Megapascal to Atmosphere Converter
Convert megapascals to atmospheres with our free online pressure converter.
Quick Answer
1 Megapascal = 9.869233 atmospheres
Formula: Megapascal × conversion factor = Atmosphere
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Megapascal to Atmosphere Calculator
How to Use the Megapascal to Atmosphere Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Megapascal).
- The converted value in Atmosphere will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Pressure category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Megapascal to Atmosphere: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Megapascal to Atmosphere involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
atm = MPa × 9.86923Example Calculation:
1 MPa = 9.869233 atm
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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Need to convert to other pressure units?
View all Pressure conversions →What is a Megapascal and a Atmosphere?
1 MPa = 1,000,000 Pa = 1,000 kPa = 145.038 PSI = 10 bar = 9.869 atm
Why Megapascal?
MPa is the "sweet spot" for engineering pressures:
- Pascal is too small: 1 Pa = barely measurable (atmospheric is 101,325 Pa)
- Kilopascal is too granular: Engineering specs in kPa are 4-5 digit numbers (20,000 kPa for concrete)
- MPa is optimal: Concrete 20-40 MPa (simple, memorable)
- Engineering standard: All material specs given in MPa
- SI-derived: ISO and international standards use MPa
1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa = 14.696 PSI = 1.01325 bar = 760 mmHg = 760 Torr = 29.92 inHg
Why "Atmosphere"?
The atmosphere unit is uniquely important because:
- Defined exactly: CIPM (1954) set 1 atm = 101,325 Pa (exact)
- Sea level reference: Based on average atmospheric pressure (not variable)
- Universal constant: Used identically worldwide (unlike PSI or bar)
- Chemistry standard: All chemistry/physics equations reference 1 atm conditions
- STP baseline: "Standard Temperature and Pressure" = 0°C, 1 atm exactly
Note: The Megapascal is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Atmosphere belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
Common Uses and Applications: megapascals vs atmospheres
Explore the typical applications for both Megapascal (imperial/US) and Atmosphere (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for megapascals
Materials Engineering: Tensile strength, compressive strength, yield strength - THE standard unit for all material properties. Hydraulics: High-pressure hydraulic systems (construction, manufacturing, heavy equipment). Pressure Vessels: Gas cylinders, boilers, reactors, automotive fuel systems. Geotechnical: Soil bearing capacity, rock strength, foundation design. Aerospace: Structural requirements, component ratings.
Material Strengths (Compressive/Tensile)
Understanding material strength is critical for engineering design:
| Material | Type | Strength (MPa) | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Styrofoam | Compression | 0.01-0.1 | Very weak, insulation only | | Wood (softwood) | Compression | 20-40 | Pine, spruce, fir typical | | Wood (hardwood) | Compression | 40-60 | Oak, maple stronger | | Brick | Compression | 10-40 | Varies by firing temperature | | Concrete (standard) | Compression | 20-40 | Common 28-day strength | | Concrete (high-strength) | Compression | 50-100 | Pre-stressed applications | | Granite | Compression | 100-250 | Very strong, suitable for columns | | Aluminum alloy (6061) | Tensile | 200-300 | Common structural aluminum | | Aluminum alloy (7075) | Tensile | 500-600 | High-strength aerospace | | Steel (structural ASTM A36) | Yield | 250 | Common building steel | | Steel (high-strength ASTM A572) | Yield | 345-450 | Bridge, crane applications | | Steel (ultra-high) | Tensile | 500-1,000 | Special applications | | Steel cable (wire rope) | Tensile | 1,600-2,000 | Elevators, suspension bridges | | Carbon fiber composite | Tensile | 3,000-7,000 | Aerospace, racing | | Kevlar fiber | Tensile | 3,600-3,800 | Armor, protective gear |
Design factor: Actual working stress = material strength ÷ safety factor (typically 2-4)
Hydraulic Systems (High Pressure)
Hydraulic pressure ratings define system capability:
