Ready-Mix vs Bags: Which Concrete Costs Less
When planning a concrete pour, homeowners must decide between two delivery options: buying pre-mixed concrete from a ready-mix truck or buying 60lb or 80lb paper bags from a local home improvement center and mixing them by hand or with a rented electric mixer.
While bagged concrete appears cheaper per unit, the break-even point in labor and cost occurs surprisingly quickly as volume increases.
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Option 1: Bagged Concrete (DIY)
A standard 80lb bag of concrete costs around $6.50 and yields 0.60 cubic feet. To pour 1 cubic yard (27 cubic feet), you need 45 bags.
- Material cost for 1 cu yd in bags: 45 x $6.50 = $292.50
- Total weight to carry and mix: 45 x 80 lbs = 3,600 lbs
Option 2: Ready-Mix Truck Delivery
Ready-mix concrete trucks charge between $125.00 and $150.00 per cubic yard for short loads, plus a minimum delivery fee if ordering under 3 to 4 yards.
For a 2 cubic yard patio pour:
- Bagged Concrete: 90 bags x $6.50 = $585.00 (plus manual mixing of 7,200 lbs of material)
- Ready-Mix Truck: 2 cu yds @ $135/yd + $100 short load fee = $370.00
The Financial Break-Even Point
For small repairs under 0.75 cubic yards (under 35 bags), buying pre-bagged concrete is more economical. For any project exceeding 1 cubic yard, ready-mix truck delivery saves both money and hours of exhausting physical labor.
Model your exact project numbers with our free Concrete Calculator.
