Bagged Concrete vs Ready-Mix: Cost and When to Switch
Bagged concrete makes sense up to about 1 cubic yard (this calculator's own rule); above that, ready-mix at $160–195 per yard is usually cheaper and keeps the pour uniform.
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45 bags of 80 lb
- 80 lb bags
- 45 (3,600 lb to mix)
- Ready-mix cost
- $160
Enter your bag price to compare costs.
Key takeaways
- Bags make sense up to about 1 yd³ (site rule).
- 1 yd³ = 45 bags of 80 lb = 3,600 lb to mix.
- Ready-mix: $160–195 per yard plus fees.
- An 8 yd³ truck equals 360 bags.
Is Bagged Concrete Cheaper Than Ready-Mix?
Yes for small pours, no for large ones. One cubic yard takes 45 bags of 80 lb mix, so bags win while 45 × your bag price stays below the ready-mix price plus delivery fees; past about 1 yd³, the truck usually wins on cost and labor.
What Is Bagged Concrete?
Bagged concrete is a dry premix of cement, sand and gravel sold in 40 to 80 lb bags; you add water and mix it on site. An 80 lb bag makes 0.6 ft³ (Quikrete).
What Is Ready-Mix Concrete?
Ready-mix concrete is mixed at a plant and delivered in a truck mixer that keeps it uniformly mixed (NRMCA). Trucks carry 8 to 12 yd³, and suppliers price it per cubic yard.
Bagged vs Ready-Mix Cost per Yard
Bagged concrete costs 45 × your 80 lb bag price per cubic yard; ready-mix costs $160 to $195 per yard plus fees.
Break-even bag price = (Ready-mix price per yd³ + fees ÷ yd³) ÷ 45At $160 per yard and no fees, bags are cheaper only below $3.56 per 80 lb bag; enter your own prices in the tool above.
Example: Bags vs a Truck for a 2-Yard Pour
A 2-yard pour takes 90 bags of 80 lb mix, or 7,200 lb to lift and mix, against $320 to $390 of ready-mix plus fees.
| Bagged (80 lb) | Ready-mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | 90 bags (99 with 10%) | 2.2 yd³ with 10% |
| Material cost | 99 × your bag price | $352–$429 |
| Labor | mix 7,920 lb by hand | place and finish only |
Pros and Cons of Bagged and Ready-Mix Concrete
| Bagged concrete | Ready-mix | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | posts, pads, steps, small slabs | slabs, driveways, walls, footings over 1 yd³ |
| Pros | no minimum order; pour at your pace | uniform mix; fast placement; less labor |
| Cons | heavy labor; batch-to-batch variation | short-load fees on small orders; truck access needed |
Is Bagged Concrete as Strong as Ready-Mix?
Bagged concrete can meet residential strength needs: Quikrete Concrete Mix is rated at 4,000 psi, above the 2,500 to 3,500 psi minimums in 2021 IRC Table R402.2. Strength depends on correct water, since NRMCA warns that excess water can reduce strength.
Is It Cheaper to Mix Your Own Concrete From Cement?
Mixing your own from Portland cement, sand and gravel replaces premix bags with bulk materials; a yard of 1:2:3 concrete needs about 7 bags of 94 lb cement plus sand and gravel. Price those with the cement vs concrete and the concrete mix ratio guide.
How Many Bags Equal One Truck?
An 8 yd³ truck equals 360 bags of 80 lb mix, and a 12 yd³ truck equals 540 bags.
How to Mix Bagged Concrete
- Pour the bag into a wheelbarrow or mixer.
- Add water a little at a time, using the amount on the bag.
- Mix until the concrete is evenly wet and workable, not soupy.
- Place it within the working time on the bag.
Too much water makes weak concrete (NRMCA CIP 31; University of Illinois).
Disadvantages of Ready-Mix Concrete
Ready-mix has three drawbacks for small jobs: short-load fees on small orders, the need for truck access to the pour, and a crew ready when the truck arrives, because concrete is perishable (NRMCA CIP 31).
Bagged Concrete vs Ready-Mix FAQ
Is bagged concrete as good as ready mix?
Yes for strength: bagged mixes such as Quikrete Concrete Mix are rated at 4,000 psi; ready-mix gives more uniform batches on large pours.
What is the cost to pour a 12×12 concrete slab?
A 12×12 ft slab at 4 in needs 1.96 yd³; ready-mix concrete costs $313–$381, or 88 bags of 80 lb at your bag price.
Is it cheaper to buy bags of concrete or mix your own?
For small jobs premix bags are simplest; mixing your own from cement, sand and gravel needs about 7 bags of 94 lb cement plus aggregate per yard, and above about 1 yd³ ready-mix is usually cheapest. See bagged concrete vs ready-mix.
Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?
On firm, well-drained Group I soils, yes (IRC R506.2.2 exception); otherwise lay a 4 in compacted base first.
What weakens a concrete mix?
Too much water: NRMCA warns that excess water reduces strength, and concrete left to dry out can lose up to 50 percent of its potential strength.
Next step
Enter your volume and local prices in the tool above; for orders above 1 yd³, follow ready-mix ordering guide.
Official sources
Last reviewed 2026-11-05. Numbers come from our tested engine; see how we calculate and our sources.