Calculate Pressure, Force or Area
Pressure is force spread over an area. The same force creates much more pressure when it acts on a small area, which is why a sharp knife cuts and snowshoes keep you from sinking. This pressure calculator solves P = F ÷ A for any one value. It supports forces in newtons or pound-force, areas in m², cm², ft² or in², and pressures in Pa, kPa, MPa, psi, bar and atm.
Pressure Formulas
Example: a 700 N person standing on two feet with a total area of 0.05 m² puts 700 ÷ 0.05 = 14,000 Pa (14 kPa) of pressure on the floor. On a 1 cm² stiletto heel, the same weight creates 7,000,000 Pa (7 MPa).
- Pressure: P = F ÷ A
- Force: F = P × A
- Area: A = F ÷ P
Pressure Unit Conversions
- 1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa
- 1 atm = 14.696 psi = 1.01325 bar
- 1 bar = 100,000 Pa ≈ 14.5 psi
- 1 psi ≈ 6,895 Pa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pascal?
The pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. It equals one newton of force per square meter. It is a very small unit, so kilopascals (kPa) and megapascals (MPa) are often used instead.
What is the difference between psi and psig?
psig (gauge pressure) is measured relative to the surrounding air pressure, like a tire gauge. psia (absolute pressure) includes atmospheric pressure. At sea level, psia ≈ psig + 14.7.
What is normal tire pressure?
Most passenger cars call for about 30–35 psi (roughly 2.1–2.4 bar). Always use the value on the sticker inside your driver's door, not the maximum printed on the tire.