USA/UK Cement Brands Compared (Bag Yield & Price)
Ask for “a bag of cement” in a US hardware store and a UK builders’ merchant, and you’ll walk out with two genuinely different products. It isn’t just different brands — the two markets package and sell cement in fundamentally different ways, and mixing that up is the single most common mistake international buyers make.
Quick answer
In the US, a bag of “concrete mix” (Quikrete, Sakrete) already contains cement, sand, and gravel combined — just add water. In the UK, a bag of “cement” (Blue Circle, Hanson) is usually pure cement powder only, and you buy sand and ballast separately to make concrete yourself, unless you specifically choose a “ready-to-use concrete” or “Postcrete” product. Prices: US concrete mix runs about $4.50-$6.50 for an 80 lb bag; UK cement runs about £7-£10 for a 25 kg bag, with ready-to-use concrete in smaller 20 kg bags at a similar per-bag price.
The Bags of Concrete Calculator is built around US-style pre-mixed concrete bags (40/60/80 lb). If you’re working in kilograms with plain cement, our How Many CFT is One Bag of Cement? guide covers that math directly.
The core difference: what’s actually in the bag
| Product | Contains | Where it’s common |
|---|---|---|
| US “concrete mix” | Cement, sand, and gravel aggregate, pre-combined | Standard product at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and most US retailers |
| UK “cement” | Pure Portland (or blended) cement powder only | Standard product at Wickes, Travis Perkins, Screwfix, B&Q |
| UK “ready-to-use concrete” | Cement, sand, and aggregate, pre-combined | A specific, smaller product line, not the default |
In practice, this means a UK buyer reaching for “a bag of cement” to pour a slab needs to also buy ballast (a pre-blended sand-and-gravel aggregate) separately and mix the two — unless they specifically pick up a ready-to-use concrete or Postcrete product instead.
US brands at a glance
| Brand | Common sizes | Yield (80 lb) | PSI (28 day) | Typical price (80 lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quikrete | 40, 50, 60, 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | ~4,000 | $4.50 – $6.50 |
| Sakrete | 40, 50, 60, 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | ~4,000 | $4.50 – $6.50 |
| Store brands (Home Depot, Lowe’s) | 40, 60, 80 lb | 0.60 cu ft | ~4,000 | $4.00 – $6.00 |
All three meet ASTM C387, the US standard for packaged concrete mix, and perform similarly for standard residential work — see our How to Read a Cement Bag Label guide for what else is printed on a US bag.
UK brands at a glance
| Brand / product | Size | Type | Yield | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Circle General Purpose Cement | 25 kg | Pure cement powder | Mix with ballast — no standalone yield | £7 – £10 |
| Hanson Cement | 25 kg | Pure cement powder | Mix with ballast — no standalone yield | £7 – £10 |
| Blue Circle Ready-to-Use Concrete | 20 kg | Pre-mixed concrete | ~0.01 m³ (10 L) | £6 – £9 |
| Postcrete / Post Mix (various brands) | 20 kg | Fast-setting pre-mixed concrete | ~0.01 m³ (10 L) | £5 – £7 |
Blue Circle and Hanson are the two dominant legacy UK cement brands, sold through most major builders’ merchants and DIY chains — the retailer matters more for price than the brand does, in most cases.
PSI vs. N/mm² (MPa) — different scales, not the same number
US bags rate strength in PSI (pounds per square inch) — 4,000 PSI is standard. UK cement is classified in N/mm², or megapascals (MPa), under BS EN 197-1 — common classes are 32.5, 42.5, and 52.5, with an “N” or “R” suffix for normal or rapid early strength. These aren’t simply two units for the same measurement: the UK class rates the cement itself, tested in a standard mortar, while US PSI typically rates a finished concrete mix at 28 days. Don’t try to convert one number directly into the other — match each rating to its own region’s standard use cases instead.
Price per unit of finished concrete
| Market | Product | Cost per cu ft (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 80 lb concrete mix | ~$9.00 per cu ft |
| United Kingdom | 20 kg ready-to-use concrete | ~£19.80 per cu ft |
These are kept in local currency deliberately — exchange rates shift daily, so a direct dollar-to-pound comparison would go stale quickly. If you want a live comparison, check the current exchange rate yourself and apply it to these figures. What’s consistent regardless of the rate: in both markets, buying raw ingredients (bulk cement plus separately-bought aggregate, or a large ready-mix order) is cheaper per unit of volume than small bagged premix — the convenience of a bag costs a premium in both countries.
