Pressure Calculator
Pressure (Pa)500.00
Pressure (kPa)0.5000
Pressure (psi)0.0725
Force (N)1,000.0000
Area (m²)2.0000
The Pressure Calculator relates force, area, and pressure through P = F / A — the force spread over the surface it acts on. Select which variable to solve for, enter the two you know, and the tool returns the answer along with handy unit conversions. Pressure is reported simultaneously in pascals, kilopascals, and pounds per square inch so you can read whichever scale your problem uses.
Formula
P = F / A
- P
- Pressure (pascals, where 1 Pa = 1 N/m²)
- F
- Force applied perpendicular to the surface (newtons)
- A
- Area over which the force acts (square metres)
How it works
- Choose whether to find pressure, force, or area using the mode switcher.
- Enter the two known quantities; pressure is entered and shown in pascals (1 Pa = 1 N/m²).
- The calculator applies P = F / A (or the rearranged form) and converts pressure to kPa and psi for you.
Worked example
A 1000 N force pressing on a 2 m² surface.
- P = F / A = 1000 / 2.
- P = 500 Pa = 0.5 kPa.
- 500 Pa ÷ 6894.76 ≈ 0.0725 psi.
Pressure = 500 Pa (0.5 kPa, ≈ 0.0725 psi).
Frequently asked questions
- What is a pascal?
- A pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of pressure equal to one newton per square metre. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 101,325 Pa, or 101.325 kPa.
- How do pascals relate to psi?
- One pound per square inch (psi) equals roughly 6,894.76 pascals. The calculator divides the pascal value by this factor to give the psi reading automatically.
- Why does a smaller area increase pressure?
- Because pressure is force divided by area, concentrating the same force onto a smaller surface raises the pressure. This is why a sharp knife or a thin heel exerts far more pressure than a flat surface.
- Does this calculator handle fluid pressure with depth?
- No. It computes mechanical pressure from a force on an area (P = F/A). Hydrostatic pressure that depends on fluid density, depth, and gravity (P = ρgh) is a separate relationship.