Convert Bar to Pound per Square Inch (bar → psi)

Converting bars to psi 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 14.503774

   The conversion factor from bar to psi is 14.503774. Multiply your value by this number.
3. 3
   Read the result in psi

   The result is your value in psi (psi).

Multiply the value in bars by 14.503774. For the reverse direction, multiply by 0.068948.

• ✓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 Pound per Square Inch?

Pounds per square inch (psi) equals approximately 6,895 pascals and is the standard pressure unit in American tire pressures, hydraulics, and gas-cylinder specifications. American car tires are typically inflated to 30–35 psi, household water systems run at 40–60 psi, and scuba tanks are filled to 3,000 psi (about 200 bar). The psi is essential in American engineering for stress calculations, hydraulic systems, and pneumatic equipment. Two variants exist: 'psig' (gauge, measured above atmospheric) and 'psia' (absolute, including atmosphere) — gauge is the default unless specified. The psi relates to the pascal (1 psi ≈ 6,895 Pa), the kilopascal (1 psi ≈ 6.895 kPa), the bar (14.504 psi = 1 bar), the atmosphere (14.696 psi = 1 atm), and the inch of mercury (1 inHg ≈ 0.491 psi). Outside the US, kPa or bar dominate.

• US tyre pressures
• US plumbing and water system specs
• US compressed-air tool ratings