🔩 lbs → psi Converter
Compute the pressure generated by a load applied over a surface.
Great for determining stresses on pads, scaffolding loads, or hydraulic systems when you know the force in pounds and the contact area.
Pressure: 10 psi
Kilopascals: 68.9476 kPa
Area (square inches): 20 in²
How to Use This Calculator
Measure the load
Determine the applied force in pounds (lb).
Measure the contact area
Find the surface area in square inches, feet, yards, meters, or acres.
Review psi output
The calculator divides the force by the area (converted to square inches) to produce psi.
Formula
Convert area to in²: A₍in²₎ = convert(area, selected unit → square inches)
psi = Force (lb) ÷ Area (in²)
kPa = convert(psi → kilopascals)
Use the formula breakdown to confirm the calculation logic or perform the conversion manually if needed.
Full Description
Pressure equals force divided by area. In imperial engineering contexts this is often expressed in pounds per square inch (psi). This converter lets you specify the contact area in either imperial or metric units, handles the conversion to square inches, and returns psi along with kilopascals for metric documents.
Use it to estimate ground pressure, clamp loads, or pad loading where a known weight is spread across a footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my area is in square centimeters?
Convert square centimeters to square meters first, or add additional area options if needed.
How do I convert psi back to pounds?
Multiply psi by the area in square inches. The relationship is Force = psi Ă— Area.
Does it handle gauge vs absolute?
This calculation assumes absolute force and area. Adjust for atmospheric offsets if you are working with gauge pressures.
Can I change the kilopascal output to bar?
Yes. Modify the code to convert psi into bar or include additional outputs similar to the kPa example.