Bar to PSI Converter
Type bar to get psi. 2.5 bar, a typical car tire, is about 36 psi.
2.5 bar =
36.2594psi
2.5 bar is 36.2594 pounds per square inch.
- 1 bar
- 14.5038 psi
- 1 psi
- 0.06895 bar
How to convert bar to psi
Multiply the number of bar by 14.5038. One bar is exactly 100 kPa, and dividing that by the 6.894757 kPa in a pound per square inch gives 14.5037738, which is rounded to 14.5038 here. For readings on a dial the shorter 14.5 is close enough.
An espresso machine brewing at 9 bar is pushing water through the coffee at 9 × 14.5038 = 130.5 psi. A scuba cylinder filled to 200 bar holds about 2,900 psi, the figure an American dive shop would quote.
pounds per square inch = bar × 14.5038 (rounded)
- One bar is 100,000 Pa and one psi is 6,894.757 Pa, so 1 bar = 14.503 77 psi. Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors by unit.
How to estimate bar to psi in your head
Multiply by 15, then take off a little (about 3%). For 4 bar: 4 × 15 = 60, minus 2 gives 58, against an exact 58.02 psi. For 200 bar: 200 × 15 = 3,000, and taking off 3% (90) leaves 2,910, against an exact 2,900.75.
If you would rather add than subtract, multiply by 14.5 in pieces: ten times, plus four times, plus half. For 2.5 bar that is 25 + 10 + 1.25 = 36.25 psi, very nearly the exact 36.26.
Bar to psi chart
From a soft tire to a full dive cylinder, with psi to two decimals.
| Bar (bar) | Pounds per square inch (psi) | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 7.2519 | |
| 1 | 14.5038 | |
| 1.5 | 21.7557 | |
| 1.8 | 26.1068 | |
| 2 | 29.0075 | |
| 2.2 | 31.9083 | common car tire placard |
| 2.4 | 34.8091 | |
| 2.5 | 36.2594 | common car tire placard |
| 2.8 | 40.6106 | |
| 3 | 43.5113 |
Show all 22 rowsShow fewer
| 3.5 | 50.7632 | |
| 4 | 58.0151 | |
| 5 | 72.5189 | |
| 6 | 87.0226 | |
| 7 | 101.526 | |
| 8 | 116.03 | |
| 9 | 130.534 | espresso extraction |
| 10 | 145.038 | |
| 15 | 217.557 | |
| 200 | 2,900.75 | steel scuba cylinder |
| 232 | 3,364.88 | European DIN scuba cylinder |
| 300 | 4,351.13 | high-pressure cylinder |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many psi is 2.5 bar?
2.5 bar is 36.26 psi. That is a normal pressure for a family car’s tires, which is why the same placard can read 2.5 bar and 36 psi.
What is 9 bar of pressure in an espresso machine in psi?
About 130.5 psi. The 9 bar figure is the pressure at the coffee puck while brewing; pumps are often sold as “15 bar”, which is their maximum, about 218 psi.
Is a pressure washer rated in bar the same as one rated in psi?
Yes, the unit is the only difference. A 150 bar washer delivers about 2,176 psi, so it competes with machines sold in the US as “2,100 to 2,200 psi”. Compare flow rate too, because pressure alone does not tell you how fast it cleans.