What is a 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.

Visual reference for how the megapascal relates to other pressure units. Each row links to the full converter for that pair.

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

• ✓1 MPa = 10 bar = 145 psi.
• ✓N/mm² = MPa (same unit, different notation).
• ✓Use MPa for material science; bar for fluid dynamics.

• ✗Confusing MPa with MW or MJ.
• ✗Using 1 MPa = 100 bar — that's incorrect; it's 10 bar.
• ✗Mixing MPa and kPa without conversion in mixed docs.