Kilopascal (kPa) is a pressure unit with the symbol kPa. One kilopascal equals exactly 1,000 pascals. It keeps pressure values in the SI family while making common pressures readable.
Quick facts
- Unit name
- Kilopascal
- Symbol
- kPa
- Quantity
- pressure
- SI bridge
- 1 kPa = 1,000 Pa
- Category
- Pressure
- Converter hub
- Pressure converter
Pressure scale
Pressure units are easiest to compare through pascals. This visual places kPa beside neighboring pressure units.
Definition
One kilopascal equals exactly 1,000 pascals. It keeps pressure values in the SI family while making common pressures readable. kPa is often the best SI-facing unit for everyday pressure. It is compact enough for labels but still directly connected to pascals and SI formulas.
Pressure reference
A pressure number can be gauge, absolute, or differential. The unit kPa tells you the scale, but the surrounding notation tells you the reference. Keep labels such as psig, psia, barg, bara, absolute pressure, or differential pressure when the source provides them.
Exact relationships and reference values
| Relationship | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| 1 kPa = 1,000 Pa | Useful reference relationship |
| 100 kPa is close to atmospheric pressure | Useful reference relationship |
| 220 kPa is a common tire-pressure scale value | Useful reference relationship |
| 1 psi = 6.894757293 kPa | Useful reference relationship |
Where kPa is used
Kilopascals are widely used for tire pressure labels, vehicle manuals, HVAC data, pressure sensors, medical pressure references, weather data, and engineering specifications.
Common mistakes
- Do not confuse kPa with Pa; a kilopascal is one thousand pascals.
- Do not treat a rounded tire label pair such as kPa and psi as mathematically exact in both directions.
- Do not omit whether a pressure value is gauge or absolute when the context requires it.
Converters and formulas
Use these pages when you need a direct calculation involving kPa.
Related pressure guides
Compare kPa with other pressure units in the same directory.
FAQ
Is kPa metric?
Yes. Kilopascal is an SI-derived metric pressure unit.
How many pascals are in 1 kPa?
1 kPa equals exactly 1,000 Pa.
Why do tire labels show kPa and psi?
Many labels serve both metric and US audiences, so kPa and psi are printed together for convenience.