Bagged Concrete vs. Ready-Mix: Which Is Cheaper?
The exact cubic-yard breakpoint where ready-mix beats bags — plus how many bags equal a yard.
Under 1 cubic yard, bags win. Over that, ready-mix wins on both price and time. Here's why.
The bag math
An 80lb bag yields 0.6 cu ft. You need 45 bags to make 1 cubic yard. At $7/bag, that's $315 — plus 6 hours of mixing.
The ready-mix math
Same yard delivered: $165 average. Add $100–$200 short-load fee if you order less than the truck minimum (usually 1 yd³).
The breakpoint
Even with short-load fees, ready-mix is cheaper above ~0.75 yd³. Below that, bags are cheaper and you avoid the truck logistics.
Toggle 'Use bags' to compare both options for your project.
Open the Concrete CalculatorGet more guidance like this in your inbox
Weekly emergency-fund tactics, milestone checklists, and the next article — delivered free.
Order the right amount of concrete
Get exact cubic yards, bag counts, rebar, and total cost — slab, footing, column, or stairs — with our free Concrete Calculator.
Open the Concrete Calculator