Torr to Megapascal Converter
Convert torr to megapascals with our free online pressure converter.
Quick Answer
1 Torr = 0.000133 megapascals
Formula: Torr × conversion factor = Megapascal
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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Torr to Megapascal Calculator
How to Use the Torr to Megapascal Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Torr).
- The converted value in Megapascal 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 Torr to Megapascal: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Torr to Megapascal involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
MPa = Torr × 0.000133322Example Calculation:
1 Torr = 0.000133 MPa
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 Torr and a Megapascal?
The Torr (symbol: Torr) is a unit of pressure based on an absolute scale. It is not an SI unit, but it is widely used in science and engineering.
The Modern Definition: 1 Torr is defined as exactly 1/760 of a standard atmosphere (1 atm).
Since a standard atmosphere is defined as exactly 101,325 Pascals (Pa), the exact value of one Torr is: 1 Torr = 101,325 / 760 Pascals ≈ 133.322368421 Pascals.
** Torr vs. mmHg**: Historically, the Torr was intended to be same as the millimeter of mercury (mmHg). However, because the density of mercury changes with temperature and local gravity varies across the Earth, the mmHg is not a "true" absolute unit. To solve this, the Torr was redefined as a fixed fraction of an atmosphere, making it a perfectly stable unit regardless of where or the temperature at which you measure it.
Key standard relationships:
- 1 Torr = 1,000 milliTorr (mTorr)
- 760 Torr = 1 standard atmosphere (atm)
- 1 Torr ≈ 1.333 millibars (mbar)
- 1 Torr ≈ 0.0193 PSI (pounds per square inch)
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
Note: The Torr is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Megapascal belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Torr and Megapascal
: From the First Barometer to Modern Vacuums
The history of the Torr is the history of our understanding of the "void" and the air around us.
1. Evangelista Torricelli and the "Sea of Air" (1643)
Before the 1640s, scientists believed that "nature abhors a vacuum" and that space was always filled with something. Evangelista Torricelli, a student of Galileo, challenged this. He filled a glass tube with mercury and inverted it into a bowl. Instead of all the mercury flowing out, it stopped at a height of about 76 cm (760 mm).
Torricelli correctly deduced that it wasn't a "pull" from the vacuum at the top of the tube, but the weight of the atmosphere pushing down on the mercury in the bowl that held the liquid up. He famously stated: "We live submerged at the bottom of an ocean of elementary air."
2. The Birth of the Name (1913)
For centuries, pressure was simply measured in "inches of mercury" or "millimeters of mercury." In 1913, the unit was formally named the Torr to honor Torricelli.
3. The Great Redefinition (1954)
As science became more precise, the variance in mercury density became a problem (a "millimeter of mercury" in the Arctic was technically different from one at the Equator). In 1954, at the 10th General Conference on Weights and Measures, the Standard Atmosphere was fixed at exactly 101,325 Pascals. Consequently, the Torr was redefined as exactly 1/760 of that value, decoupling it from the physical properties of mercury forever.
Common Uses and Applications: torr vs megapascals
Explore the typical applications for both Torr (imperial/US) and Megapascal (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for torr
When to Use 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
Additional Unit Information
About Torr (Torr)
What is the difference between Torr and mmHg?
For almost all practical, medical, and industrial purposes, they are the same. However, scientifically:
- Torr is defined as exactly 1/760 of a Standard Atmosphere (Standardized in 1954).
- mmHg (millimeter of mercury) is based on the actual weight of liquid mercury, which changes slightly depending on gravity and temperature.
- The difference is 1 part in 7 million. Unless you are building a particle accelerator, you can treat them as identical.
Why is Torr used in vacuum technology?
Torr is the preferred unit because most vacuum systems are based on pumping down from atmospheric pressure. Since 760 Torr is a standard atmosphere, it's very easy for an engineer to know how "far" they have to go. It also uses a logarithmic scale naturally, making it easy to talk about 10⁻⁶ or 10⁻⁹ Torr levels.
Is a Torr a "Metric" unit?
No. The official SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa). However, because 1 Pascal is such a small amount of pressure (about the weight of a dollar bill on a table), scientists in specific fields prefer the Torr for convenience.
How do you convert Torr to PSI?
Multiply your Torr value by 0.0193368. Formula: PSI = Torr × 0.0193368 Example: 100 Torr ≈ 1.93 PSI.
What is a "milliTorr" (mTorr)?
Also known as a Micron, a milliTorr is 1/1,000th of a Torr. It is commonly used in "roughing" vacuum pumps (like the one in your school's physics lab or a high-end food sealer).
Is 0 Torr possible?
A "perfect" vacuum (exactly 0 Torr) is theoretically impossible according to quantum mechanics. Even in deep intergalactic space, there is a pressure of about 10⁻¹⁷ Torr due to a few stray hydrogen atoms and cosmic radiation.
Is Torr used in the medical field?
Yes, but doctors almost always call it mmHg. When a nurse says your blood pressure is "120 over 80," they are literally saying "120 Torr systolic and 80 Torr diastolic."
Who is the unit Torr named after?
It is named after Evangelista Torricelli, the Italian physicist who proved that air has weight and invented the mercury barometer in 1643.
How many Pascals are in a Torr?
Exactly 133.322368... Pascals. For most calculations, using 133.3 is sufficient.
What happens if you are exposed to 0 Torr?
This is "space vacuum." Contrary to movies, your head doesn't explode. However, the oxygen in your blood would diffuse out of your lungs into the vacuum, causing you to lose consciousness in about 15 seconds. Your skin is tough enough to hold "you" together, but you would swell up significantly as water in your tissues starts to turn to gas.
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)
Conversion Table: Torr to Megapascal
| Torr (Torr) | Megapascal (MPa) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 |
| 1.5 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 0.001 |
| 10 | 0.001 |
| 25 | 0.003 |
| 50 | 0.007 |
| 100 | 0.013 |
| 250 | 0.033 |
| 500 | 0.067 |
| 1,000 | 0.133 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Torr to Megapascal?
To convert Torr to Megapascal, enter the value in Torr 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 Torr to Megapascal?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Torr and Megapascal. 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 Megapascal back to Torr?
Yes! You can easily convert Megapascal back to Torr by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Megapascal to Torr converter page. You can also explore other pressure conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Torr and Megapascal?
Torr and Megapascal 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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⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
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All Pressure Conversions
Other Pressure Units and Conversions
Explore other pressure units and their conversion options:
- Pascal (Pa) • Torr to Pascal
- Kilopascal (kPa) • Torr to Kilopascal
- Hectopascal (hPa) • Torr to Hectopascal
- Bar (bar) • Torr to Bar
- Millibar (mbar) • Torr to Millibar
- Atmosphere (atm) • Torr to Atmosphere
- Technical Atmosphere (at) • Torr to Technical Atmosphere
- Millimeter of Mercury (mmHg) • Torr to Millimeter of Mercury
- Inch of Mercury (inHg) • Torr to Inch of Mercury
- Pound per Square Inch (psi) • Torr 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