Sakrete concrete mix typically costs $4-$9 per bag at U.S. retailers, with an average of about $6 for a standard 80-pound bag. Bag size, mix type, local store pricing, delivery, and whether a contractor handles placement determine the total project cost.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60-pound standard mix | $4 | $5 | $7 | About 0.45 cu. ft. yield |
| 80-pound standard mix | $5 | $6 | $9 | About 0.60 cu. ft. yield |
| Specialty mix, 60-80 pounds | $7 | $10 | $16 | Rapid-setting or higher-strength products |
| One cubic yard of bag mix | $225 | $300 | $540 | About 45 80-pound bags, before tax and delivery |
Assumptions: U.S. retail pricing for common Sakrete products; local availability and promotions vary.
Sakrete 60-Pound and 80-Pound Bag Prices
For ordinary sidewalks, post footings, and small pads, standard Sakrete concrete mix is commonly sold in 60-pound and 80-pound bags. A 60-pound bag generally runs $4-$7, while an 80-pound bag is usually $5-$9. The larger bag costs more at checkout but often costs less per cubic foot of finished mix.
At typical prices, the 60-pound size works out to roughly $9-$16 per cubic foot of yield. An 80-pound bag is approximately $8-$15 per cubic foot. A low shelf price does not necessarily mean the lowest material cost: compare yield, mix specifications, and the number of bags required for the job.
Specialty options can cost more. Rapid-setting concrete, high-strength blends, and products designed for particular repairs may be around $7-$16 per bag, depending on size and store. Mortar and sand mixes also carry the Sakrete name but are not interchangeable with concrete mix; check the product label before estimating quantities.
For routine concrete work, budget about $5-$9 for each 80-pound bag and verify the stated yield on the package. Assumptions: Standard concrete mix, retail purchase, and no delivery charge.
What Goes Into a Sakrete Bagged-Concrete Quote?
The bag price is only part of a project budget. For a DIY job, the biggest costs are usually the mix, delivery or store transport, and small equipment. Professional placement adds labor, site preparation, and often a minimum service charge, which can outweigh the cost of the concrete itself on a small pour.
| Cost component | Typical price | What changes the charge | Example budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakrete mix | $5-$9 per 80-pound bag | Bag size and product type | 20 bags: $100-$180 |
| Delivery or transport | $0-$100+ per order | Store distance, order size, and unloading | Short local delivery: $25-$75 |
| Tools and mixing equipment | $15-$100 per day | Hand mixing versus rented mixer | Small mixer rental: $40-$80 |
| Labor | $50-$100 per worker-hour | Region, access, crew size, and finish | Two workers for 5 hours: $500-$1,000 |
| Site prep and disposal | $25-$300+ | Excavation, old concrete, and haul-away | Light debris removal: $50-$150 |
Retailers may offer free pickup, but moving dozens of 80-pound bags requires a suitable vehicle and safe loading. Contractor quotes may include forms, reinforcement, base material, finishing, cleanup, and a minimum charge. A small installation can therefore cost several hundred dollars even when the bags themselves cost less than $200.
For a labor estimate, a basic planning formula is . For example, 8 combined worker-hours at $70 per hour equals $560 before materials or any minimum fee. Ask whether the quote includes preparation, placement, finishing, and disposal rather than comparing labor rates alone.
Bag Yield, Slab Thickness, and Strength Change the Total
Bag count depends on the concrete volume, not just the surface area. An 80-pound Sakrete bag commonly yields about 0.60 cubic feet; a 60-pound bag yields about 0.45 cubic feet. Product labels may give a slightly different figure, so use the stated yield when available and add roughly 5%-10% for spillage, uneven excavation, and measurement error.
A cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet. At 0.60 cubic feet per 80-pound bag, that is about 45 bags before extra allowance, or roughly 48-50 bags for a practical order. At $5-$9 each, the material alone is approximately $240-$450 with that allowance, not including delivery, tools, or labor. A 60-pound bag requires about 60 bags per cubic yard before extra material.
Thickness can alter quantities sharply. A 10-by-10-foot pad at 4 inches thick needs about 33.3 cubic feet, or 56 80-pound bags before waste; allowing 10% brings the estimate to around 62 bags. Increasing thickness to 6 inches raises the volume by 50%, to about 93 bags with the same allowance.
Mix specification matters too. Ordinary concrete may suit many general-purpose projects, but a structural or freeze-thaw-exposed installation may call for a specified strength or air-entrained product. Confirm the required mix and calculate volume from actual depth before buying; a stronger bag does not compensate for an undersized slab. Assumptions: 80-pound bags yield 0.60 cu. ft.; dimensions are measured accurately.
Delivery Charges and Labor for Heavy Bag Orders
Bagged concrete is convenient for small pours, but even a modest slab can require a half-ton or more of product. Fifty 80-pound bags weigh 4,000 pounds before pallets or other materials. Pickup may require a truck or trailer with adequate payload, while a retail delivery charge can range from free to $100 or more based on distance, order size, and handling.
Mixing time is another cost. A small batch can be mixed by hand in a wheelbarrow or mixing tub, but repeated batches take time and make it harder to keep a continuous pour. A portable mixer rental commonly costs about $40-$80 per day, with delivery, deposits, or late-return charges potentially added. An extra helper may be needed to move bags, add water, and place concrete promptly.
