# Pressure Calculator

> Calculate pressure from a force spread over an area, or the force or area for a given pressure, in Pa, kPa, MPa, bar, psi, atm or mmHg.

Category: Science & engineering · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/pressure-calculator

Pressure is force per unit area, P = F ÷ A. The same force on a smaller area gives a higher pressure, which is why knives cut and snowshoes do not sink.

Also called: Force–pressure–area calculator, P = F/A calculator.

## Inputs
- Solve for (options: Pressure, Force, Area; default pressure)
- Force (default 500)
- Force unit (options: newtons (N), kilonewtons (kN), pounds-force (lbf), kilograms-force (kgf); default n)
- Area (default 0.01)
- Area unit (options: m², cm², mm², ft², in²; default m2)
- Pressure (default 50)
- Pressure unit (options: pascals (Pa), kilopascals (kPa), megapascals (MPa), bar, atmospheres (atm), psi, mmHg; default kpa)

## Results
- Result
- Pressure
- Pressure
- Pressure
- Pressure
- Force
- Area

## Formula

```
P = F ÷ A;  F = P × A;  A = F ÷ P
```

Where:
- P: pressure in pascals (1 Pa = 1 N/m²; 1 bar = 100 kPa; 1 psi = 6.894757 kPa; 1 atm = 101.325 kPa)
- F: force normal to the surface in N
- A: area in m²

## Worked example
1. P = F ÷ A.
2. P = 500 N ÷ 0.01 m² = 50,000 Pa = 50 kPa (0.5 bar, about 7.25 psi).

**Result:** A 500 N load on 0.01 m² (a 10 cm square) exerts 50 kPa.

## What the result means

Use the force perpendicular to the surface. For a hydraulic press the same pressure acts on both pistons, so the force scales with the piston area: that is the force multiplication in jacks and brakes.

## Assumptions and limits
- Force spread evenly over the area and acting perpendicular to it.
- Real contacts concentrate stress at edges and high points; peak pressure can far exceed the average.

## Questions

### Is this gauge or absolute pressure?

Neither as such: it is the pressure the force creates. Add atmospheric pressure (101.325 kPa at sea level) if you need an absolute value.

### How do I convert psi to kPa?

Multiply by 6.894757. For example, 32 psi is 220.6 kPa.

## Sources
- [BIPM: The International System of Units (SI)](https://www.bipm.org/)

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Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/pressure-calculator