Kilopascal (kPa)
A unit of pressure equal to 1,000 pascals
The Kilopascal (kPa) is a unit of pressure with a history connected to the study of fluids, gases, and atmospheric phenomena. Evangelista Torricelli's invention of the barometer in 1643 was a landmark in pressure measurement, and subsequent work by Blaise Pascal established the mathematical foundations. The pascal — the SI unit — was named in Pascal's honor when the SI system was formalized. The Kilopascal reflects either the SI tradition or the practical conventions of specific industries that standardized their measurements independently.
Accurate pressure measurement is critical in engineering, science, commerce, and everyday life. Using the correct unit and applying conversions precisely prevents errors that can be costly or dangerous in professional applications.
Conversion Table
| Unit | Symbol | 1 kPa = |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal | Pa | 1000 Pa |
| Bar | bar | 0.01 bar |
| Atmosphere | atm | 0.00986923 atm |
| Pound per Square Inch | psi | 0.145038 psi |
| Millimeters of Mercury | mmHg | 7.50064 mmHg |
| Megapascal | MPa | 0.001 MPa |
| Gigapascal | GPa | 0.000001 GPa |
| Kilopound per Square Inch | ksi | 0.000145038 ksi |
| Torr | torr | 7.50064 torr |
| Inch of Mercury | inHg | 0.2953 inHg |
| Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter | kgf/cm² | 0.0101972 kgf/cm² |
Conversions Involving Kilopascal
Pascal → Kilopascal
Pa → kPa
Kilopascal → Pascal
kPa → Pa
Kilopascal → Bar
kPa → bar
Kilopascal → Atmosphere
kPa → atm
Kilopascal → Pound per Square Inch
kPa → psi
Kilopascal → Millimeters of Mercury
kPa → mmHg
Kilopascal → Megapascal
kPa → MPa
Kilopascal → Gigapascal
kPa → GPa
Kilopascal → Kilopound per Square Inch
kPa → ksi
Kilopascal → Torr
kPa → torr
Kilopascal → Inch of Mercury
kPa → inHg
Kilopascal → Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter
kPa → kgf/cm²
Bar → Kilopascal
bar → kPa
Atmosphere → Kilopascal
atm → kPa
Pound per Square Inch → Kilopascal
psi → kPa
Millimeters of Mercury → Kilopascal
mmHg → kPa
Megapascal → Kilopascal
MPa → kPa
Gigapascal → Kilopascal
GPa → kPa
Kilopound per Square Inch → Kilopascal
ksi → kPa
Torr → Kilopascal
torr → kPa
Inch of Mercury → Kilopascal
inHg → kPa
Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter → Kilopascal
kgf/cm² → kPa
Common Uses of the Kilopascal
- •Automotive — inflating tires to manufacturer-specified pressures
- •Weather reporting — tracking barometric pressure for forecasting
- •Hydraulic systems — designing and operating fluid power equipment
- •Scuba diving — calculating safe dive depths based on partial pressures
- •Medical — measuring blood pressure and calibrating medical equipment
Did You Know?
The deepest point in the ocean — the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench — has a water pressure of approximately 110 MPa, or about 1,086 times standard atmospheric pressure. The Kilopascal is one of several units used to express pressures across this extraordinary range.