Professional labor varies by location and scope. A general planning range is $50-$100 per worker-hour, but contractors may quote a flat minimum rather than an hourly rate. A narrow walkway with easy access may need only a short crew visit; stairs, long carrying distances, precise grading, or difficult finishing can increase labor considerably.
Check total delivered weight and access before choosing bag mix; carrying and mixing dozens of bags can cost more in labor than the material savings are worth. Assumptions: Local rental and labor examples are broad U.S. ranges, not fixed national rates.
Bagged Sakrete or Ready-Mix for a Larger Slab?
Bagged mix usually makes financial sense when a repair or small project needs only a limited number of bags and a ready-mix supplier would impose a short-load charge. It also allows a buyer to purchase in stages. The tradeoff is repeated mixing, heavy handling, and the risk of inconsistent batches if water measurements vary.
Ready-mix concrete is often priced around $125-$180 per cubic yard for the concrete itself, but delivery, fuel surcharges, short-load fees, and minimum order charges can increase a small pour’s effective rate. A short-load or small-order fee may add roughly $100-$300 or more. Compare the complete delivered quote with bagged material plus equipment and labor, not just the per-yard material price.
At one cubic yard, 45 80-pound bags at $5-$9 each cost $225-$405 before delivery and mixing. Ready-mix may be less expensive for a larger, accessible pour once labor and equipment are included, even with a fee. For a small post footing or a few repair patches, the added truck charge may make bagged mix the more economical option.
Use bag mix for modest volumes that can be mixed and placed steadily; request a delivered ready-mix quote when the project approaches a cubic yard or more. Actual break-even volume depends on local short-load fees, bag prices, access, and labor.
Three Sakrete Project Budgets From Walkway to Slab
These examples use 80-pound standard bags at $5-$9 each and include a 10% quantity allowance. They show material planning rather than a guaranteed contractor quote; local delivery, taxes, and site conditions can change the total.
| Project | Estimated bags | Mix cost | Other likely expense | DIY budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two small post footings, 2 cu. ft. total | 4 bags | $20-$36 | $15-$40 for basic supplies | $35-$76 |
| 4-by-10-foot walkway, 4 inches thick | 26 bags | $130-$234 | $40-$100 for base, forms, and transport | $170-$334 |
| 10-by-10-foot pad, 4 inches thick | 62 bags | $310-$558 | $80-$200 for delivery, rental, and supplies | $390-$758 |
The walkway calculation is about 13.3 cubic feet before allowance. The pad is about 33.3 cubic feet before allowance. The estimates assume straightforward access and no removal of an existing slab. Reinforcement, extensive excavation, a decorative finish, or contractor placement can add substantially more than the listed DIY supplies.
A contractor-installed pad may cost several hundred dollars to more than $1,500 depending on location, preparation, reinforcement, finishing, and crew minimums. A quote should spell out whether it includes excavation, compacted base, forms, reinforcement, concrete, finishing, and cleanup.
Use bag count as the starting material budget, then add separate amounts for transport, preparation, mixing, and finishing.
Regional Retail Prices and Local Delivery Differences
Sakrete shelf prices are not uniform across the country. Big-box retailers may price common 80-pound bags near $5-$7 in competitive suburban markets, while smaller stores or areas with higher freight costs may charge $7-$9 or more. Promotions and seasonal inventory can temporarily move prices outside these typical ranges.
Urban areas often have more retailer competition but may charge for difficult delivery access, parking, or scheduled drop-offs. Rural buyers may find fewer nearby suppliers and pay more for transportation. As a planning allowance, prices and delivery in high-cost coastal or remote markets may run 10%-25% above a comparable lower-cost market; this is a broad estimate, not a fixed regional surcharge.
Labor varies even more than bag prices. Metropolitan contractor rates can be 15%-35% above rural rates, while remote sites may still incur travel charges. The same walkway may therefore have similar material costs but a different installed price because of wages, minimum charges, and crew availability.
Compare local delivered totals, not online shelf prices alone, especially when an order contains more than 20-30 heavy bags. Request the delivery fee, unloading method, and any minimum order requirement in writing.
Lower the Sakrete Bill by Managing Quantity and Scope
Measure length, width, and depth in feet, then multiply them to find cubic feet. Divide by the bag’s stated yield and add 5%-10% for normal waste. Avoid ordering extra bags simply to compensate for uncertain dimensions; checking the form depth and base grade first can prevent overspending and leftover material.
Choose bag size based on handling and total price. An 80-pound bag may cost less per cubic foot, but a 60-pound bag can be easier to carry and mix, especially for a one-person job. Compare the cost per yield unit and factor in the risk of incomplete batches or a paid helper.
Keep the project geometry simple, complete excavation and formwork before mixing, and arrange a helper for placement if the pour is too large for one person to finish steadily. For a small isolated defect, compare a suitable concrete repair product with replacing a larger area. Do not reduce thickness or use an unsuitable mix merely to lower the bag count; those shortcuts can lead to cracking or premature failure.
Request at least two local quotes for contractor work and ask each company to price the same dimensions, thickness, reinforcement, and finish. Confirm whether disposal and delivery are included. The most reliable savings come from accurate volume, controlled scope, and comparing complete quotes rather than choosing the cheapest bag on the shelf.