Calcylator
PSI to Kilopascals

psi to kPa:
multiply by 6.89476

Convert pounds per square inch to kilopascals for tyres, compressors and gauges, with a chart, worked examples and the gauge pressure traps.

Calcylator Editorial Team

Updated · 5 min read

How many kilopascals are in a psi?

One pound per square inch is 6.894757293 kilopascals, about 6.9 kPa. A kilopascal is a thousand pascals, and a psi is 6,894.757 pascals.

Gauges in the US and many workshops read in psi, while most of the rest of the world uses kPa or bar. Standard atmospheric pressure is 101.325 kPa, which is about 14.7 psi.

The psi to kPa formula

Pounds per square inch to kilopascals =kPa = psi × 6.894757293
kPa:
pressure in kilopascals
psi:
pressure in pounds per square inch
6.894757293:
kilopascals in one psi
To go the other way, multiply kPa by 0.1450377377 to get psi.

  • Pressure

    32 psi

  • Multiply

    32 × 6.894757293

Pressure in kPa

220.63 kPa

The full result is 220.632233376 kPa.

In reverse, 250 kPa is 250 × 0.1450377377 = 36.26 psi. A quick estimate is to multiply psi by 7 and take off a little, since 7 is slightly more than 6.89.

  1. Read the pressure in psi from the gauge.
  2. Multiply by 6.894757293.
  3. For kPa to psi, multiply by 0.1450377377 instead.
  4. Check by multiplying psi by 7, which should be slightly higher.

Chart: psi to kPa from 1 to 1000

The chart gives exact values; round to the nearest kPa for tyres.

Pounds per square inch to kilopascals
psikPa
16.894757293
213.78951459
534.47378647
1068.94757293
25172.3689323
50344.7378647
100689.4757293
2501723.689323
5003447.378647
10006894.757293

The 10 psi row is 68.9 kPa, and 100 psi is 689.5 kPa, which is close to 7 bar.

Where psi to kPa comes up

Tyre pressures are the everyday case. Many passenger car tyres call for around 30 to 35 psi, and the placard on the vehicle gives the right figure. A 35 psi tyre is 35 × 6.894757293 = 241.3 kPa.

Air compressors and nail guns are often rated in psi, while a European regulator may show kPa or bar. A 500 kPa supply line is 72.5 psi, and 1 bar is 100 kPa or about 14.5 psi.

Water systems work the same way: a pressure of 14.7 psi is 101.35 kPa, about one atmosphere of pressure.

Cycling is a good example of why the unit matters. Road bike tyres run at much higher pressures than car tyres, so a 90 psi pump reading is 620.5 kPa, while a gauge in bar shows about 6.2.

Common mistakes converting psi to kPa

  • Mixing up kPa with Pa or bar. 1 kPa is 1,000 Pa, and 1 bar is 100 kPa, so a slip of a decimal point is easy.
  • Dividing when you should multiply. A kPa is smaller than a psi, so the kPa figure is bigger.
  • Ignoring gauge versus absolute pressure. Tyre gauges read pressure above the atmosphere, while absolute pressure adds about 101.3 kPa.
  • Using 6.9 on large values. On 1,000 psi that is 6,900 kPa instead of 6,894.8.

Common questions

How many kPa is 1 psi?

One psi is 6.894757293 kPa, about 6.9 kPa. To convert, multiply the psi value by 6.894757293. A 10 psi reading is therefore 68.95 kPa, and a 100 psi reading is about 689.5 kPa.

How do I convert psi to kPa?

Multiply the psi by 6.894757293. For example, 32 psi is 32 × 6.894757293 = 220.63 kPa. For a quick estimate multiply by 7, which gives 224 kPa, a little above the exact value.

How many psi is 250 kPa?

250 kPa is about 36.26 psi, found by multiplying 250 by 0.1450377377. As a check, 250 kPa is 2.5 bar, and 1 bar is about 14.5 psi, so the answer should sit near 36.

Is 35 psi the same as 241 kPa?

Yes, to the nearest kilopascal. 35 psi equals 241.3 kPa, found by multiplying 35 by 6.894757293. Check your vehicle's placard for the correct tyre pressure rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

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