Pressure to Head Converter
Convert pressure to metres or feet of liquid column for any specific gravity.
Handy anchors: 1 bar โ 10.2 m of water; 1 psi โ 2.31 ft. Light fluids need MORE head for the same pressure โ why pump curves are drawn in head, not pressure.
Formula
Pressure to Head Converter is a free pressure to head for process, mechanical and water engineers โ instant, accurate and 100% client-side, with the governing formula and reference shown next to the result so the number can be defended, not just quoted.
About Pressure to Head Converter
Convert pressure to metres or feet of liquid column for any specific gravity. The calculation implements h = P / (ฯยทg) = P / (SGยทฯ_wยทg) (Hydraulic Institute โ pump terminology). Handy anchors: 1 bar โ 10.2 m of water; 1 psi โ 2.31 ft. Light fluids need MORE head for the same pressure โ why pump curves are drawn in head, not pressure.
How to use Pressure to Head Converter
- 1Enter Pressure in kPa.
- 2Enter Specific gravity (Water 1.0 ยท seawater 1.025 ยท diesel 0.84).
- 3Read Head instantly โ no submit button needed.
- 4Need US units? Flip the SI/Imperial toggle and every field converts.
Why use Pressure to Head Converter?
- โImplements the standard formula โ h = P / (ฯยทg) = P / (SGยทฯ_wยทg)
- โReference cited on-page: Hydraulic Institute โ pump terminology
- โOne-click SI โ Imperial toggle โ values convert in place, physics stays in SI
- โLive worked example: the substitution recomputes from your numbers
- โRuns entirely in your browser โ nothing uploaded, free forever
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the Pressure to Head Converter use?+
It computes h = P / (ฯยทg) = P / (SGยทฯ_wยทg), per Hydraulic Institute โ pump terminology. The formula is displayed under the result along with a worked example substituted with your own inputs.
What should I keep in mind when using this calculator?+
Handy anchors: 1 bar โ 10.2 m of water; 1 psi โ 2.31 ft. Light fluids need MORE head for the same pressure โ why pump curves are drawn in head, not pressure.
Does this work for any fluid?+
Yes โ density and viscosity are inputs (with common fluids suggested in the field hints), so the same physics applies to water, oils, gases and process fluids. Compute always runs in SI internally, so unit mix-ups can't corrupt the result.
Is the Pressure to Head Converter free to use?+
Yes โ completely free, no sign-up, no limits. It runs client-side in your browser, so inputs stay private and results are instant even on slow connections.
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