The question comes up on every small pour: mix your own bags, or call a ready-mix supplier? The honest answer depends almost entirely on volume.
Under about 1 cubic yard (roughly 45 bags of 80 lb mix), bagged concrete is usually cheaper and far less hassle — no delivery minimum, no truck access needed, and you buy exactly what you use. Past 1 yard, ready-mix almost always wins on both cost per cubic foot and labor: mixing 45+ bags by hand or in a small mixer is a full day of physically demanding work.
Tight access (backyards a truck can't reach), small footings poured over multiple days, or repair work where you need a small, precise batch all favor bags regardless of total volume.
If you're pouring a single large flat surface (even a smallish patio) where consistency and finish quality matter, a truck's uniform batch avoids the visible seams and color variation that come from mixing multiple bags by hand.
Use the Bag Calculator to see your exact bag count and cost, then compare against the Cost Calculator for a ready-mix quote at your local price per yard. For most projects, the crossover point is obvious once you see both numbers side by side.