Convert Bar to Megapascal (bar → MPa)

Converting bars to megapascals is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.

1. 1
   Take your value in bars

   Start with the number of bars (bar) you want to convert.
2. 2
   Multiply by 0.1

   The conversion factor from bar to MPa is 0.1. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in megapascals

   The result is your value in megapascals (MPa).

Multiply the value in bars by 0.1. For the reverse direction, multiply by 10.

• ✓1 bar = 100 kPa = 0.987 atm = 14.5 psi.
• ✓Almost 1 atm — convenient approximation.
• ✓Tyre pressures: 2.0–2.5 bar typical car, 6–10 bar truck.

• ✗Assuming 1 bar = 1 atm exactly — 1.3% off.
• ✗Mixing bar with psi — need factor of 14.5.
• ✗Using bar for high-pressure work — switch to MPa.

What is the Bar?

The bar equals exactly 100,000 pascals (100 kPa) and is the everyday pressure unit in European tire pressures, hydraulic systems, and meteorology. The unit was chosen to be approximately equal to atmospheric pressure at sea level (1 bar = 0.987 atm). European cars have tire pressures of about 2.0–2.5 bar (29–36 psi), industrial hydraulic systems operate at 100–700 bar, and wine bottles are pressurized to about 6 bar internally for sparkling wines. Although technically not an SI unit, the bar is widely accepted for use with the SI system. Weather forecasts in some countries use 'millibar' (1 mbar = 1 hPa = 100 Pa) for atmospheric pressure. The bar relates to the pascal (100,000 Pa = 1 bar), the kilopascal (100 kPa = 1 bar), the psi (1 bar ≈ 14.504 psi), the atmosphere (1 atm ≈ 1.013 bar), and the mbar (1,000 mbar = 1 bar). It strikes a practical balance between scientific precision and everyday usefulness.

• European tyre pressure gauges
• Scuba-diving depth pressure
• Hydraulic and pneumatic systems

What is the Megapascal?

The megapascal equals 1,000,000 pascals (or 10 bar) and is the engineering high-pressure unit used in hydraulics, materials testing, and construction. Concrete compressive strength is rated in MPa (typical residential concrete is 20–35 MPa, structural concrete 35–70 MPa, high-strength up to 140 MPa), and steel yield strengths are 250–700 MPa for structural grades. Hydraulic systems operate at 10–70 MPa, and high-pressure-water-jet cutting reaches 400 MPa. The megapascal is dimensionally identical to N/mm² (newtons per square millimeter), making it natural for engineering calculations involving small areas. Earth's mantle pressure reaches gigapascals (1 GPa = 1,000 MPa). The MPa relates to the pascal (10⁶ Pa = 1 MPa), the bar (10 bar = 1 MPa), the psi (1 MPa ≈ 145.04 psi), and the atmosphere (1 MPa ≈ 9.87 atm). It is the standard unit in modern engineering specifications worldwide.

• Hydraulic system pressures
• Concrete and steel strength specifications
• High-pressure industrial processes