| System Type | Operating Pressure | Peak Pressure | PSI Equivalent | Application | |---|---|---|---|---| | Automotive brake | 10-15 MPa | 20 MPa | 1,500-2,900 PSI | Car braking force | | Automobile power steering | 10-15 MPa | 20 MPa | 1,500-2,900 PSI | Steering assist | | Construction excavator | 20-35 MPa | 40 MPa | 2,900-5,800 PSI | Digging bucket | | Backhoe | 25-30 MPa | 35 MPa | 3,625-5,075 PSI | Heavy lifting | | Dump truck bed | 20-25 MPa | 30 MPa | 2,900-4,350 PSI | Lifting load | | Industrial press | 20-40 MPa | 50 MPa | 2,900-7,250 PSI | Metal forming | | Hydraulic jack | 50-70 MPa | 80 MPa | 7,250-11,600 PSI | Lifting capability | | Water jet cutter | 200-400 MPa | 450 MPa | 29,000-65,000 PSI | Material cutting | | Oil well pump | 100-200 MPa | 250 MPa | 14,500-36,250 PSI | Deep well pressure |
Pressure Vessels & Storage
Pressure ratings determine safe working limits:
| Vessel Type | Typical Pressure | Material | Working PSIG | |---|---|---|---| | Compressed air tank | 0.8-1.0 MPa | Steel | 116-145 PSI | | Propane BBQ tank | 1.5-2.0 MPa | Steel | 218-290 PSI | | Scuba tank (full) | 20-30 MPa | Aluminum/Steel | 3,000-4,350 PSI | | Natural gas vehicle | 20-25 MPa | Composite | 3,000-3,625 PSI | | Hydrogen fuel cell | 35-70 MPa | Carbon fiber | 5,000-10,000 PSI | | Industrial gas cylinder | 15-20 MPa | Steel | 2,175-2,900 PSI | | Medical oxygen | 13.8-15 MPa | Aluminum | 2,000-2,175 PSI | | Nitrogen (instrument) | 10-13.8 MPa | Steel | 1,450-2,000 PSI |
Safety factor: Pressure vessels typically designed with 4:1 to 6:1 safety margin
Geotechnical Engineering (Soil/Rock)
Foundation and excavation design based on pressure ratings:
| Material/Condition | Bearing Capacity | Suitable For | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Soft clay | 0.05-0.2 MPa | Temporary structures | High settlement risk | | Medium clay | 0.1-0.3 MPa | Single story | Careful design needed | | Stiff clay | 0.3-0.5 MPa | Multi-story buildings | Good load capacity | | Dense sand | 0.3-0.6 MPa | Foundation base | Excellent for building | | Gravel/sand mixture | 0.6-1.0 MPa | Heavy structures | Very good bearing | | Soft rock (shale) | 1-10 MPa | Bridge supports | Rock analysis needed | | Medium rock | 10-50 MPa | Tall buildings | High capacity | | Hard rock (granite) | 50-100+ MPa | Largest structures | Excellent foundation |
Design process: Site investigation → soil tests → pressure capacity → foundation design
When to Use atmospheres
Chemistry: Gas laws (PV=nRT), reaction conditions, vapor pressures, standard conditions (STP).
- Ideal Gas Law: P V = n R T (pressures typically in atm in chemistry)
- Gas tables: Vapor pressures often given at 1 atm
- STP (Standard Temperature & Pressure): Exactly 1 atm, 0°C (sometimes 25°C modern definition)
Diving: Depth pressure calculations (1 atm per 10m/33ft water).
- Critical for: Decompression sickness risk, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity
- Rule of thumb: Every 10 meters adds 1 atm pressure
Physics: Standard reference pressure for equations, thermodynamics.
- Thermodynamics: Heat capacities typically defined at 1 atm
- Boiling points: Water boils at 100°C only at 1 atm
- Phase diagrams: Reference state for matter phase transitions
Engineering: High-pressure systems, pressure vessels, gas storage.
- Vessel ratings: Designed for X psig over 1 atm ambient
- Cylinder classifications: Based on working pressure as multiples of atm
Additional Unit Information
About Megapascal (MPa)
How do I convert MPa to PSI?
Formula: PSI = MPa × 145.038
Examples:
- 1 MPa = 145 PSI
- 10 MPa = 1,450 PSI (car brakes)
- 20 MPa = 2,900 PSI (hydraulic tools)
- 30 MPa = 4,350 PSI (scuba tank)
- 70 MPa = 10,153 PSI (H2 fuel tank)
What is concrete strength in MPa?
Residential concrete: 20-32 MPa (2,900-4,650 PSI)
- Footings/slabs: 20-25 MPa
- Foundation walls: 25-30 MPa
- Driveway: 25-32 MPa
Commercial concrete: 30-50 MPa
- Floors: 30-35 MPa
- Beams/columns: 35-50 MPa
High-strength: 50-100+ MPa
- High-rise buildings: 50-80 MPa
- Bridges: 60-100 MPa
- Special applications: 100-150 MPa
Conversion: Divide PSI by 145 to get MPa (e.g., 3,000 PSI ≈ 21 MPa)
How do I convert MPa to bar?
Formula: bar = MPa × 10
Examples:
- 0.1 MPa = 1 bar
- 1 MPa = 10 bar
- 2 MPa = 20 bar
- 10 MPa = 100 bar
- 20 MPa = 200 bar (scuba tank)
What is a typical hydraulic system pressure?
