Pressure to Head Converter
Interactive pump engineering tool. Convert pressure to equivalent fluid head height based on the specific gravity (SG) of the liquid.
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100% Local Processing. Your system design parameters are processed entirely within your browser. No engineering data is transmitted externally.
System Parameters
How to Use the Pump Head Calculator
- Select the fluid type or manually enter the Specific Gravity (SG) of the liquid being pumped.
- Enter the known Pressure (e.g., in psi or bar) to calculate Head, OR enter the known Head (in feet or meters) to calculate Pressure.
- Observe the dynamic visualizer representing the equivalent fluid column height.
- Copy the results for your engineering reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Pressure and Head in a pump?
Pressure (measured in psi, bar) is the actual force exerted by the fluid over an area. Head (measured in feet, meters) is the physical height a pump can push a column of fluid. Head is independent of the fluid's density, whereas Pressure changes depending on how heavy (dense) the fluid is.
Why do pump manufacturers rate pumps in Head rather than Pressure?
A centrifugal pump will always push fluid to the exact same physical height (Head) regardless of the fluid's weight. However, the Pressure measured at the bottom of that column will be much higher for a heavy fluid (like acid) than for a light fluid (like gasoline). Therefore, Head is a universal performance metric for pumps.
How do you calculate Feet of Head from PSI?
To calculate Feet of Head, use the formula: Head (ft) = Pressure (psi) × 2.31 / Specific Gravity (SG). For pure water, SG is 1.0, so 1 psi equals exactly 2.31 feet of head.
How do you convert Bar to Meters of Head?
To calculate Meters of Head, use the formula: Head (m) = Pressure (bar) × 10.197 / Specific Gravity (SG). For water, 1 bar equals approximately 10.2 meters of head.
What is Specific Gravity (SG)?
Specific Gravity (SG) is the ratio of a fluid's density to the density of pure water at 4°C. Water has an SG of 1.0. Fluids heavier than water have an SG greater than 1.0, while lighter fluids have an SG less than 1.0.
How does Specific Gravity affect pump pressure?
If you pump a heavier fluid (SG > 1.0) to the same height (Head), the pump must generate more Pressure (psi) to achieve it. Pumping a lighter fluid requires less Pressure to reach the same height.
What is the specific gravity of seawater?
Seawater has an average Specific Gravity of about 1.025 to 1.030, depending on salinity and temperature, meaning it is slightly heavier than fresh water.
Does temperature affect Specific Gravity?
Yes, as a fluid heats up, it expands and becomes less dense, which lowers its Specific Gravity. For highly precise engineering, the SG must be calculated at the exact operating temperature of the fluid.
Limitations
This calculator provides static head conversion and does not account for friction loss (dynamic head) within a piping system. For total dynamic head (TDH), pipe friction must be calculated separately using the Hazen-Williams or Darcy-Weisbach equations.
Data Privacy & Security
This Pressure to Head Converter runs entirely in your web browser. No system parameters or engineering data are sent to any external servers, ensuring complete privacy.
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