A 1,000 lb payload: the half-ton name, taken literally
Half a US ton is 1,000 lb, and that much payload carries 12 bags of 80 lb mix: 960 lb, with 40 lb left over. "Half-ton" is a class name, though, not a rating. The payload of your own truck is printed on the sticker inside the driver's door, and that is the number to put in the calculator.
12 bags make 7.2 cubic feet of concrete, enough for 21.6 square feet of 4 inch slab. One trip like this suits a few fence posts or a small pad, not a patio: a 10 × 10 ft slab needs 56 bags, which is 5 trips.
Bags left after people and cargo
Payload is everything the truck carries: the driver, passengers, tools, a toolbox, a hitch and the bags. Take the rest off first.
| Already aboard | Payload left for bags | 40 lb bags | 60 lb bags | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing else aboard | 1,000 lb | 25 | 16 | 12 |
| 200 lb of people and cargo | 800 lb | 20 | 13 | 10 |
| 400 lb of people and cargo | 600 lb | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| 600 lb of people and cargo | 400 lb | 10 | 6 | 5 |
Use the payload on the sticker inside the driver's door of your own truck, not a figure for the model or the class. Bag weights are dry weights as sold.
Trips for a slab with 80 lb bags (1,000 lb payload)
Each row is a 4 inch slab with no waste added, at 12 bags a trip.
| Slab | Concrete | 80 lb bags | Trips | Weight of the slab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 21.3 ft³ | 36 | 3 | 3,200 lb |
| 8 × 10 ft | 26.7 ft³ | 45 | 4 | 4,000 lb |
| 10 × 10 ft | 33.3 ft³ | 56 | 5 | 5,000 lb |
| 10 × 12 ft | 40.0 ft³ | 67 | 6 | 6,000 lb |
| 12 × 12 ft | 48.0 ft³ | 80 | 7 | 7,200 lb |
| 12 × 16 ft | 64.0 ft³ | 107 | 9 | 9,600 lb |
Worked example
1,000 ÷ 80 = 12.5, so 12 whole bags. 12 × 80 = 960 lb, 40 lb under the payload. 12 × 0.60 = 7.2 cubic feet of concrete.
Bags per load at other payloads
| Payload | 40 lb bags | 60 lb bags | 80 lb bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 lb | 25 bags | 16 bags | 12 bags |
| 1,500 lb | 37 bags | 25 bags | 18 bags |
| 2,000 lb | 50 bags | 33 bags | 25 bags |
| 3,000 lb | 75 bags | 50 bags | 37 bags |
Enter your own payload and slab in the concrete weight calculator, or see how many bags of concrete equal a yard and how much concrete weighs.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Concrete Weight Calculator: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How many 80 lb bags of concrete can a truck with a 1,000 lb payload carry?
12 bags, which weigh 960 lb, if nothing else is aboard: 1,000 ÷ 80, rounded down. The driver, passengers and other cargo count against the payload, so with 200 lb of people and gear it is 10 bags.
How many 80 lb bags of concrete can a half-ton truck carry?
Taking "half-ton" as 1,000 lb of payload, 12 bags (960 lb) with nobody in the cab. Trucks in that class have their own payload ratings, so read the door-jamb sticker and subtract the driver, passengers and anything else on board. With 200 lb of people and gear it is 10 bags.
How much concrete do 12 bags of 80 lb mix make?
About 7.2 cubic feet (0.27 cubic yards), at 0.60 cubic feet a bag. That pours 21.6 square feet of slab 4 inches thick.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.