bar to kg/cm² Converter
1 bar = 100,000 Pa by definition. 1 kg/cm² (more precisely, 1 kgf/cm², kilograms-force per square centimeter) is the pressure exerted by a 1 kg mass under standard gravity (9.80665...
Formula
Source: NIST SP 811, ISO 80000-4, JIS B 7505 (Bourdon tube pressure gauges) | Last reviewed: June 27, 2026
Examples
1 bar
= 1.0197 kg/cm²
1 bar = 1.0197 kg/cm²
10 bar
= 10.197 kg/cm²
10 bar = 10.20 kg/cm², typical compressed air pressure
100 bar
= 101.97 kg/cm²
100 bar = 102 kg/cm², hydraulic system
206 bar
= 210.1 kg/cm²
206 bar ≈ 210 kg/cm², standard industrial hydraulic pressure
Quick Reference Table
| bar | kg/cm² | psi (approx) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.02 | 14.5 | ~Atmospheric pressure |
| 2 | 2.04 | 29 | Car tire pressure |
| 8 | 8.16 | 116 | Compressed air system (typical) |
| 10 | 10.2 | 145 | Industrial compressed air |
| 100 | 102 | 1450 | Medium-pressure hydraulics |
| 210 | 214 | 3046 | Standard industrial hydraulic (210 kg/cm² ≈ 3,000 psi) |
| 350 | 357 | 5076 | High-pressure hydraulics |
Where is this used?
1 kg/cm² (more precisely, 1 kgf/cm², kilograms-force per square centimeter) is the pressure exerted by a 1 kg mass under standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²) over a 1 cm² area.
Therefore 1 kg/cm² = (1 kg × 9.80665 m/s²) / 0.0001 m² = 98,066.5 Pa.
The ratio: 1 bar = 100,000 / 98,066.5 = 1.019716 kg/cm².
The bar-to-kg/cm² conversion is one of the most common pressure conversions in Asian and European industrial practice.
The bar is the dominant pressure unit in Europe, while kg/cm² is widely used in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and parts of Southeast Asia and India.
The two units are extremely close, 1 bar = 1.0197 kg/cm², meaning they differ by only 1.97%.
This near-equivalence has a practical consequence: for rough work, bar and kg/cm² are often treated as interchangeable, with the 2% difference considered within safety factors.
However, for hydrostatic testing (where ASME BPVC specifies test pressure as 1.3 × MAWP), a 2% error in test pressure could mean the difference between a passing and failing test.
A pressure vessel with a design pressure of 30 bar (30.59 kg/cm²) tested at 1.3 × 30 = 39 bar (39.77 kg/cm²), if the test gauge is in kg/cm² and reads '39' (thinking 1 bar = 1 kg/cm²), the actual test pressure is only 38.24 bar, which is 1.3% below the required 39 bar, potentially invalidating the test.
This scenario, confusing bar with kg/cm² in hydrotesting, is a known source of non-conformances in international pressure equipment fabrication.
The kg/cm² unit is technically deprecated in SI (the preferred unit is the pascal, Pa), but it persists in Asian industry because many legacy pressure gauges, pump nameplates, and compressor specifications from Japanese and Korean manufacturers (Ebara, Grundfos' Asian division, Hanbell, Doosan) are marked in kg/cm².
A Korean air compressor rated at 8 kg/cm² discharge pressure is equivalent to 8 / 1.01972 = 7.84 bar, very close to the 8 bar setting commonly used in European compressed air systems.
The 2% difference between 8 bar and 8 kg/cm² is within the typical pressure switch deadband and is generally not operationally significant, but it must be accounted for in equipment datasheet comparisons.
The bar-to-kg/cm² conversion also appears in tire pressure: European car tires are inflated to 2.2 bar, and Japanese specifications might list 2.2 kg/cm², identical for all practical purposes.
In hydraulic systems, Japanese and Korean hydraulic power units may specify system pressure in kg/cm² (e.g., 210 kg/cm² for a standard industrial hydraulic system, equivalent to 206 bar or 3,000 psi).
Real-World Usage Scenarios
International pressure vessel hydrostatic testing
A pressure vessel fabricator (Korean OEM) supplies an ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1 vessel to a US refinery. The vessel's design pressure (MAWP) is 30 bar at 200°C. The hydrostatic test pressure is 1.3 × MAWP = 39 bar. The fabricator's test facility in Korea uses kg/cm² gauges (Korean standard). The test operator must verify the test pressure reading: 39 bar × 1.01972 = 39.77 kg/cm². The test gauge reads 39.77 kg/cm² at the test pressure. The conversion (bar × 1.01972) ensures the test pressure is exactly 39 bar at the vessel design temperature. If the operator mistakenly set the test pressure to 39 kg/cm² (thinking 1 bar = 1 kg/cm²), the actual test pressure would be 39 / 1.01972 = 38.24 bar, 1.9% below the required 39 bar. The test would fail the ASME code requirement, and the vessel would need to be re-tested. The bar-to-kg/cm² conversion is applied at every hydrostatic test for international pressure equipment fabrication, with documentation showing both units for verification by inspectors from different jurisdictions.
Industry Standards Referenced
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bar the same as kg/cm²?
No, but they differ by only 1.97%. 1 bar = 1.01972 kg/cm², so bar is about 2% larger. For rough estimates (＜5% accuracy), they can be treated as interchangeable. For hydrostatic testing, pressure relief valve setpoints, and equipment datasheet comparisons, use the exact conversion. The 2% difference is within typical pressure gauge accuracy (Class 1.0 or Class 1.6 per ASME B40.100) but matters for code compliance.
Where is kg/cm² still commonly used?
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, and Southeast Asia. Japanese and Korean pump curves, compressor nameplates, hydraulic power units, and industrial machinery often list pressure in kg/cm². Many Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) historically used kg/cm², though newer editions are transitioning to MPa or bar. A 1990s-vintage Japanese hydraulic excavator manual might specify the main relief valve at 250 kg/cm², while a modern Caterpillar equivalent would specify 24.5 MPa, the same pressure, different units.
What does this converter do?
This converter performs the unit conversion at standard conditions using the exact conversion factor. The result is displayed with appropriate precision for engineering use.
Reviewed for accuracy
Verified against NIST pressure conversion factors and ISO definitions · Last reviewed: June 27, 2026
All calculations are for reference only. Always verify with manufacturer data and a qualified engineer for critical applications. Learn about our editorial process.