Concrete Cost Calculator: bags, yards, and this week's prices
Bagged concrete cost
$414
- Volume incl. waste
- 36.7 cu ft = 1.36 yd³
- 80 lb bags needed (0.6 cu ft/bag)
- 62 bags
- Bag price (National median)
- $6.67/bag
- Ready-mix comparison (≈$170/yd³ delivered)
- $231
Under about 1.5 yd³, bagged mix wins on flexibility and avoids ready-mix short-load fees. Remember mixing labor: an experienced two-person crew places roughly 40–60 bags per hour with a mixer.
How this calculator works — the formula
volume (cu ft) = L × W × (thickness ÷ 12) × (1 + waste%)
bags = ⌈volume ÷ 0.60⌉ · yards = volume ÷ 27
0.60 cu ft per 80 lb bag is the manufacturer yield for standard concrete mix. Above roughly 1.5 yd³ (~68 bags), ready-mix delivery (≈$170/yd³ nationally, plus short-load fees under 4 yd³) usually wins on cost and always wins on labor.
This week’s prices: Quikrete 80 lb concrete mix
Tracked at Home Depot and Lowe’s store-level pages across 20 metros. Stamps advance only when a fresh check succeeds — methodology.
| Metro | Home Depot | Lowe’s | Week over week |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $7.67 | $7.61 | ▲ $0.07 this week |
| Los Angeles, CA | $7.36 | $7.25 | ▲ $0.03 this week |
| Chicago, IL | $6.75 | $6.75 | ▲ $0.08 this week |
| Dallas, TX | $6.27 | $6.28 | ▲ $0.01 this week |
| Houston, TX | $6.19 | $6.22 | ▲ $0.09 this week |
| Phoenix, AZ | $6.37 | $6.49 | ▼ $0.05 this week |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6.88 | $6.96 | ▼ $0.04 this week |
| Atlanta, GA | $6.44 | $6.38 | ▲ $0.16 this week |
| Miami, FL | $6.85 | $6.85 | ▲ $0.15 this week |
| Boston, MA | $7.32 | $7.49 | ▲ $0.04 this week |
| San Francisco, CA | $7.59 | $7.52 | ▲ $0.02 this week |
| Detroit, MI | $6.34 | $6.46 | ▲ $0.02 this week |
| Seattle, WA | $7.09 | $7.17 | ▼ $0.02 this week |
| Minneapolis, MN | $6.58 | $6.70 | ▲ $0.05 this week |
| San Diego, CA | $7.15 | $7.15 | ▼ $0.05 this week |
| Tampa, FL | $6.46 | $6.42 | ▲ $0.12 this week |
| Denver, CO | $6.64 | $6.64 | ▲ $0.11 this week |
| St. Louis, MO | $6.08 | $6.12 | ▼ $0.04 this week |
| Baltimore, MD | $6.66 | $6.71 | ▲ $0.09 this week |
| Charlotte, NC | $6.15 | $6.23 | ▲ $0.17 this week |
| National median | $6.67 | ▲ $0.05 this week | |
Questions contractors actually ask
How many 80 lb bags of concrete for a 10×10 slab?
At 4" thick with 10% waste: 10 × 10 × 0.333 × 1.10 = 36.7 cu ft ÷ 0.60 = 62 bags. At 6" thick it jumps to 92 bags — thickness is the number to double-check before you buy.
What does a bag of Quikrete cost right now?
National median $6.67 per 80 lb bag as of Aug 24, 2026, verified weekly at big-box retailers. Metro prices in the table on this page range meaningfully — check yours before quoting.
When is ready-mix cheaper than bags?
Usually above ~1.5 yd³ (about 68 bags): delivered ready-mix runs ≈$170/yd³ nationally vs ~$290/yd³ equivalent in bags at median shelf price — and skips hours of mixing labor. Under 4 yd³ expect a short-load fee; get a local plant quote.
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