Updated March 16, 2025
Author: Mike Day
When making your own concrete it's important to use the correct concrete mixing ratios to produce a strong, durable concrete mixture.
Some basic mixing ratios for concrete are 1:2:3, 1:3:3, 1:2:4. These mixing ratios are based on the proportions of cement : sand : stone in that order. The ratio you use will depend on what psi strength you need.
To make concrete there are four basic materials you need:
1:2:3 (High-Strength Mix - 4000+ PSI)
Best For:
Why?
1:2.5:3 (General-Purpose Mix - 3500 PSI)
Best For:
Why?
1:3:3 (Standard Mix - 3000 PSI)
Best For:
Why?
1:3:4 (Low-Strength Mix - 2500-3000 PSI)
Best For:
Why?
1:4:6 (Lean Mix - 2000-2500 PSI)
Best For:
Why?
Stamped Concrete (1:2:3 + Color Additives & Plasticizers)
Self-Leveling Concrete (High Cement-to-Sand Ratio + Additives)
Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (1:2:3 + Fibers)
A good concrete mixture is a specific blend of cement, water, aggregates, and admixtures used to create concrete.
The ratio of each ingredient used in the mixture determines the strength, durability, and workability of the resulting concrete.
Different types of concrete mixtures are used for different purposes, such as for foundations, walls, and slabs.
Below are some different mixing ratios based on the strength of concrete you need:
Listed above are some standard concrete mixing ratios used in the U.S.
Listed above are some standard concrete mixing ratios for the rest of the world.
The water-to-cement ratio (W/C ratio) is one of the most critical factors in determining the strength, durability, and workability of concrete.
It represents the weight of water compared to the weight of cement in the mix.
1. STRENGTH
2. DURABILITY
3. WORKABILITY
Concrete mixing and handling can be hazardous if proper precautions aren’t taken.
DIY enthusiasts and professionals should follow these safety measures to prevent injuries and ensure a safe working environment.
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Wearing the right protective gear minimizes exposure to harmful substances and reduces injury risks.
✅ Gloves – Use alkali-resistant rubber gloves to protect hands from cement burns.
✅ Safety Glasses/Goggles – Shields eyes from dust, splashes, and debris.
✅ Respirator/Mask – Wear an N95 mask when working with dry cement to avoid inhaling silica dust.
✅ Long-Sleeved Clothing & Pants – Prevents skin contact with wet concrete, which can cause chemical burns.
✅ Steel-Toe Boots – Protects feet from heavy objects, such as bags of cement or tools.
🚫 Avoid wearing shorts, open-toed shoes, or synthetic fabrics that can absorb chemicals.
2. Safe Mixing Practices
When mixing concrete, be mindful of potential hazards related to materials, equipment, and physical strain.
🔹 Add Water Gradually – Pour water slowly to avoid splashing and improper mixing.
🔹 Mix in a Ventilated Area – Cement dust can cause lung irritation; mix outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces.
🔹 Use a Sturdy Mixing Container – Whether using a wheelbarrow, bucket, or concrete mixer, ensure it’s stable and won’t tip over.
🔹 Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions – Different cement brands or additives may have specific handling guidelines.
3. Handling and Transporting Concrete Safely
Improper handling can lead to strains, spills, and injuries.
✅ Lift With Your Legs, Not Your Back – Cement bags are heavy; always use proper lifting techniques or a cart.
✅ Use a Helper When Pouring Large Batches – Wet concrete is heavy; teamwork prevents strain injuries.
✅ Be Cautious Around Moving Parts – When using a mechanical mixer, keep hands and tools away from rotating parts.
✅ Clean Spills Immediately – Wet concrete hardens quickly, so clean work areas promptly.
4. Preventing Skin & Eye Contact
Cement is highly alkaline and can cause chemical burns if left on the skin for too long.
⚠️ If concrete splashes into your eyes → Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.
⚠️ If concrete contacts your skin → Wash with soap and water; do NOT use vinegar or lemon juice (they can worsen burns).
⚠️ Remove contaminated clothing → Wet cement can soak through fabric and cause burns without immediate signs.
5. Safe Cleanup and Disposal
After finishing the job, proper cleanup ensures safety and extends the life of your tools.
🛠️ Clean tools immediately – Dried concrete is difficult to remove.
🗑️ Dispose of excess concrete properly – Do not pour down drains; let it harden and dispose of it in a designated area.
💧 Wash hands thoroughly – Use pH-neutral soap instead of harsh detergents.
By following these safety measures, DIYers and professionals can reduce health risks and work efficiently when handling concrete.
One of the best mixture ratios for a concrete slab is 1 : 3 : 3 (cement : sand : stone), this will produce approximately a 3000 psi concrete mix.
This mixing ratio is excellent for a shed slab, but it's also good for most concrete patios, footings, steps, and foundation walls.
The proper mixture of water with the cement, sand, and stone forms a paste that coats the stone and binds the materials together after the mix hardens.
The strength of the concrete will depend on how much water you use to mix it all together.