Low pressure: 7-14 MPa (1,000-2,000 PSI)
- Automotive power steering: 8-12 MPa
- Light hydraulic lifts: 7-10 MPa
Medium pressure: 14-21 MPa (2,000-3,000 PSI)
- Construction equipment: 20-25 MPa
- Agricultural machinery: 14-20 MPa
- Automotive brakes: 10-15 MPa
High pressure: 21-35 MPa (3,000-5,000 PSI)
- Industrial presses: 25-35 MPa
- Heavy construction: 30-35 MPa
- Excavators: 30-35 MPa
Very high pressure: >35 MPa (>5,000 PSI)
- Hydraulic jacks: 50-70 MPa
- Specialized industrial: 70-100 MPa
Why use MPa instead of PSI for material strength?
SI standard: International engineering uses MPa universally Simpler numbers: 400 MPa vs 58,000 PSI Scientific: Consistent with stress calculations (force/area in N/m²) Global: Specifications understood worldwide
Conversion: PSI ÷ 145 ≈ MPa (or PSI × 0.00689 = MPa)
Example: Steel yield strength
- As MPa: 250-400 MPa (easy)
- As PSI: 36,000-58,000 PSI (unwieldy)
About Atmosphere (atm)
How many PSI is 1 atmosphere?
1 atm = 14.696 PSI (often rounded to 14.7 PSI)
Examples:
- 2 atm = 29.4 PSI (10m dive depth)
- 3 atm = 44.1 PSI (20m dive depth)
- 10 atm = 147 PSI (compressed air)
- 100 atm = 1,470 PSI (gas cylinder)
How many atmospheres in a bar?
1 bar = 0.986923 atm (approximately 1 atm, ~1.3% difference)
Conversion:
- 1 atm = 1.01325 bar
- 10 atm = 10.1325 bar
- 100 atm = 101.325 bar
- 200 atm = 202.65 bar (scuba tank)
Why different?: Bar defined as exactly 100,000 Pa; atm defined as 101,325 Pa.
What pressure is 2 atmospheres?
2 atm = 202,650 Pa = 202.65 kPa = 29.4 PSI = 2.026 bar = 1,520 mmHg
Physical meaning:
- Diving 10 meters (33 feet) underwater
- Absolute pressure at 10m depth
- Double the surface atmospheric pressure
- Pressure inside a pressure cooker
How do I calculate diving depth pressure?
Formula: Total Pressure (atm) = 1 + (Depth in meters ÷ 10)
Or: Total Pressure (atm) = 1 + (Depth in feet ÷ 33)
Examples:
- 10m (33ft): 1 + (10÷10) = 2 atm
- 20m (66ft): 1 + (20÷10) = 3 atm
- 30m (99ft): 1 + (30÷10) = 4 atm
- 40m (131ft): 1 + (40÷10) = 5 atm
Note: Freshwater calculation uses 10.3m; saltwater 10m per atmosphere.
What is STP in chemistry?
STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure):
- Pressure: 1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 100 kPa (IUPAC uses 100 kPa)
- Temperature: 0°C = 273.15 K
Purpose: Reference conditions for gas law calculations
Molar volume at STP: 22.414 L/mol (IUPAC: 22.711 L/mol at 100 kPa)
SATP (Standard Ambient):
- Pressure: 1 atm = 101,325 Pa
- Temperature: 25°C = 298.15 K
- Molar volume: 24.465 L/mol
More commonly used in modern chemistry.
Conversion Table: Megapascal to Atmosphere
| Megapascal (MPa) | Atmosphere (atm) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 4.935 |
| 1 | 9.869 |
| 1.5 | 14.804 |
| 2 | 19.739 |
| 5 | 49.346 |
| 10 | 98.692 |
| 25 | 246.731 |
| 50 | 493.462 |
| 100 | 986.923 |
| 250 | 2,467.308 |
| 500 | 4,934.616 |
| 1,000 | 9,869.233 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Megapascal to Atmosphere?
To convert Megapascal to Atmosphere, enter the value in Megapascal in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our pressure converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Megapascal to Atmosphere?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Megapascal and Atmosphere. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Atmosphere back to Megapascal?
Yes! You can easily convert Atmosphere back to Megapascal by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Atmosphere to Megapascal converter page. You can also explore other pressure conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Megapascal and Atmosphere?
Megapascal and Atmosphere are both standard units used in pressure measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our pressure converter for more conversion options.
For more pressure conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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All Pressure Conversions
Other Pressure Units and Conversions
Explore other pressure units and their conversion options:
- Pascal (Pa) • Megapascal to Pascal
- Kilopascal (kPa) • Megapascal to Kilopascal
- Hectopascal (hPa) • Megapascal to Hectopascal
- Bar (bar) • Megapascal to Bar
- Millibar (mbar) • Megapascal to Millibar
- Technical Atmosphere (at) • Megapascal to Technical Atmosphere
- Torr (Torr) • Megapascal to Torr
- Millimeter of Mercury (mmHg) • Megapascal to Millimeter of Mercury
- Inch of Mercury (inHg) • Megapascal to Inch of Mercury
- Pound per Square Inch (psi) • Megapascal to Pound per Square Inch
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: February 19, 2026