National Physical Laboratory

How do I convert pressure values from one unit to another? (FAQ - Pressure)

To convert one non-pascal pressure unit to an alternative non-pascal unit, multiply the 'starting' pressure value by the 'number of pascals' shown against its unit (in the Pressure Units table) and then divide the product by the number of pascals shown against the second unit.

The third and fourth examples below illustrate how extra precision (more significant figures) can be erroneous and misleading rather than conveying greater accuracy:

mmHg to Pa
Example 1: Convert mbar to pascals

inHg to kgf/cm2
Example 2: Convert inches of mercury to kilogram-force per square centimetre

... and some examples containing meaningless over-precision:

mmHg to Pa
Example 3: Convert two similar values of millimetres of mercury to pascals

Pa to lbf/in2
Example 4: Convert pascals to pound-force per square inch

Last Updated: 25 Mar 2010
Created: 9 Aug 2007