kPa to PSI Converter
Type kPa to get psi. 220 kPa, a common tire pressure on European placards, is about 32 psi.
220 kPa =
31.9083psi
220 kilopascals is 31.9083 pounds per square inch.
- 1 kPa
- 0.145 psi
- 1 psi
- 6.8948 kPa
How to convert kPa to psi
Divide kilopascals by 6.89476, or multiply them by 0.145038; the two give the same result. Both factors are rounded from the exact 6.894757293 kPa in one pound-force per square inch.
Take a tire placard that reads 350 kPa for a loaded van: 350 ÷ 6.89476 = 50.76 psi, so you would set an American gauge to 51 psi. A home water supply quoted at 500 kPa is 72.5 psi.
Metric specs flip between kPa and bar, and the step between them is easy: 1 bar is 100 kPa. A sidewall or pump reading of 2.4 bar is therefore 240 kPa, which is 34.81 psi. Converting through kPa this way avoids memorising a second factor.
pounds per square inch = kilopascals ÷ 6.89476 (rounded)
- Since 1 psi = 6.894 757 kPa, one kilopascal is 0.145 038 psi. Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8: conversion factors by unit.
How to estimate kPa to psi in your head
Divide by 7 and add 1.5%. 280 kPa ÷ 7 = 40, plus a little is 40.6, and the exact answer is 40.61 psi. For tires, “divide by 7” alone is within half a psi.
Or take 15% and then shave off about 3%: 15% of 200 kPa is 30, less 0.9 gives 29.1, and the true figure is 29.0 psi. One hundred kPa is just over 14.5 psi, close to one atmosphere.
kPa to psi table
Kilopascal readings from placards, boilers and water mains, in psi.
| Kilopascals (kPa) | Pounds per square inch (psi) | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 7.2519 | |
| 100 | 14.5038 | |
| 101.325 | 14.6959 | standard atmosphere |
| 150 | 21.7557 | |
| 180 | 26.1068 | |
| 200 | 29.0075 | |
| 210 | 30.4579 | |
| 220 | 31.9083 | typical car tire placard |
| 230 | 33.3587 | |
| 240 | 34.8091 | typical car tire placard |
Show all 19 rowsShow fewer
| 250 | 36.2594 | |
| 260 | 37.7098 | |
| 280 | 40.6106 | |
| 300 | 43.5113 | |
| 350 | 50.7632 | |
| 400 | 58.0151 | |
| 500 | 72.5189 | |
| 700 | 101.526 | |
| 1,000 | 145.038 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 220 kPa in psi?
220 kPa is 31.9 psi, so a placard asking for 220 kPa means about 32 psi on a US gauge.
What is 300 kPa in psi?
300 kPa is 43.51 psi, which is why a tire sidewall rated “300 kPa” usually also says 44 psi in small print beside it.
Is 1 kPa the same as 1 psi?
No. A psi is almost seven times bigger: 1 psi is 6.895 kPa, and 1 kPa is only 0.145 psi. Mixing them up on a tire would mean seven times too much or too little air.
How do I convert kPa on a pressure cooker or boiler?
The same way: divide by 6.895. A cooker running at 100 kPa above atmosphere is at 14.5 psi gauge, close to the classic “15 psi” setting.