Basically this means the more water you use to mix the concrete (very fluid) the weaker the concrete mix.
The less water you use to mix the concrete (somewhat dry but workable) the stronger the concrete mix.
Accurate concrete mixing ratios can be achieved by measuring the dry materials using buckets or even a shovel.
Which Concrete to use: When I order ready mix concrete for a slab like the one above, I ask the concrete dispatcher for "a 3000 psi mix with 3/4 stone, micro-fiber, air-entrainment, and water reducer.
1 : 3 : 3 MIX RATIO
To produce a 3000 psi cubic yard of concrete (27 cubic feet) the concrete mixture ratio is:
This mixing ratio will give you a concrete mix that is strong, durable, and good for most concrete projects.
A cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 8 feet wide by 10 feet long by 4 inches thick, or 80 square feet @ 4 inches thick.
At 6 inches thick a cubic yard of concrete will fill an area 52 square feet and at 5 inches thick, it will fill an area that's 65 square feet.
1 : 2 : 3 MIX RATIO (approx.)
To produce a cubic yard of 4000 psi concrete, you have to adjust the concrete mixing ratio to:
As you can see, a little more cement and a little less sand is required to produce a stronger concrete mix that's used for driveways, pool decks, sidewalks, exterior patios, and commercial garages.
Knowing the weight of the materials and how much water to use should help you determine how much cement, sand, and stone to purchase to complete your project.
For estimating purposes, you can make about 1 cubic yard of concrete with 5.5 94-pound bags of cement, 17 cubic feet of sand, and 18 cubic feet of gravel. (It takes about forty 80-pound bags of prepackaged materials (like Quikrete) to make 1 cubic yard of concrete.)
Or... 1 cubic meter of concrete will require approximately 7.15 bags of Portland cement, .48 cubic meters of sand, and .51 cubic meters of gravel.
Learn how to make concrete without a mixer, just mix it by hand.
If you need less than 1 cubic yard of concrete (or if ready-mix is not available) you can mix your own concrete on site either by hand, using the tools above, or by using an electric concrete mixer like the one in the link above.
To make smaller batches of concrete, use the same
proportions, but with smaller quantities, substituting buckets for
cubic feet. (For the mix proportions given previously, you'd use 1
bucket of cement, 3 buckets of sand, 3 buckets of stone, and 1/2 bucket
of water.)
For any batch size, the most important thing is to keep the proportions of the ingredients the same.
You can double or triple the
batch size simply by doubling or tripling the number of buckets for each
ingredient you add to the mixture.
The mix ratio of 1:2:3 consists of 1 Part cement, 2 Parts sand, and 3 Parts stone (plus some water) to make a concrete mix you can use for most any building project.
The way you measure the ratio could be in shovels, buckets, or wheel barrows. As long as you're consistent you'll get a good strong mix.
Generally, when the stone ratio is more than the sand, this concrete cures a little stronger than a 1:3:3 ratio. The difference is in the workability of the concrete. The sand tends to make the concrete a little more easier to work with. The less sand the rockier the mix is going to be.
A pre-packaged bag is basically a 1 : 2 : 4 mixture for concrete, this is the standard for a lot of concrete mixtures.
These concrete mixture ratios are designed for the concrete to reach full strength at or around 28 days old.
Curing the concrete can be done by keeping it wet after the first day until the concrete is 7 days old.
Curing is an important step to take for the concrete to achieve full strength by 28 days.
Watch my video talking about what concrete mixing ratios and what it takes to achieve 3000 psi, 3500 psi, 4000 psi, and 4500 psi concrete.
I also break down the equivalent 20mpa, 25mpa, 30mpa, and 35mpa concrete mixing ratios.
See the video HERE.
Below you can use this concrete mix ratio calculator to determine how many cubic yards and bags of concrete mix it will take to do your project.
Make sure to use the proper dimensions (Feet and Inches, or Meters and centimeters) to get accurate results.
Once you know how many cubic yards or meters (or how many bags) it's going to take, you can figure out the weight and proportions of cement, sand, stone from there.
EXAMPLE: A project that takes TEN 80 lb bags of concrete mix, means you need 800 lbs of material.
A 1:3:3 mixing ratio calculates to 115 lbs of cement to 343 lbs of sand and 343 lbs of stone. (Rounded off)
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Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about mixing concrete:
What is the ideal concrete mixture ratio for foundations?
Can I change the mixture ratio depending on the application?
How do I determine the right mixture ratio for my project?
Can I use more water to make the concrete easier to work with?
What happens if I use too much cement in the mixture?
Can I use different aggregates in the mixture?
Can I add more cement to the mixture to make it stronger?
Can I mix the concrete by hand instead of using a mixer?
How long does it take for concrete to dry and cure?
Can I use admixtures in the mixture?
For more on concrete slabs see the information below:
WHAT IS THE CONCRETE MIX RATIO OF 3000, 3500, 4000 AND 4500 PSI CONCRETE?
POURING A CONCRETE SLAB
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