All You Need To Know About a Yard of Concrete
Trying to measure concrete yards needed for a new patio? Or a new driveway? No fear – we’re here to help. We’ve put together a one-stop-shop guide answering all of your questions around the weight of a yard of concrete, number of bags in a yard of concrete, how to determine yards of concrete, and more.
Read on and we’ll help demystify these questions so you can accurately plan for your concrete project.
How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Weigh?
The weight of a yard of concrete can vary depending on the mix design and the moisture content of the concrete. In general, a cubic yard of concrete (which is equivalent to 27 cubic feet) weighs between 4000 and 5000 pounds, or between 2 and 2.5 tons. Concrete is made up of a mixture of cement, water, and aggregate materials, such as sand and gravel – the proportion of these materials in the concrete can affect the overall weight. For example, a concrete mix with a higher proportion of cement will generally be denser and therefore heavier than a mix with a lower proportion of cement. Similarly, a more wet mix of concrete will weigh more than a dry mix due to the added weight of the water.
To calculate the weight of a specific amount of concrete, you can use the following formula:
- Weight (lbs) = volume (cubic feet) x density (lbs/cubic foot)
For example, if you have a cubic yard of concrete with a density of 150 lbs/cubic foot, the weight of the
concrete would be:
- Weight (lbs) = 27 cubic feet x 150 lbs/cubic foot = 4050 lbs
How Many Bags of Concrete in a Yard?
The number of bags of concrete required to make a yard of concrete depends on the size of the bags and the mix design of the concrete. Concrete is typically sold in bags containing either 60 or 80 pounds of dry mix.
So for example, if you are using bags of concrete mix that contain 60 pounds of dry mix, you will need 60 bags to make a cubic yard of concrete. If you are using bags of concrete mix that contain 80 pounds of dry mix, you will need 45 bags to make a cubic yard of concrete.
To calculate the number of bags of concrete required for a specific project, you can use the following formula:
- Number of bags = volume (cubic yards) x bags/cubic yard
For example, if you need to make 1 cubic yard of concrete using bags of mix that contain 60 pounds of dry mix, you will need:
- Number of bags = 1 cubic yard x 60 bags/cubic yard = 60 bags
It is important to note that this is just a rough estimate, as the actual number of bags required may vary depending on the specific mix design and the moisture content of the concrete. It is always a good idea to have a little extra concrete on hand, just in case you need it.
How to Figure Yards of Concrete?
To figure out the number of cubic yards of concrete required for a project, you will need to know the dimensions of the area that you need to cover and the desired thickness of the concrete.
Here are the steps you can follow to calculate the number of cubic yards of concrete needed:
- Measure the length, width, and depth of the area where you will be placing the concrete.
- Convert the dimensions to feet. If the dimensions are in inches or another unit of measurement, you will need to divide them by the number of inches per foot (12 inches) or the equivalent conversion factor for the unit you are using.
- Calculate the volume of the area in cubic feet. To do this, multiply the length, width, and depth in feet. For example, if you are pouring a slab that is 10 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 4 inches thick (which is equal to 0.33 feet), the volume would be: 10 feet x 20 feet x 0.33 feet = 6.6 cubic feet.
- Convert the volume to cubic yards. To do this, divide the volume in cubic feet by the number of cubic feet in a cubic yard (27 cubic feet). For example, if you have a volume of 6.6 cubic feet, you would need: 6.6 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet/cubic yard = 0.24 cubic yards of concrete.
Again, this is just an example, but we recommend always having a bit of extra concrete on hand just so you don’t fall short in the middle of your project.
Sudlow Concrete can always help you configure yards needed for a project, so call us today to discuss.
