Cement Bags per Cubic Metre of Concrete — Full Reference Table

Whether you're pricing a job or checking a supplier's delivery quantity, knowing how many bags of cement go into a cubic metre of concrete is one of the most useful numbers on a construction site. It depends entirely on your mix ratio — here's the full reference table for the ratios most commonly used in Kenya.

Cement bags per m³ of concrete, by mix ratio

Figures are approximate and based on standard dry volume calculations with typical bulking and wastage allowances. Site conditions, aggregate size, and workmanship affect actual consumption.

How this is calculated

The bag count per cubic metre comes from converting the wet concrete volume to dry material volume (accounting for roughly 54% volume loss when materials are mixed with water), then dividing the total ratio parts to find cement's share, and converting that volume to bags using cement's bulk density (roughly 1,440 kg/m³, or 28.8 bags per m³ of loose cement).

In practice, most site teams don't recalculate this from scratch — they use reference tables like the one above, adjusted slightly based on experience with local aggregate and site conditions.

Worked example: 1:2:4 mix for a 10m³ pour

A slab pour of this size sits right at the point where bulk tanker delivery starts to make more financial sense than bagged cement — 64 bags is a substantial order, and a tanker eliminates the manual offloading and storage that come with that many bags.

Which mix ratio should you use?

• 1:1.5:3 — where your structural engineer specifies high early or ultimate strength, typically for columns, beams, and heavily loaded structural elements
• 1:2:4 — the standard ratio for most foundations, footings, and structural slabs on residential and light commercial builds
• 1:3:6 — commonly used for blinding layers under foundations, mass fill, and other non-structural concrete work
• 1:4:8 — reserved for lean concrete applications like footpaths and non-load-bearing fill

If your project has a structural engineer's specification, that ratio takes precedence over general guidance — this table is a planning reference, not a substitute for an approved mix design.

Ordering cement for your pour

Once you know your mix ratio and pour volume, we can calculate the exact bag or tanker quantity you need and recommend bagged vs bulk based on your order size and site access.

1. WhatsApp or call — 0796 177 284
2. Tell us your mix ratio and pour volume (m³)
3. We calculate exact cement quantity and recommend bagged or bulk
4. Same-day dispatch for Nairobi sites

Get an exact quantity calculation →

Figures are indicative estimates for planning purposes. Always confirm against an approved mix design or your structural engineer's specification for structural work.