What to actually buy, depending on where you are
- In the US, for a slab or footingBuy “concrete mix” specifically — it’s the complete product, ready to add water and pour.
- In the UK, for a small jobReady-to-use concrete (20 kg bags) is the closest equivalent to US concrete mix — convenient, but a smaller yield per bag.
- In the UK, for a larger jobBuying cement and ballast separately and mixing to a standard ratio (commonly 1:6 for general use) is noticeably cheaper per unit of finished concrete.
- In the UK, for a fence postPostcrete is purpose-built for this — poured dry around the post, then watered in place, similar to US fast-setting mix.
Mistakes when buying across markets
- Assuming UK “cement” is the same as US “concrete mix”UK cement alone has no aggregate — it won’t perform like a pourable concrete slab mix on its own.
- Treating PSI and N/mm² as directly interchangeableThey rate different things, tested differently — match ratings to local standard practice instead of converting.
- Forgetting to buy ballast when buying UK cementA bag of cement alone can’t be poured as a slab without sand and aggregate mixed in.
- Comparing bag prices without comparing yieldA cheaper bag with a smaller yield can cost more per unit of finished concrete than it first appears.
- Assuming a specific brand is available in both marketsQuikrete and Sakrete are US-only; Blue Circle and Hanson are UK-focused — check local availability rather than assuming.
Quick reference: US vs UK terms
| US term | UK term |
|---|---|
| Concrete mix (bag) | Ready-to-use concrete / Postcrete |
| Gravel / aggregate | Ballast (sand + aggregate pre-blended) |
| PSI | N/mm² (MPa) |
| Sidewalk | Pavement / path |
| Cubic yard | Cubic metre |
| Rebar | Rebar (same term) |
What affects price and availability in each market
- Retailer, more than brandIn both countries, which store you buy from tends to move the price more than which brand you choose.
- VAT and sales taxUK prices are typically shown inclusive of VAT; US prices are usually shown before local sales tax is added.
- Bulk and pallet pricingBoth markets offer a lower per-bag cost when buying a full pallet rather than individual bags.
- RegionFreight distance from the nearest plant affects pricing in both the US and UK, sometimes by 15-25%.
Buy the right bag in five steps
- Confirm your market’s default product — complete mix in the US, plain cement in the UK.
- In the UK, decide: ready-to-use concrete for convenience, or cement plus ballast for cost on a bigger job.
- Match the strength rating to your project using your region’s own scale — don’t try to convert between PSI and MPa.
- Compare price per unit of yield, not just price per bag.
- Check bulk or pallet pricing if the project needs more than a handful of bags.
Frequently asked questions
Is UK cement the same as US concrete mix?
No. UK “cement” is typically pure cement powder with no aggregate. US “concrete mix” already contains cement, sand, and gravel combined. UK “ready-to-use concrete” is the closer equivalent to US concrete mix.
What’s the UK equivalent of Quikrete or Sakrete?
Blue Circle and Hanson are the closest UK equivalents in terms of market position, though their standard product (plain cement) differs from the US brands’ standard product (complete concrete mix). Blue Circle’s ready-to-use concrete line is the more direct match.
How much does a bag of cement cost in the UK vs the US?
UK plain cement runs roughly £7-£10 for a 25 kg bag. US concrete mix runs roughly $4.50-$6.50 for an 80 lb bag — but these aren’t directly comparable products, since the UK bag doesn’t include aggregate.
Can I convert PSI to N/mm² directly?
Not reliably for practical use. The two systems typically rate different things — US PSI usually rates finished concrete, while UK cement classes rate the cement itself in a standard mortar test. Match each to local standard practice instead of converting.
What’s ballast, and do I need it?
Ballast is a pre-blended sand-and-aggregate mix sold in the UK. You need it if you’re buying plain cement and want to make your own concrete, since cement alone has no aggregate to bulk out a slab.
Is Postcrete the same as US fast-setting concrete?
Functionally, yes — both are pre-mixed, poured dry around a post, then watered in place, setting within minutes rather than hours.
Which is cheaper, buying UK cement and ballast separately, or a ready-to-use bag?
Buying separately is usually cheaper per unit of finished concrete on anything beyond a small job — the ready-to-use bag’s convenience comes at a real per-litre premium.
Do US and UK bags use the same testing standards?
No. The US uses ASTM standards (like ASTM C387 for packaged concrete mix); the UK and EU use BS EN standards (like BS EN 197-1 for cement). Both are rigorous, but they’re not the same framework.
Related reading
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