How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard?

It’s time to redo the concrete in your business parking lot or home. Perhaps you have a pothole in a concrete area and need to fill it immediately for the safety of your family members or patrons. 

How many bags of concrete are in a yard? Keep reading to find out…

Understanding the Term “Yard” With Concrete

Concrete measurements are in cubic yards, meaning that height is a factor. On the other hand, square yards are two-dimensional, which means the height is not considered when taking its measurement.  

Calculating Cubic Feet

The main measurement that converts seamlessly with cubic yards is cubic feet. One cubic yard of concrete is equal to 27 cubic feet. To calculate the overall cubic feet of where you have to fill in a concrete hole or area, you must use the following equation:

Length x width x depth (or thickness) = cubic feet

For example, a concrete slab that is 20’ in length and 20’ in width with a 2’ thickness equals 800 cubic feet. 

20’ x 20’ x 2’ = 800 cubic feet 

Once you discover the cubic feet calculation, then you must convert it into cubic yards using this equation:

Cubic feet x 0.037= cubic yards

Hence, in this scenario, you would multiply 800 by 0.037 and get 29.6 cubic yards. 

800 x 0.037= 29.6 cubic yards 

Calculating Cubic Meters

Cubic meters are another way to calculate concrete measurements. One cubic meter is equal to 35.147 cubic feet. In this case, our concrete slab is 800 cubic feet. To find out how many cubic meters it measures, you would solve this equation:

Cubic feet / 35.147 cubic feet = cubic meters

800 cubic feet / 35.147 cubic feet = 22.76 cubic meters 

Further Reading: How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Weigh?

How Many Bags for a Yard of Concrete

How many bags of concrete are in a yard? Now that you know the specific measurements for how to fill concrete holes and areas, now we can decode how many bags you would need for a specific job. Of course, many factors come into play to decide how many bags you need for a concrete laying project. 

What type of cement are you using? Is it ready-mix concrete or a different type? Different brands have diverse compositions that could affect how much it contributes to your project. 

Note how many pounds are contained in each bag you are purchasing. Of course, the measurements of length, width, and depth will determine how many bags of concrete you would need. 

If you have a project on the larger side, opt for purchasing larger bags to get a better unit price at your local hardware store. The 40-pound bags of concrete are better for projects on the smaller side. 

In each section, we will keep with the same scenario that we are working to fill 800 cubic feet of space. Hence, we can figure out how many bags you would need for this project based on how many cubic feet each bag satisfies. 

Please note that the final figures are rounded to the next bag up so you would have enough to finalize the project scenario. All figures would be how many bags you would have to use for a 29.6 cubic yards project. 

40-Pound Bag

A yard of concrete is equal to about 80-90 bags of 40-pound concrete bags, depending on the brand and how it is mixed. Specifically, a 40-pound bag of concrete yields about 0.45 cubic feet of concrete. 

Since a cubic yard is equivalent to 27 cubic feet, it would require approximately 60-65 bags of 40-pound concrete bags to make a yard of concrete. It’s best to consult with the manufacturer of the brand that you choose so that you are aware of how many bags of concrete you need specifically for a certain project. 

Larger projects involve ready-mix concrete that is measured by cubic yards. It comes via a truck to where it can be poured into where you need the concrete.

For a concrete-laying project measuring 800 cubic feet, you would need about 1,778 forty-pound bags of concrete. 

800 cubic feet / 0.45 cubic feet per bag = 1,778 bags

60-Pound Bag

A yard of concrete is equivalent to approximately 80-90 bags of 60-pound concrete bags. However, you may need more or fewer bags depending on the type of concrete and the brand you choose. A 60-pound bag of concrete equates to about 0.68 cubic feet.  

The measurement of 27 cubic feet per yard of concrete means it will take about 40-45 bags of 60-pound concrete bags to make a yard of concrete. Call the manufacturer’s 1800 number to get more information and guidance on how many bags you would need for your intended project. Be sure to have all the necessary measurements related to calculating cubic feet as shown in the above section. 

For an 800 cubic feet project, you would need 1,177 sixty-pound bags of concrete. 

800 cubic feet / 0.68 cubic feet per bag = 1,177 bags

80-Pound Bag

A yard of concrete is equivalent to approximately 40-45 bags of 80-pound concrete bags, depending on the brand and how it is mixed. One 80-pound bag of concrete is equal to about 0.9 cubic feet. 

You would need about 30-35 bags of 80-pound concrete bags to yield one yard of concrete based on the conversion of 27 cubic feet equaling one cubic yard. Discuss the nature of the project with the supplier so that you get a better idea of how many concrete bags you will need. 

For an 800 cubic feet project, you would need 889 eighty-pound bags of concrete. 

800 cubic feet / 0.9 cubic feet per bag = 889 bags

Further Reading: How Is Cement Made? (Trade Secrets Revealed)

Final Thoughts

So how many bags of concrete are in a yard? It depends on how many pounds are in one bag. A larger bag of concrete covers a larger amount of cubic feet. Therefore, you will need fewer bags if they are a larger quantity each. 

It is important to discover how many bags of concrete you need so that you can do your concrete-laying job right the first time. If you miscalculate, you may have to redo the project because of a possible gap left.