Pressure Converter
Convert pressure units including pascals, bar, PSI, atmospheres, torr, and more. Free online pressure converter for engineering, science, and industrial applications.
Understanding Pressure
Pressure measures force applied per unit area. You experience pressure constantly — atmospheric pressure pushes on your body, blood pressure circulates oxygen, tire pressure supports your vehicle. Pressure equals force divided by area.
The pascal (Pa) serves as the SI unit for pressure, named after Blaise Pascal. One pascal equals one newton per square meter. Other common units include bar (meteorology), PSI (imperial systems), and atmospheres (scientific work).
Pressure Formulas
Basic Pressure Formula
P = F / A
Pressure equals force divided by area
Example: 100 N / 2 m² = 50 Pa
Hydrostatic Pressure
P = ρ × g × h
Density × gravity × height of fluid
Example: Water at 10m depth = 98,100 Pa
Ideal Gas Law
P × V = n × R × T
Pressure × volume = moles × constant × temperature
Used for gas calculations
Atmospheric Pressure Variation
P = P₀ × e^(-h/H)
Pressure decreases exponentially with altitude
P₀ = sea level pressure, H ≈ 8,000 m
Pressure Conversion Formulas
Bar to PSI
psi = bar × 14.5038
Example: 2 bar × 14.5038 = 29.01 psi
PSI to Bar
bar = psi × 0.0689476
Example: 32 psi × 0.0689476 = 2.21 bar
Atmospheres to PSI
psi = atm × 14.6959
Example: 1 atm × 14.6959 = 14.70 psi
PSI to Atmospheres
atm = psi × 0.068046
Example: 14.7 psi × 0.068046 = 1 atm
Torr to Pascal
Pa = Torr × 133.322
Example: 760 Torr × 133.322 = 101,325 Pa
kPa to PSI
psi = kPa × 0.145038
Example: 200 kPa × 0.145038 = 29.01 psi
Common Pressure Conversions
| Pascals | Bar | PSI | Atmospheres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 Pa | 0.01 bar | 0.145 psi | 0.00987 atm |
| 101,325 Pa | 1.01325 bar | 14.696 psi | 1 atm |
| 100,000 Pa | 1 bar | 14.504 psi | 0.987 atm |
| 6,895 Pa | 0.0689 bar | 1 psi | 0.068 atm |
| 133.3 Pa | 0.00133 bar | 0.0193 psi | 0.00132 atm |
| 1 MPa | 10 bar | 145.04 psi | 9.87 atm |
Pressure Unit Reference Table
| Unit | Symbol | Equals 1 Unit In Pa | System/Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pascal | Pa | 1 Pa | SI (scientific) |
| Kilopascal | kPa | 1,000 Pa | SI (engineering) |
| Megapascal | MPa | 1,000,000 Pa | SI (materials) |
| Bar | bar | 100,000 Pa | Metric (meteorology) |
| PSI | psi | 6,894.76 Pa | Imperial (industrial) |
| Atmosphere | atm | 101,325 Pa | Scientific standard |
| Torr | Torr | 133.322 Pa | Vacuum, laboratory |
| mmHg | mmHg | 133.322 Pa | Medical (blood pressure) |
Real-World Pressure Reference
| Condition | Pascals | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect vacuum | 0 Pa | 0 bar | 0 psi |
| Atmospheric pressure (sea level) | 101,325 Pa | 1.013 bar | 14.696 psi |
| Car tire (typical) | 206,843 Pa | 2.07 bar | 30 psi |
| Scuba tank | 20,684,271 Pa | 206.8 bar | 3,000 psi |
| Hydraulic system | 20,684,271 Pa | 206.8 bar | 3,000 psi |
| Deep ocean (Mariana Trench) | 108,600,000 Pa | 1,086 bar | 15,750 psi |
Pressure Units by Application
| Unit | Primary Applications |
|---|---|
| Pascal (Pa) | Scientific research, meteorology, engineering calculations |
| Bar | Weather reports (Europe), diving, industrial processes |
| PSI | Tire pressure, hydraulic systems, US industrial equipment |
| Atmosphere (atm) | Chemistry, physics, scuba diving, vacuum systems |
| Torr/mmHg | Blood pressure, vacuum measurements, laboratory work |
| kPa | Weather reports, tire pressure (metric countries), engineering |
When to Use Each Pressure Unit
Scientific Research
Physics, chemistry, materials science calculations
Engineering
Structural analysis, fluid dynamics (global)
Meteorology
Weather reports (kPa in many countries)
Weather Reports
Atmospheric pressure (Europe, meteorology)
Diving
Tank pressure, depth calculations
Industrial
Process control, pneumatic systems
Automotive
Tire pressure, oil pressure (US/UK)
Hydraulics
System pressure, pump ratings
Industrial Equipment
Compressors, pressure vessels (US)
Medical
Blood pressure measurements worldwide
Vacuum Systems
Laboratory vacuum measurements
Meteorology
Barometric pressure (traditional)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is standard atmospheric pressure?
Standard atmospheric pressure equals 101,325 Pa (101.325 kPa, 1.01325 bar, 14.696 psi, 760 mmHg). This represents average sea-level pressure. Actual pressure varies with weather and altitude.
What PSI should car tires be?
Most cars require 30-35 PSI (2.0-2.4 bar, 207-241 kPa). Check your vehicle's door jamb or owner's manual for the exact specification. Never use the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall.
What is the difference between gauge and absolute pressure?
Gauge pressure measures relative to atmospheric pressure (reads 0 at atmosphere). Absolute pressure measures from perfect vacuum. Absolute = Gauge + Atmospheric. Tire gauges show gauge pressure.
Why do doctors use mmHg for blood pressure?
Blood pressure was originally measured with mercury columns. One mmHg equals the pressure from 1 millimeter of mercury. Despite digital monitors, mmHg remains the medical standard worldwide.
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