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Bar Conversion Table
This comprehensive bar conversion table shows how various units relate to bar, a widely used unit of pressure. Use this reference for quick conversions between bar and other common pressure units.
| Conversion | To Unit | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Bar to pascals | Pascals | 100000 |
| Bar to kilopascals | Kilopascals | 100 |
| Bar to millibars | Millibars | 1000 |
| Bar to atmospheres | Atmospheres | 0.986923 |
| Bar to torr | Torr | 750.062 |
| Bar to psi | PSI | 14.5038 |
| Bar to cmH₂O | Centimeters of water | 1019.72 |
| Bar to inHg | Inches of mercury | 29.53 |
This bar conversion reference table provides accurate conversion factors for both metric (SI) units and imperial units. All values are based on internationally recognized standards for maximum precision in scientific and engineering applications.
What is a Bar?
The bar (symbol: bar) is a metric unit of pressure, but not part of the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as exactly 100,000 pascals, which is slightly less than the average atmospheric pressure at sea level on Earth. The word "bar" comes from the Greek word "baros" meaning weight.
Although not an SI unit, the bar is widely used in meteorology, oceanography, and many engineering applications. Our bar conversion tool helps you easily convert between bars and other pressure units. For example, 1 bar equals approximately 14.5 psi or 0.987 atmospheres.
Bar in the Metric System
While the bar is not an official SI unit, it is accepted for use with the SI system. It serves as a convenient unit for expressing pressures in many technical fields:
- 1 bar = 100,000 pascals (Pa)
- 1 bar = 100 kilopascals (kPa)
- 1 bar = 1,000 millibars (mbar)
- 1 bar = 0.1 megapascals (MPa)
- 1 bar = 1,000,000 dynes per square centimeter (dyn/cm²)
What is Bar Used For?
The bar unit is used in a wide range of applications across science, engineering, and everyday life. Though not an official SI unit, it provides a convenient scale for many pressure measurements:
Meteorology
Atmospheric pressure measurements and weather forecasting. For example, standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 1.01325 bar.
Engineering
Industrial processes, hydraulic systems, and pneumatic equipment. For example, typical car tire pressure is around 2.2 bar.
Oceanography
Water pressure measurements at various depths. For example, at 10 meters depth in seawater, pressure is approximately 2 bar (1 bar from atmosphere + 1 bar from water).
Scuba Diving
Measuring breathing gas pressure in tanks. For example, a standard scuba tank might be filled to 200-300 bar.
Etymology and History
The bar was introduced by Norwegian meteorologist Vilhelm Bjerknes, a pioneer in modern weather forecasting. The unit was developed as part of his work in the early 20th century to create a practical unit for measuring atmospheric pressure.
The bar was defined as 1,000,000 dynes per square centimeter, which is equivalent to 100,000 pascals. Although the pascal became the official SI unit for pressure, the bar remains widely used in many technical fields due to its convenient size relative to common pressures encountered in everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is bar used instead of pascals?
The bar is often preferred over pascals in practical applications because it represents a more convenient scale for common pressures. While 1 pascal is a very small unit (1/100,000 of a bar), 1 bar is close to atmospheric pressure, making it more intuitive for everyday use. For example, tire pressures are typically expressed in bar rather than the much larger numbers in pascals.
How does bar compare to atmospheric pressure?
One bar is slightly less than standard atmospheric pressure, which is 1.01325 bar. This close relationship makes the bar particularly useful in meteorology and other fields where atmospheric pressure is a key reference point. For most practical purposes, 1 bar is considered approximately equal to 1 atmosphere.
What's the difference between bar and millibar?
One bar equals exactly 1,000 millibars. Millibar (mbar) is commonly used in meteorology because it provides an even more convenient scale for describing small pressure variations associated with weather systems. For example, standard atmospheric pressure is 1013.25 mbar, which is easy to work with in weather forecasts.
How do I convert bar to other pressure units?
Use our bar conversion calculators above, or multiply by the appropriate conversion factor. For example, to convert bar to pascals, multiply by 100,000; to convert bar to atmospheres, multiply by 0.986923. For detailed instructions on converting bar to psi, visit our bar to psi converter. Our tool also handles conversions to torr and other units.
What are common uses for bar conversion?
Bar conversion is essential in meteorology (weather maps), engineering (hydraulic systems), automotive (tire pressure), diving (tank pressure), and industrial processes (compressed air systems). Whether calculating scuba tank pressure or interpreting weather data, our bar converter tool simplifies these common tasks.
Is bar an SI unit?
No, the bar is not an official SI unit. The SI unit for pressure is the pascal (Pa). However, the bar is accepted for use with the SI system because of its practical convenience in many applications. This dual status reflects the bar's widespread adoption in technical fields despite not being an official SI unit.
Can I convert very high or low pressures in bar?
Yes, our bar converter handles both extremely high and low pressures with precision. For vacuum measurements, convert to millibar or torr. For high-pressure applications like industrial processes, our tool can handle values well above 1000 bar. Our smart rounding feature ensures readable results for all scales.
Is your bar conversion tool free to use?
Yes, our bar conversion calculator is completely free with no registration required. Simply enter your value, select your target unit, and get instant, accurate results. We believe precise measurement conversion should be accessible to everyone, from students learning about pressure units to professionals working on complex engineering projects.