Pressure Head Converter

Convert between different units of pressure head including meters of water, feet of water, psi, bar, kPa, Pascal, mmHg, inHg, and cm H₂O. Essential for hydraulic engineering, plumbing, HVAC, and water system calculations.

Base Unit: 1 m H₂O = 3.28084 ft H₂O = 100 cm H₂O = 1.42233 psi = 9.80665 kPa = 9806.65 Pa = 0.0980665 bar = 73.56 mmHg = 2.897 inHg

About This Pressure Head Converter

Our comprehensive Pressure Head Converter provides accurate conversions between nine essential units used to measure pressure head in hydraulic systems, HVAC applications, and engineering calculations. The tool is designed for engineers, technicians, and professionals working with fluid mechanics and pressure systems.

Pressure head represents the height of a column of fluid that would create the same pressure at its base. All conversions are based on water at 4°C (maximum density of 1000 kg/m³) under standard gravity (9.80665 m/s²), ensuring precision for professional engineering applications.

Key Features

Comprehensive Units

Convert between 9 essential pressure head units including water columns, mercury columns, and standard pressure measurements.

Professional Accuracy

Uses exact conversion factors based on standard water and mercury properties for engineering-grade precision.

Real-time Conversion

Instant results as you type with automatic formatting for optimal readability across all magnitudes.

Multi-Industry Use

Perfect for hydraulic engineering, HVAC systems, plumbing, meteorology, and medical applications.

Why Choose Our Converter?

  • Standard Accuracy: Based on water at 4°C and standard gravity conditions per international standards
  • Engineering Grade: Suitable for professional hydraulic and HVAC calculations
  • Comprehensive Coverage: Includes both fluid column and pressure units for complete flexibility
  • Medical & Meteorological: Supports mercury column units used in healthcare and weather applications
  • User-Friendly Interface: Clean design with clear unit descriptions and instant results
  • Mobile Optimized: Fully responsive design perfect for field work and mobile devices
  • No Installation Required: Browser-based tool accessible from anywhere

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pressure head and why is it important?

Pressure head is the height of a column of fluid that would create the same pressure at its base. It’s crucial in hydraulic engineering for pump sizing, pipe design, and system pressure calculations. It provides an intuitive way to understand pressure in terms of fluid height.

Why are there different reference fluids (water vs mercury)?

Water columns (m H₂O, ft H₂O, cm H₂O) are used in hydraulic and plumbing systems because water is the working fluid. Mercury columns (mmHg, inHg) are used in meteorology and medicine because mercury’s high density allows for compact measurement instruments.

When should I use different pressure head units?

Use m H₂O for metric hydraulic systems, ft H₂O for US plumbing, cm H₂O for small-scale measurements, mmHg/inHg for atmospheric pressure and medical devices, and psi/kPa/bar for industrial pressure systems.

How accurate are these conversion factors?

Our conversions use exact factors based on standard definitions: water density = 1000 kg/m³ at 4°C, mercury density = 13595.1 kg/m³, and standard gravity = 9.80665 m/s². Results maintain precision to 8 significant figures for professional use.

What are typical pressure head values in different applications?

Residential water: 3-6 m H₂O (10-20 ft H₂O); Fire sprinklers: 10-15 m H₂O; Municipal water: 20-60 m H₂O; Atmospheric pressure: 760 mmHg (29.92 inHg); Blood pressure: 80-120 mmHg; High-rise buildings: 30-100+ m H₂O.

Can I use this for gas pressure measurements?

This converter is specifically designed for liquid pressure head measurements. For gas pressures, use direct pressure units (psi, kPa, bar, Pa) rather than fluid column equivalents, as gas density varies significantly with temperature and pressure.