kilopascal (kPa)
1 kilopascal = 1,000 pascals
What is kilopascal?
A kilopascal is a metric pressure unit equal to 1,000 pascals. It is used for weather forecasts, tire pressure specifications in metric countries, and structural and mechanical engineering calculations.
Notes: Metric unit
Real-world uses
Kilopascals are used for tyre pressure in most countries (standard car tyres are about 200–250 kPa), blood pressure in some medical systems, and hydraulic system specifications. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 101.325 kPa.
History
The kilopascal became a practical engineering unit with the adoption of the SI system. It offers a convenient scale for everyday pressure measurements, bridging the gap between the tiny pascal and the larger bar or atmosphere.
Common mistakes
Confusing kPa with psi when checking tyre pressure. 1 psi ≈ 6.895 kPa, so 32 psi ≈ 220 kPa. Inflating a tyre to 32 kPa instead of 220 kPa would leave it nearly flat.
When is this conversion used?
Tyre pressure gauges, HVAC systems, and industrial equipment may use different pressure units depending on the manufacturer and region. Converting between psi, bar, and kPa is common in automotive and engineering work.
How to convert kilopascal to pascal
To convert kilopascal to pascal, multiply the value by 1,000.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 1000.0
Measurement standards
The pascal (Pa) is the SI derived unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square metre. The World Meteorological Organization mandates the hectopascal (hPa) for atmospheric pressure reporting in aviation and weather services.
Did you know?
The pressure at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, nearly 11 km deep, exceeds 1,086 bar — over a thousand times atmospheric pressure. At this depth, water is compressed by about 5%, making it measurably denser than at the surface.
| kilopascals | pascals |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 100 |
| 0.5 | 500 |
| 1 | 1,000 |
| 2 | 2,000 |
| 5 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 10,000 |
| 25 | 25,000 |
| 50 | 50,000 |
| 100 | 100,000 |
| 250 | 250,000 |
| 500 | 500,000 |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000 |
Common values
| kilopascals | pascals | |
|---|---|---|
| Car tyre | 220 kilopascals | 220,000 pascals |
| Standard atmosphere | 101.325 kilopascals | 101,325 pascals |
| Blood pressure (systolic) | 16 kilopascals | 16,000 pascals |
| Deep-sea submersible | 110,000 kilopascals | 110,000,000 pascals |
| Bicycle tyre | 620 kilopascals | 620,000 pascals |
Full kilopascal conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| pascal | 1 kPa = 1,000 Pa | × 1,000 |
| bar | 1 kPa = 0.01 bar | × 0.01 |
| pound per square inch | 1 kPa = 0.14503774 psi | × 0.14503774 |
| atmosphere | 1 kPa = 0.00986923 atm | × 0.00986923 |
| millibar | 1 kPa = 10 mbar | × 10 |
| hectopascal | 1 kPa = 10 hPa | × 10 |
| torr | 1 kPa = 7.50061683 Torr | × 7.50061683 |
| inch of mercury | 1 kPa = 0.2952998 inHg | × 0.2952998 |
| megapascal | 1 kPa = 0.001 MPa | × 0.001 |