Pressure unit converter

Pressure unit converter

Various units for measuring pressure exist worldwide, and their diversity can complicate the need to convert values from one system to another. A pressure unit converter is a handy tool that allows for quick and accurate conversions between different units such as Pascal, bar, atmosphere, Torr, and many others. This converter will be especially useful for students, scientists, engineers, and meteorologists. Let’s take a detailed look at the most popular pressure units and their applications.

Main units of measurement

Pascal (Pa)

Pascal is the basic unit of pressure measurement in the International System of Units (SI), named after the French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal. It defines pressure as a force of one newton distributed over an area of one square meter.

$1 \text{ Pa} = 1 \text{ N/m}^2$

Millibar (mbar)

The millibar is widely used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. It equals one hundredth of a bar and is often used in weather forecasts.

$1 \text{ mbar} = 100 \text{ Pa}$

Atmosphere (atm)

Atmosphere is a unit used traditionally to denote average atmospheric pressure at sea level.

$1 \text{ atm} = 101325 \text{ Pa} = 1013.25 \text{ mbar}$

Torr (mm Hg)

The Torr, also known as the millimeter of mercury, is frequently used in vacuum technology and in medicine for measuring blood pressure.

$1 \text{ Torr} \approx 133.322 \text{ Pa}$

Pounds per Square Inch (psi)

Pressure in psi is used mainly in the USA and other countries using the Imperial system. These units are widely applied in the automotive and aviation industries.

$1 \text{ psi} \approx 6894.76 \text{ Pa}$

Additional units of measurement

Kilopascal (kPa)

Kilopascal is a multiple of Pascal, equal to 1000 Pascals. It is used in hydraulic systems and construction.

$1 \text{ kPa} = 1000 \text{ Pa}$

Bar

The bar is a non-regulated unit often used in industry and meteorology.

$1 \text{ bar} = 100000 \text{ Pa} = 1000 \text{ mbar}$

Inches of Mercury (inHg)

This unit is often used in aviation and to measure atmospheric pressure in the USA.

$1 \text{ inHg} \approx 3376.85 \text{ Pa}$

Pounds per Square Foot (psf)

Psf is mainly used in architecture and building to define structural loads.

$1 \text{ psf} \approx 47.8803 \text{ Pa}$

Kilogram-force per Square Meter (kgf/m²)

An outdated, but sometimes encountered unit, used in older technical documents and textbooks.

$1 \text{ kgf/m}^2 \approx 9.80665 \text{ Pa}$

Millimeters of Water Column (mm H2O)

Mm of water column is used in hydraulics and for pressure determination in low-pressure systems.

$1 \text{ mm H2O} \approx 9.80665 \text{ Pa}$

Hectopascal (hPa)

Often used in meteorology. A hectopascal equals one hundredth of a kilopascal.

$1 \text{ hPa} = 100 \text{ Pa}$

Formulas for pressure conversion

• Pascal to Kilopascal: $\text{kPa} = \frac{\text{Pa}}{1000}$
• Millibar to hPa: $\text{hPa} = \text{mbar}$
• Atmospheres to Pascals: $\text{Pa} = \text{atm} \times 101325$
• Torr to Pascals: $\text{Pa} = \text{Torr} \times 133.322$
• Psi to Pascals: $\text{Pa} = \text{psi} \times 6894.76$

Applications of pressure units

Pressure units are widely applied in various fields:

• Science and Education: Pascals are used in scientific calculations and teaching physics.
• Meteorology: Millibar and hectopascal are essential for weather forecasting and atmospheric condition assessment.
• Medicine: Millimeters of mercury are used for measuring blood pressure.
• Industry: Psi is often employed for determining pressure in pipelines, automotive systems, and gas cylinders.

For more detailed information on how to calculate pressure and to quickly perform any calculations needed, you can use our pressure calculator.

Conversion table

The accuracy of values is provided with standard conversions and rounding.

Frequently asked questions

How to find pressure in pascals if you have the value in bars?

To convert pressure from bars to pascals, use the formula:

$\text{Pa} = \text{bar} \times 100000$

If you have a pressure of 2 bars, it will be in pascals:

$2 \text{ bar} \times 100000 \text{ Pa/bar} = 200000 \text{ Pa}$

What pressure units are used in medicine?

In medicine, millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) are most commonly used for measuring blood pressure.

Why is the atmosphere used as a unit of pressure measurement?

The atmosphere is convenient for describing atmospheric pressure at sea level and has historical significance as one of the first units of pressure.

What is 1 bar in other units?

1 bar equals 100000 Pa, which equals 750.062 Torr, 14.5038 psi, and approximately 0.986923 atm.

Where is psi most commonly used?

Psi units (pounds per square inch) are commonly used in the United States in the automotive industry and systems related to gases and liquids.