Cement calculator: bags of portland cement for your own mix
Mixing concrete from portland cement, sand and gravel rather than buying premixed bags? Enter the volume to see how many bags of cement it takes.
Enter your measurements
- Weight of cement
- 517 lb
- Mix by volume
- 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 3 parts gravel
- Or premixed 80 lb concrete bags
- 45 bags
1 cu yd × 5.5 bags of 94 lb per cubic yard = 517 lb of cement
÷ 94 lb per bag = 6 bags
Mix: 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 3 parts gravel (Quikrete Portland Cement data sheet)
- Buy clean concrete sand and gravel meeting ASTM C33 (Quikrete’s spec for this mix) — the yard may sell them in bulk or in bags. Measure each part with the same bucket, and use the least water that gives a workable mix: extra water weakens concrete.
Quick answers for common sizes
| Example | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many bags of cement in a yard of concrete | 5 to 6 bags of 94 lb portland cement (or 45 bags of 80 lb concrete mix) |
| What is the concrete mix ratio | 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 3 parts gravel, by volume |
Cement for other volumes
| Concrete to make | Cement bags | Weight of cement | Or premixed 80 lb concrete bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cu yd | 2 bags | 129 lb | 12 bags |
| 0.5 cu yd | 3 bags | 259 lb | 23 bags |
| 1 cu yd | 6 bags | 517 lb | 45 bags |
| 2 cu yd | 11 bags | 1,034 lb | 90 bags |
| 3 cu yd | 17 bags | 1,551 lb | 135 bags |
Cement is the binder, not the concrete. To make concrete yourself you mix portland cement with sand, gravel and water. Quikrete’s Portland Cement data sheet gives a typical concrete mix of 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 3 parts gravel by volume, and says five to six 94 lb bags of cement are typically used per cubic yard of concrete.
Bags of cement per yard
| Concrete | 94 lb bags (5–6 per yd) | 47 lb bags | Premixed 80 lb bags instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ cu yd | 1.25–1.5 | 2.5–3 | 12 |
| ½ cu yd | 2.5–3 | 5–6 | 23 |
| 1 cu yd | 5–6 | 10–12 | 45 |
| 2 cu yd | 10–12 | 20–24 | 90 |
The worked example is on how many bags of cement in a yard of concrete, and the mix itself on what is the concrete mix ratio.
Mixing your own vs premix
Mixing from scratch can be cheaper where sand and gravel are sold in bulk nearby, and it lets you mix as much or as little as you like. Premixed bags are simpler: the proportions are fixed, the aggregate is graded, and each bag has its yield printed on it. For small jobs, the cost of buying sand and gravel separately often wipes out the savings.
Mixing tips
- Measure by volume with one bucket for everything — one bucket of cement, two of sand, three of gravel.
- Mix the dry ingredients first until the colour is even, then add water a little at a time.
- Use the least water that gives a workable mix. Quikrete’s data sheet stresses that too much water weakens the result.
- Portland cement is also the base for mortar and stucco, at different proportions. Quikrete lists Type S and Type N mortar and ASTM C926 stucco blends on the same sheet; see the mortar calculator and stucco calculator.
What you’ll need
- Portable electric concrete mixerPremium price
A small drum mixer turns a long day of hand-mixing into batches of two or three 80 lb bags. Check the drum size against the bag count you need.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mortar and concrete mixing tubBudget price
A wide, shallow tub for one or two bags at a time — easier to clean and to pull a hoe through than a wheelbarrow.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Mortar hoeBudget price
The holes in the blade pull water through dry mix, so bagged concrete and mortar mix evenly without dry pockets.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Half-face respirator with P100 filtersMid-range price
For dusty work such as dumping dry mix. It doesn’t replace wet cutting or a vacuum-equipped saw when you cut concrete or block.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ratio of cement, sand and gravel for concrete?
Quikrete’s Portland Cement data sheet gives 1 part cement, 2 parts sand and 3 parts gravel by volume as a typical concrete mix.
How many bags of cement make a yard of concrete?
Five to six 94 lb bags of portland cement per cubic yard, with the right proportions of sand and gravel, according to Quikrete.
Is cement the same as concrete mix?
No. Cement is only the binder. Concrete mix is cement already blended with sand and gravel; you add water. See cement vs concrete.
Related guides
Sources
- Quikrete Portland Cement data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Concrete mix 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 3 parts gravel by volume; five to six 94 lb bags of cement per cubic yard of concrete; Type S and Type N mortar and ASTM C926 stucco blends.
- Quikrete Concrete Mix (No. 1101) data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Yields: 40 lb ≈ 0.30, 50 lb ≈ 0.375, 60 lb ≈ 0.45, 80 lb ≈ 0.60, 90 lb ≈ 0.675 cu ft; unit weight ≈ 140 lb/cu ft; for pours 2 in thick or more; 6–9 pints of water per 80 lb bag; control joints every 6–8 ft; cure 5 days at 70 °F or above, 7 days at 50–70 °F; protect from freezing for 48 hours.
- OSHA 3351 — Preventing Skin Problems from Working with Portland Cement (opens in a new tab) — Wet portland cement can cause caustic burns that may not hurt at first and in severe cases reach the bone.