Bags vs Ready-Mix Cost Crossover
The Decision Tree
Use bagged concrete if:
- Your project is under 1.5 cubic yards
- You have time to mix (5–10 minutes per 80-lb bag)
- Access for concrete truck is difficult or impossible
- You're doing the work alone or with one helper
Use ready-mix if:
- Your project is 2+ cubic yards
- You can accommodate a truck in your driveway
- You need fast placement and don't want mixing labor
- Your timeline is tight
The break-even point is typically 1.8–2.2 cubic yards, depending on your location and ready-mix delivery fees.
Material Cost Math
Bagged concrete costs approximately $290 per cubic yard in materials once you buy 80-lb bags at $5–$8 each ($180–$220 per yard) plus tax and handling. A 10×12 ft patio at 4 inches needs 1.5 cubic yards, which equals 67 bags costing roughly $335–$535 in material alone.
Ready-mix concrete costs $125–$175 per cubic yard delivered, but there's a catch: most suppliers charge a $100–$200 delivery fee plus a 4–5 cubic yard minimum. For that same 1.5-yard patio, you'd pay the minimum charge (typically $500–$875 total), making it uneconomical.
However, a 20×20 ft patio at 4 inches requires 4.9 cubic yards. Bagged concrete runs $1,421–$1,710. Ready-mix costs roughly $612–$858 material plus $150 delivery = $762–$1,008 total. Ready-mix wins decisively.
Factors Most People Overlook
Labor time: Each 80-lb bag takes 5–10 minutes to mix by hand or drill mixer. A 67-bag project consumes 5–9 hours of pure mixing and pouring. Add fatigue, potential mistakes, and slower placement speed. Ready-mix eliminates this entirely.
Quality consistency: Bagged concrete depends on your mixing ratio and technique. Under-mix or over-mix, and strength varies. Ready-mix guarantees uniform strength and slump right from the truck.
Tool rental: If you don't own a mixer, renting one costs $40–$60 per day. That tips the math toward ready-mix faster.
Access constraints: Ready-mix trucks are 30+ feet long and weigh 25–30 tons. If your site has a narrow gate, tight driveway, or soft ground, the truck may not reach your slab area. Bagged concrete avoids this entirely—you carry bags on foot.
Scheduling: Ready-mix requires a confirmed appointment and weather window. Bagged concrete works on your schedule, even in small batches across multiple days.
Clear Recommendation
Calculate your project's cubic yardage using SlabCalc's slab calculator. Then:
- Call three local ready-mix suppliers for actual delivery fees and minimums in your area—prices vary wildly by region.
- Multiply your cubic yards by $290 for bagged concrete total cost.
- Compare: If ready-mix's material + delivery is lower and truck access is confirmed, go ready-mix.
- For projects under 2 cubic yards, bags almost always win despite labor—unless you have ready-mix experience and a truck already coming.
Small slabs favor bags. Larger patios and driveways favor ready-mix. Know your exact yardage first, then call suppliers for real quotes instead of guessing.
