Convert Bar to Kilopascals
Bar to kilopascals is the conversion you need when a pressure is given in bar but you want kilopascals — the SI unit a lot of weather reports, tire specs, and datasheets prefer. One bar is exactly 100 kilopascals, because the bar is defined from the pascal, so the switch is a tidy factor of 100.
Bar to Kilopascals conversion table
| Bar (bar) | Kilopascals (kPa) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 200 |
| 3 | 300 |
| 5 | 500 |
| 10 | 1,000 |
| 20 | 2,000 |
| 50 | 5,000 |
| 100 | 10,000 |
| 500 | 50,000 |
| 1,000 | 100,000 |
The formula
To convert bar to kilopascals, multiply the number of bar by 100:
kilopascals = bar × 100
A worked example
Say you have a reading of 1 bar and want it in kilopascals:
1 × 100 = 100 kPa
So 1 bar is exactly 100 kilopascals.
Why the number is exact
The bar is defined as exactly 100,000 pascals, and a kilopascal is exactly 1,000 pascals. Divide one by the other and you get exactly 100 — no rounding anywhere. So every bar reading is exactly 100 kilopascals, an exact relationship rather than an approximation.
When you'll use it
Reading a weather report or a tire spec that lists kilopascals when your gauge shows bar, or matching a datasheet that mixes the two units for the same pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilopascals are in one bar?
Exactly 100 kilopascals. The bar is defined as exactly 100,000 pascals, and a kilopascal is 1,000 pascals, so one bar is exactly 100 kPa.
Is a bar the same as a kilopascal?
No — a bar is 100 times bigger. One bar equals exactly 100 kilopascals, so don't mix the two up when reading a gauge or a spec sheet.
Is the bar to kilopascals conversion exact?
Yes. Both units trace back to the pascal by exact definition, so one bar is exactly 100 kilopascals with nothing rounded.