Kilopascals to Bar

About Kilopascals and Bar

Kilopascals (kPa): A thousand pascals; the practical SI pressure unit for atmospheric and engineering work. Common uses: Weather reports (atmospheric pressure in kPa, where standard sea-level pressure is about 101 kPa), tire pressure in many countries, and structural engineering.

Bar (bar): Defined as exactly 100,000 pascals, or roughly atmospheric pressure at sea level; the name comes from the Greek baros meaning weight. Common uses: European weather reports, tire pressure in some countries (and motorcycles globally), gas cylinder pressures, and brewery/winery pressures.

How the conversion works

Pressure is force per area. 1 atm = 101.325 kPa = 14.696 psi = 760 mmHg. Bar is a metric working unit close to atmospheric pressure (1 bar = 100 kPa).

The exact relationship is bar = kilopascals × 0.01, which the calculator at the top of this page applies in both directions. Type into either field and the other updates immediately.

When this conversion matters

Converting between kilopascals and bar comes up wherever pressure measurements move between systems — from one country's conventions to another's, from a scientific reference to a practical specification, or from one industry's working unit to another's. The calculator and reference table above cover the everyday range; for unusual values you can type any number into either field.