Convert Kilopascals to Decibars

Formula

dbar = kPa ÷ 10

Derivation from SI units:

• 1 kPa = 10³ Pa
• 1 dbar = 10⁻¹ bar = 10⁴ Pa
• 1 kPa = 1000 Pa ÷ 10000 Pa per dbar = 0.1 dbar

Both units are defined exactly, so the factor is exact. Kilopascal definition: kilopascal; Decibar definition: decibar.

Worked examples

1. A reading of 20 kPa converts to 2 dbar.
   20 kPa × 0.1 = 2 dbar
2. A value of 300 kPa is 30 dbar.
   300 kPa × 0.1 = 30 dbar

Where it's used

Kilopascals are used for tyre pressure outside the United States (about 200–250 kPa for cars), while decibars appear in oceanography: CTD instruments report sea pressure in dbar. Both measure pressure, stress and differential pressure (force per unit area), so the conversion is a fixed factor.

Kilopascal to other pressure units

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Table 7, SI prefixes.
• Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), NIST Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Appendix B.8, "bar", with SI prefix deci (10⁻¹).

Last reviewed: 2026-10-15. Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.