Quikrete vs Sakrete vs Ready-Mix
For a few fence posts, bagged concrete is the obvious choice. For a driveway, mixing 80 bags by hand is misery. Here is how to pick between Quikrete, Sakrete and ready-mix by the size of your pour.
By the Calculate My Reno Team / Published
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Open the Quikrete Concrete Calculator
There are really two decisions here: bagged vs ready-mix (driven by how much concrete you need), and if bagged, Quikrete vs Sakrete (largely down to price and availability).
Bagged vs ready-mix: it’s about volume
| Bagged (Quikrete / Sakrete) | Ready-mix (truck) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Posts, small pads, repairs | Slabs, driveways, large footings |
| Minimum | One bag | Often ~1 cubic yard minimum |
| Effort | You mix each bag | Delivered mixed, ready to pour |
| Cost per unit | Higher | Lower in volume |
| Switchover | Up to ~1 cubic yard | ~1 cubic yard and above |
The rule of thumb: under a cubic yard, bag it; a cubic yard or more, order ready-mix. A cubic yard is about 45 eighty-pound bags - mixing that by hand is a long, hard day, and the truck is usually cheaper anyway.
Quikrete vs Sakrete
These are the two dominant bagged-concrete brands in North America, and their core products line up closely:
- Standard concrete mix - general slabs, footings and pads.
- Fast-setting mix - sets in 20–40 minutes, often poured dry into a post hole; ideal for fence posts.
- High-strength / crack-resistant lines - for thinner or higher-load pours.
Bag yields are effectively the same (an 80 lb bag of either makes about 0.60 cu ft). So for most jobs they are interchangeable - buy whichever is cheaper or in stock, and match the product line to the job (fast-setting for posts, standard for slabs).
Which to choose
- A few fence posts: bagged fast-setting mix (Quikrete or Sakrete) - whichever your store stocks.
- A small pad, steps or repair: bagged standard mix.
- A slab, driveway or big footing (~1 cu yd+): ready-mix delivered.
Work out the amount first
Before you buy, get the volume and bag count: enter your slab, footing or post dimensions in the Quikrete concrete calculator (its bag options match the real 40/60/80 lb yields). For the full method see how many bags of concrete do I need, and for posts specifically, how much concrete for a fence post.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quikrete or Sakrete better?
They are close competitors with very similar products - standard concrete mix, fast-setting mix for posts, and high-strength lines - at similar bag yields. For most jobs they are interchangeable, so choose by price and what your local store stocks. Both make a fast-setting mix that is ideal for fence posts.
At what point should I switch from bags to ready-mix?
Around a cubic yard. Below that, bagged concrete lets you mix only what you need with no minimum order. Once a job needs roughly a cubic yard - about 45 eighty-pound bags - ready-mix delivered by the truck is usually cheaper and far less labour than mixing dozens of bags by hand.
How many bags of concrete equal a cubic yard?
About 45 bags at 80 lb (0.60 cu ft each), 60 bags at 60 lb, or 90 bags at 40 lb. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so divide 27 by the bag yield. Mixing that many bags by hand is a big job, which is why ready-mix takes over at roughly that volume.