
Sources and Further Reading
References Used in This Article
- QUIKRETE, Concrete Mix 1101 data sheet (revised October 2022), accessed 2026-10-19.
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Concrete in Practice CIP 31, Ordering Ready Mixed Concrete (2000 revision), via the NRMCA CIP page, accessed 2026-10-19.
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Concrete in Practice CIP 26, Jobsite Addition of Water (1995), via the NRMCA CIP page, accessed 2026-10-19.
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Concrete in Practice index page, accessed 2026-10-19.
Weights and counts here come from the manufacturer’s data sheet and NRMCA’s ordering sheet, not from a quote. Other brands, bag sizes and suppliers differ. Reviewed for accuracy by Prof. Dr. Khalil Mudassar, PhD. Last updated 2026-10-19.
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.