Convert Pressure from pascals to torr (Pa to torr)

pascal to torr Conversion Formula

Example

Let's convert 5 pascal (Pa) to torr (torr).

Using the formula:

Therefore, 5 pascal (Pa) is equal to 0.03750308413520848754 torr (torr).

How many pascals are in one torr? One torr (torr) contains 133.32236842105263158 pascals (Pa) — the inverse of the factor above. Multiplying by 0.007500616827041697508 takes you from pascals to torr; multiplying by 133.32236842105263158 brings you back.

Put in words: one pascal equals 0.007500616827041697508 torr, so the pascal is the smaller unit of this pair. Converting between them never changes the amount of pressure being measured — only the size of the unit you count it in.

What is a Pascal (Pa)?

A pascal (Pa) is the standard unit of pressure in the International System of Units (SI). It is a derived unit, meaning other base units define it.

The primary pascal definition is one newton of force applied over an area of one square meter (1 Pa = 1 N/m²).

Because a single pascal represents a very small amount of pressure, it is most often seen in multiples.

The most common multiples are the kilopascal (kPa), equal to 1,000 pascals, and the megapascal (MPa), equal to 1,000,000 pascals.

These units are widely used in fields from weather forecasting to material science.

Who is the Pascal Unit Named After?

The pascal (Pa) unit is named in honor of Blaise Pascal, a key 17th-century French mathematician, physicist, and inventor.

His groundbreaking work on how fluids behave under pressure (known as hydrodynamics and hydrostatics) and his formulation of Pascal's Law were essential to our modern understanding of pressure.

Understanding the Scale of a Pascal in Real Life

To understand just how small a single pascal is, here are two real-world examples:

• A dollar bill: The gentle pressure of a single U.S. dollar bill resting flat on a table is about 1 Pa.
• Atmospheric pressure: The standard atmospheric pressure you feel at sea level is approximately 101,325 pascals (or 101.3 kPa).

This shows why, for most everyday measurements (like tire pressure or weather), the larger kilopascal (kPa) is much more practical.

What Is a Torr?

A torr (Torr) is a unit of pressure.

It is primarily used to measure a vacuum, or pressures much lower than the air pressure we experience every day.

While the modern standard (SI) unit for pressure is the pascal (Pa), the torr is still widely used in many scientific and engineering fields.

For conversion, one torr is equal to about 133.32 pascals.

A much simpler way to think about it is in relation to our atmosphere: one standard atmosphere (atm) is defined as exactly 760 Torr.

Where Did the Torr Come From?

The unit is named in honor of Evangelista Torricelli, the 17th-century Italian physicist who invented the mercury barometer.

Because of this, one torr was initially defined as being equal to one millimeter of mercury (mmHg).

This means 1 Torr is the pressure exerted by a column of mercury that is one millimeter high.

Torr vs. Atmosphere (atm)

As mentioned, the torr's most convenient relationship is with the standard atmosphere (atm).

One standard atmosphere—the average air pressure at sea level—is set at exactly 760 Torr.

This straightforward, whole-number conversion makes the torr a popular choice for anyone working with fractions of atmospheric pressure.

Where Is the Torr Used Today?

The torr is the primary unit of measurement for high-vacuum and ultra-high-vacuum technology.

Because it is such a small unit (it takes 760 of them to equal one atmosphere), it is ideal for quantifying pressures far below normal air pressure.

You will find the torr used in many advanced scientific and industrial fields, including:

• Semiconductor manufacturing
• Thin-film deposition (like adding anti-reflective coatings to glasses)
• Mass spectrometry
• Particle accelerators
• Vacuum furnaces

pascal to torr Conversion Table

Here are some quick reference conversions from pascal (Pa) to torr (torr):