Ready-Mix vs Bagged Concrete

What a yard of bags means

One cubic yard is 45 bags of 80-lb mix (3,600 lb) or 60 bags of 60-lb mix. Every bag has to be loaded, unloaded, opened, mixed and placed, and the whole pour should go in before the first batches start to set.

Bags usually make sense when

• The job is small: fence or deck posts, a few Sonotubes, steps, a small pad or a repair.
• The site is hard to reach with a truck, or you need to pour in stages.
• You want to work at your own pace with no truck on the clock.

Ready-mix usually makes sense when

• The pour is more than about a yard and must be placed in one go, such as a slab or a wall.
• You want consistent concrete from one batch, with a specified strength.
• A truck can get close, or you can arrange a pump or buggies.

Short loads and minimums

Ready-mix plants price by the cubic yard (or m³). Many have a minimum order, and many add a short-load fee when you order less than a full truck. Fees and minimums differ a lot from plant to plant, so we don't quote numbers. Call two or three suppliers and ask:

• Price per yard for the mix you need, and the minimum order.
• Short-load fee for your yardage, and the delivery or fuel charge.
• How much unloading time is included, and the charge per extra minute.
• Whether they offer smaller trucks or trailer loads for small pours.

Then compare with the bag total. Enter your price per yard and per bag in the calculator; it shows both costs side by side for your exact pour.

Other options

Some yards sell concrete in towable trailers, and some suppliers run volumetric mixer trucks that mix on site and bill for what you use, which can suit small or uncertain pours. Availability varies by area.