hPa to Bar Converter

Convert hectopascals (hPa) to bar and vice versa with this pressure converter. Hectopascals are commonly used in weather forecasts across the UK and Europe. One bar equals 1000 hectopascals, making conversions straightforward for barometric pressure readings.

Hectopascals (hPa)

Bar

Common Pressure Values

hPa to Bar Conversion Table

This table shows common hectopascal values and their equivalents in bar. Atmospheric pressure at sea level typically ranges from 980 to 1040 hPa.

Hectopascals (hPa)	Bar
1 hPa	0.001 bar
10 hPa	0.01 bar
50 hPa	0.05 bar
100 hPa	0.1 bar
500 hPa	0.5 bar
980 hPa	0.98 bar
1000 hPa	1 bar
1013 hPa	1.013 bar
1020 hPa	1.02 bar
1040 hPa	1.04 bar
2000 hPa	2 bar
5000 hPa	5 bar

Conversion Formula and Steps

hPa to Bar

bar = hPa ÷ 1000

To convert hectopascals to bar, divide the pressure value by 1000.

Take your pressure reading in hectopascals

Divide this value by 1000

The result is your pressure in bar

Example: Convert 1013 hPa to bar
1013 ÷ 1000 = 1.013 bar

Bar to hPa

hPa = bar × 1000

To convert bar to hectopascals, multiply the pressure value by 1000.

Take your pressure reading in bar

Multiply this value by 1000

The result is your pressure in hectopascals

Example: Convert 1.5 bar to hPa
1.5 × 1000 = 1500 hPa

About These Pressure Units

Hectopascal (hPa)

The hectopascal is the standard unit for atmospheric pressure in meteorology. It’s identical to the millibar (mbar), which was commonly used before. You’ll see hPa in weather forecasts throughout the UK and Europe.

Bar

One bar represents approximately the atmospheric pressure at sea level. It’s widely used in engineering, particularly for measuring tyre pressure, hydraulic systems, and industrial processes. One bar equals 100,000 pascals.

Did you know? Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.25 hPa (or 1.01325 bar). This is also known as one atmosphere (atm). Weather forecasters use hPa because it provides whole numbers that are easier to communicate in forecasts.

Everyday Pressure Contexts

Here’s where you might encounter these pressure measurements in daily life:

Weather forecasts: BBC Weather and Met Office reports show atmospheric pressure in hPa. High pressure (above 1020 hPa) usually brings settled weather.
Barometers: Traditional barometers may show readings in hPa or millibars. Both are the same measurement.
Vehicle tyres: Tyre pressure is often measured in bar in the UK. Car tyres typically need 2.0-2.5 bar.
Espresso machines: These require roughly 9 bar of pressure to extract coffee properly.
Diving: Water pressure increases by approximately 1 bar every 10 metres of depth.

Pressure Unit Conversions

Besides hPa and bar, pressure can be expressed in various other units. Here are the most common conversions:

From	To	Multiply By
hPa	bar	0.001
hPa	Pascal (Pa)	100
hPa	kPa	0.1
hPa	psi	0.0145
bar	hPa	1000
bar	Pascal (Pa)	100,000
bar	psi	14.5
bar	atm	0.987

FAQs

How many hPa are in 1 bar?

There are 1000 hectopascals in 1 bar. This makes conversion straightforward — simply multiply bar by 1000 to get hPa, or divide hPa by 1000 to get bar.

Is hPa the same as mbar?

Yes, hectopascals and millibars are identical. 1 hPa equals 1 mbar exactly. The meteorological community switched to hPa in the 1980s to align with SI units, but you’ll still see mbar used occasionally.

What’s a normal barometric pressure reading?

Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is around 1013 hPa (1.013 bar). Weather systems cause this to fluctuate between roughly 980 hPa (low pressure) and 1040 hPa (high pressure). Readings below 980 hPa often indicate storms.

Why do weather forecasts use hPa instead of bar?

Hectopascals provide convenient whole numbers for atmospheric pressure readings. Using bar would require decimal places (like 1.013 bar), whilst hPa gives us 1013 — easier to read and communicate in weather reports.

How do I convert bar to psi?

Multiply bar by 14.5 to get pounds per square inch (psi). For example, 2 bar equals 29 psi. This conversion is particularly useful for tyre pressure, as some gauges show psi whilst manufacturers specify bar.

What pressure reading indicates good weather?

High pressure systems (above 1020 hPa) typically bring settled, dry weather. Low pressure (below 1000 hPa) often means unsettled conditions with wind and rain. Rising pressure suggests improving weather, whilst falling pressure indicates deteriorating conditions.

Can I use this converter for tyre pressure?

Yes, if you need to convert tyre pressure between bar and other units. However, typical car tyre pressures (2-2.5 bar) equal 2000-2500 hPa. Most tyre gauges show bar directly, so conversion to hPa isn’t usually necessary for vehicles.

What’s the difference between absolute and gauge pressure?

Absolute pressure measures against a perfect vacuum (zero pressure). Gauge pressure measures relative to atmospheric pressure. When your tyre gauge shows 2.2 bar, that’s gauge pressure. The absolute pressure would be roughly 3.2 bar (gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure).