Concrete Strength (PSI): 3000 vs 4000 PSI and What the Numbers Mean

Strength in psi is the compressive strength a concrete mix reaches at a stated age: the last age QUIKRETE's standard concrete mix prints is 4,000 psi[1], and 5,000 psi[2] for its 5000 high early strength mix.

Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.

Work it out for your own sizes

Work out the yards for your own slab

Example to try: Length 12 ft, Width 20 ft, Thickness 4 in

Compressive strength of bagged concrete at two ages

Compressive strength in psi that each maker's data sheet prints for a bagged concrete mix, by product, at the two ages every sheet prints

Bagged productAt 7 daysAt 28 days
QUIKRETE Concrete Mix 1101 2,500 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)4,000 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix 1004 2,500 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)4,000 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
QUIKRETE 5000 High Early Strength Concrete Mix 1007 3,500 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)5,000 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
SAKRETE High Strength Concrete Mix 2,500 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)4,000 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
SAKRETE Fast Setting Concrete Mix 3,500 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)4,000 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
SAKRETE 5000 Plus 3,500 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)5,000 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)

Product names are trademarks of their owners. HoneyDoMath is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by these makers. Figures come from each maker's published sheets and are shown for information only.

Sources: [1][3][2][4][5][6]

The next table gives the earlier ages that only some sheets print.

Strength at the earlier ages some sheets print

Compressive strength in psi at the first day or three days, for the products whose data sheets print those ages

Product and ageCompressive strength
QUIKRETE Fast-Setting 1004, 24 hours 1,000 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
QUIKRETE 5000 High Early Strength 1007, 1 day 1,500 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
QUIKRETE 5000 High Early Strength 1007, 3 days 2,500 psi (per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
SAKRETE Fast Setting, 3 days 2,500 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)
SAKRETE 5000 Plus, 3 days 2,500 psi (per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026)

Product names are trademarks of their owners. HoneyDoMath is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by these makers. Figures come from each maker's published sheets and are shown for information only.

Sources: [3][2][5][6]

Strength is a label on the order, not a calculator input

The yards calculator works out volume from length, width and thickness. Strength is not one of its inputs, and a different strength does not change the cubic yards.

What the bags print for 3000 and 4000 psi

QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) is the original 4000 psi average compressive strength blend

The Quikrete Companies, QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 product page (Web page, undated)[7]

No product in the first table prints a 3000 psi figure; each prints the 4000 psi or 5000 psi figures shown there at its last age. No source opened for this page names a strength for driveways, patios or footings, so none is given here.

How long a mix takes to reach these ages is on the cure time page; the thickness a slab is poured at is on the slab thickness page.

Questions

What does psi mean for concrete?

Psi is pounds per square inch, the unit the data sheets use for compressive strength, measured by the ASTM C39 test on concrete cylinders. The sheets give it by age, as the tables show.

Is 3000 or 4000 psi concrete used for driveways?

No source opened for this page names a strength for driveways, so none is given here. The tables show the strengths the bagged mixes print.

How strong is bagged concrete?

It depends on the product and the age. The first table lists six bagged products at two ages, and the second table adds the earlier ages that some sheets print.

Calculate it for your project

Enter your own sizes to get the amount to buy or the layout figures, with the working shown and a page to print.

Try your own sizes in the yards calculator

Sources (7)
  1. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 data sheet, The Quikrete Companies, Revised October 2022. Manufacturer data
    “Transcribed from the compressive strength table (ASTM C39, age and psi (MPa)) of the data sheet: 7 days 2500 (17.2) 28 days 4000 (27.5)”
    Per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  2. QUIKRETE 5000 High Early Strength Concrete Mix No. 1007 data sheet, The Quikrete Companies, Revised November 2022. Manufacturer data
    “Transcribed from the compressive strength table (ASTM C39, age and psi (MPa)) of the data sheet: 1 day 1500 (10.3) 3 days 2500 (17.2) 7 days 3500 (24.1) 28 days 5000 (34.4)”
    Per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  3. QUIKRETE Fast-Setting Concrete Mix No. 1004 data sheet, The Quikrete Companies, Revised November 2025. Manufacturer data
    “Transcribed from the compressive strength table (ASTM C39, age and psi (MPa)) of the data sheet: 24 Hours 1000 (6.8) 7 Days 2500 (17.2) 28 Days 4000 (27.6)”
    Per QUIKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  4. SAKRETE High Strength Concrete Mix technical data sheet, SAKRETE of North America, Technical data sheet, 2023 (sakrete.com copy). Manufacturer data
    “Transcribed from the strength table of the data sheet: PSI - 7 DAY PSI - 28 DAY 2,500 psi 17 MPa 4,000 psi 27.6 MPa”
    Per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  5. SAKRETE Fast Setting Concrete Mix technical data sheet, SAKRETE of North America, Rev. 05/18. Manufacturer data
    “Compressive Strength ASTM C39 3 days = 2,500 psi (17 MPa) 7 days = 3,500 psi (24 MPa) 28 days = 4,000 psi (28 MPa)”
    Per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  6. SAKRETE 5000 Plus Concrete Mix technical data sheet, SAKRETE of North America, Technical data sheet, 2023 (sakrete.com copy). Manufacturer data
    “Transcribed from the strength table of the data sheet: COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH - 3 DAY COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH - 7 DAY COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH - 28 DAY 2,500 psi 17 MPa 3,500 psi 24 MPa 5,000 psi 34 MPa”
    Per SAKRETE's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used
  7. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix No. 1101 product page, The Quikrete Companies, Web page, undated. Manufacturer data
    “QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) is the original 4000 psi average compressive strength blend”
    Per QUIKRETE's product page, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used

These are summaries of what the sources say, not professional advice. Codes and product data change. Check with your building department and the product label about your own project.

Made with HoneyDoMath.com. Estimates for planning; check product labels and local codes before you buy or build.