How Many Bags Of Portland Cement To Make A Yard Of Concrete?

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: India Home Advice

To produce one cubic yard of concrete, you'll require the following materials:

  • Portland Cement: Approximately 7 bags, each weighing 94 pounds.

  • Sand: About 14 cubic feet.

  • Gravel (Crushed Stone): Roughly 21 cubic feet.

  • Water: Approximately 32 gallons, though this can vary based on the desired consistency and moisture content of the sand.

These quantities are based on a standard mix ratio of 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, and 3 parts gravel by volume.

Mix Ratio Details:

  • Cement: 1 part

  • Sand: 2 parts

  • Gravel: 3 parts

This 1:2:3 mix ratio is commonly used for general concrete work, providing a balance between strength and workability.

Calculating Dry Volume:

Concrete undergoes shrinkage; thus, the dry volume of materials needed is greater than the final volume.

  • Dry Volume: Wet Volume × 1.54

For one cubic yard (27 cubic feet) of concrete:

  • Dry Volume = 27 cu ft × 1.54 = 41.58 cu ft

Material Breakdown:

  • Cement:

  • Volume: 1/6 of total dry volume

  • = 41.58 cu ft × (1/6)

  • 6.93 cu ft

  • Since each 94 lb bag of cement is approximately 1 cubic foot:

  • Bags Needed: 6.93 bags, rounded to 7 bags

  • Sand:

  • Volume: 2/6 of total dry volume

  • = 41.58 cu ft × (2/6)

  • 13.86 cu ft

  • Gravel:

  • Volume: 3/6 of total dry volume

  • = 41.58 cu ft × (3/6)

  • 20.79 cu ft

Water Requirement:

The water-cement ratio typically ranges from 0.5 to 0.6.

  • For 7 bags of cement:

  • Water Volume = 7 bags × 0.5 × 7.48 gallons (per cubic foot)

  • 26 gallons

  • Adjust based on desired consistency and moisture content of aggregates.

Accurate measurements and thorough mixing are crucial to achieve the desired concrete strength and durability.

For more detailed information, you can refer to Civil Sir's guide on this topic.


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