Quikrete vs Sakrete: Bag Yield Comparison 2026

AEO Quick Answer: Quikrete vs Sakrete is nearly a tie on the specs that matter: both brands’ standard 80 lb mix yields 0.60 cubic feet and reaches 4,000 PSI at 28 days. The real difference is price and availability at your local store. Run your volume through our concrete calculator first, then buy whichever costs less per cubic foot of yield.

The quikrete vs sakrete debate fills entire forum threads, but the engineering answer is refreshingly boring: for standard concrete mix, both brands sell you nearly the same bag. Both 80 lb all-purpose mixes yield 0.60 cubic feet. Both hit 4,000 PSI at 28 days when mixed to the printed water ratio. Where the brands actually differ is price at your specific store, shelf availability, and their specialty product lines. This guide compares yields bag by bag so you can stop guessing in the aisle.

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Quikrete vs Sakrete Yield Per Bag: Head-to-Head Table

Yield is printed on every bag and it is the number that matters most, because bag weight alone does not tell you how much concrete you get. A lighter specialty bag can out-yield a heavier standard one.

Brand and Product	Bag Weight	Yield (cu ft)	28-Day Strength	Typical Price (2026)
Quikrete Concrete Mix	80 lb	0.60	4,000 PSI	$5.00-$6.50
Quikrete Concrete Mix	60 lb	0.45	4,000 PSI	$4.00-$5.25
Quikrete Concrete Mix	40 lb	0.30	4,000 PSI	$3.25-$4.50
Quikrete 5000	80 lb	0.60	5,000 PSI	$6.50-$8.00
Quikrete Fast-Setting	50 lb	0.375	4,000 PSI	$5.50-$7.00
Sakrete High-Strength Mix	80 lb	0.60	4,000 PSI	$4.80-$6.25
Sakrete High-Strength Mix	60 lb	0.45	4,000 PSI	$3.90-$5.00
Sakrete High-Strength Mix	40 lb	0.30	4,000 PSI	$3.10-$4.25
Sakrete 5000 Plus	80 lb	0.60	5,000 PSI	$6.25-$7.75
Sakrete Fast Setting	50 lb	0.375	4,000 PSI	$5.25-$6.75
Sakrete Maximizer	80 lb	0.80	3,000 PSI	$6.00-$7.50

Prices are typical 2026 big-box ranges and vary by region and promotion. Notice the pattern: for equivalent products, the yields match almost exactly. Forty-five 80 lb bags of either brand make one cubic yard.

Which Brand Is Stronger?

Neither, at the standard tier. Both standard mixes are rated 4,000 PSI, which exceeds what residential slabs, footings, and fence posts require. Both brands also sell a 5,000 PSI high-early-strength line (Quikrete 5000 and Sakrete 5000 Plus) for heavy-duty work like commercial floors and structural repairs.

Real strength comes from your water ratio and curing, not the logo on the bag. Adding extra water for easier pouring can cut final strength by 30 percent or more with either brand. Follow the printed water amount, and keep the slab damp for several days while it cures.

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Price and Availability: Where the Brands Actually Differ

Quikrete has the widest distribution in the United States and is the house brand at Home Depot, so most shoppers see it first. Sakrete is strongest at Lowe’s, Menards, and independent building-supply dealers. In practice, one brand is often $0.50 to $1.00 cheaper per 80 lb bag at a given store depending on current promotions, and that gap flips by store and by month.

The smart move in the quikrete vs sakrete price war: ignore the brand and compute price per cubic foot of yield (bag price divided by the yield printed on the bag). For standard 80 lb bags both yield 0.60 cubic feet, so it reduces to price per bag. For specialty mixes like Sakrete Maximizer at 0.80 cubic feet, the per-foot math is the only fair comparison.

⚠️ Watch the bag, not the brand: Specialty and lightweight mixes change the yield. An 80 lb bag of Sakrete Maximizer yields 0.80 cubic feet versus 0.60 for standard mix, which means only 34 bags per yard instead of 45. Always read the yield panel before you calculate.

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Specialty Mixes Compared

Beyond the standard gray bag, each brand fields a lineup for specific jobs:

Job	Quikrete Option	Sakrete Option
Fence and mailbox posts	Fast-Setting (sets 20-40 min, no mixing)	Fast Setting (sets ~30 min, no mixing)
Large non-structural fills	(standard mix)	Maximizer (0.80 cu ft per 80 lb, lighter)
Heavy-duty repairs	5000 High Early Strength	5000 Plus High Strength
Crack-prone slabs	Crack Resistant (fiber-reinforced)	(standard high-strength mix)
Countertops	Countertop Mix (flowable, 5,000 PSI)	(standard mixes)

For posts, both fast-setting lines work the same way: pour the dry mix around the post and add water, no wheelbarrow mixing. For big low-strength fills like post-hole backfill or landscape footers, Sakrete Maximizer’s extra yield stretches each bag further, though its 3,000 PSI rating rules it out for structural slabs.

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Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

For standard slabs, footings, and patios, the quikrete vs sakrete winner is whichever bag costs less per cubic foot of yield at your store on the day you buy. The specs are equivalent, the mixing instructions are equivalent, and the cured concrete is indistinguishable once it is in the ground.

Pick by product line only when the job is special: Sakrete Maximizer for maximum yield per bag on non-structural fills, Quikrete’s broader specialty range for countertops or fiber-reinforced slabs. And if your project is big enough that brand loyalty starts to feel expensive, read our bags vs ready-mix decision guide and our cement vs concrete explainer before you load up the truck.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Quikrete stronger than Sakrete?

No. Both standard concrete mixes are rated 4,000 PSI at 28 days, and both brands offer 5,000 PSI high-strength lines. Finished strength depends on your water ratio and curing far more than on the brand.

How many 80 lb bags of Quikrete or Sakrete make a cubic yard?

Forty-five bags of either brand. Standard 80 lb bags from both manufacturers yield 0.60 cubic feet, and 27 divided by 0.60 equals 45.

Why do some 80 lb bags yield more concrete than others?

Lightweight and specialty mixes use different aggregate blends. Sakrete Maximizer, for example, yields 0.80 cubic feet per 80 lb bag versus 0.60 for standard mix. Always use the yield printed on the specific bag you are buying.

Can I mix Quikrete and Sakrete in the same project?

Yes, as long as both bags are the same product type and strength rating. Keep one brand per individual pour, though, since slight color and aggregate differences can show on the finished surface.

Which brand is cheaper, Quikrete or Sakrete?

It varies by store and week. Typical 2026 prices run $4.80 to $6.50 per 80 lb bag for standard mix from either brand. Compare the shelf price per bag, since yields are identical, and buy the cheaper one.

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Calculate Bags Before You Shop

Count your bags before you argue about brands. Our free Concrete Calculator converts any slab, footing, or post hole into exact bag counts for 80 lb, 60 lb, and 40 lb bags from either manufacturer.