One megapascal is exactly 10,197.16213 centimeters of water, so converting megapascals to centimeters of water is a single multiplication. Enter any figure and the result appears as you type — the arithmetic runs in your browser, so nothing is sent anywhere.
The unit ventilator and CPAP pressures are set in. Used for material strength and hydraulic systems.
Gauge versus absolute. A tyre gauge reading 32 psi means 32 psi above atmospheric, which is about 46.7 psi absolute. Converting the number is straightforward; remembering which zero it was measured from is where the mistakes happen. N/mm² and MPa are the same size, so a drawing quoting either is quoting the same stress. Two tables follow: rounded steps for quick lookup, and a set of real reference quantities converted into centimeters of water, which is usually more useful than the bare number.
The formula
megapascals- The amount you are converting, in megapascals
10,197.1621298- The exact number of centimeters of water in one megapascal
centimeters of water- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in megapascals.
- It is multiplied by 10,197.1621298, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in centimeters of water, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A steam boiler: 1 MPa in centimeters of water
A steam boiler comes to about 1 MPa. Multiplying by the factor: 1 × 10,197.2 = 10,197.2 cmH₂O. Dividing the answer back by 10,197.2 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
Blood pressure, systolic: 0.016 MPa in centimeters of water
At 0.016 MPa (blood pressure, systolic), the same quantity in centimeters of water is 0.016 × 10,197.2 = 163.155 cmH₂O. One megapascal is 10,197.2 centimeters of water, so the numbers grow as expected.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters of water are in one megapascal?
Exactly 10,197.1621298. Every figure on this page is that one number multiplied by your input, so the only rounding is at the display step.
What is the formula to convert megapascals to centimeters of water?
centimeters of water = megapascals × 10,197.1621298. Reversed, megapascals = centimeters of water ÷ 10,197.1621298, which is the same as multiplying by 9.80665e-05.
Which is the bigger unit, the megapascal or the centimeter of water?
The megapascal. One megapascal equals 10,197.2 centimeters of water.
What does this quantity actually measure?
Both units measure pressure. That is why a single factor is enough: there is no temperature offset and no material property involved, unlike conversions that cross between different quantities.
What is a megapascal?
Used for material strength and hydraulic systems.
What is a centimeter of water?
The unit ventilator and CPAP pressures are set in.
Why does my answer differ from another converter?
Almost always because the other tool rounded the factor before multiplying. This page keeps full double precision through the calculation and rounds only for display, and it prints the factor it used so you can see where any difference came from.
Is there a quick way to do MPa to cmH₂O in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: multiply by 10,000 instead of using the exact factor 10,197.16213. At 100 that shortcut gives 1,000,000 centimeters of water, off by 19716.212978 centimeters of water or about 1.93%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Megapascals to centimeters of water reference tables
| Megapascals | Centimeters Of Water |
|---|---|
| 0.5 MPa | 5098.58 cmH₂O |
| 1 MPa | 10,197.2 cmH₂O |
| 2 MPa | 20,394.3 cmH₂O |
| 3 MPa | 30,591.5 cmH₂O |
| 5 MPa | 50,985.8 cmH₂O |
| 10 MPa | 101,972 cmH₂O |
| 20 MPa | 203,943 cmH₂O |
| 25 MPa | 254,929 cmH₂O |
| 50 MPa | 509,858 cmH₂O |
| 75 MPa | 764,787 cmH₂O |
| 100 MPa | 1.01972e+06 cmH₂O |
| 250 MPa | 2.54929e+06 cmH₂O |
| 500 MPa | 5.09858e+06 cmH₂O |
| 1000 MPa | 1.01972e+07 cmH₂O |
| 5000 MPa | 5.09858e+07 cmH₂O |
Exact factor: 1 megapascal = 10,197.1621298 centimeters of water.
| Quantity | MPa | cmH₂O |
|---|---|---|
| Sea-level air | 0.1013 MPa | 1033 cmH₂O |
| A car tyre | 0.2206 MPa | 2250 cmH₂O |
| Blood pressure, systolic | 0.016 MPa | 163.1 cmH₂O |
| A bicycle tyre | 0.6205 MPa | 6328 cmH₂O |
| A domestic water main | 0.4 MPa | 4079 cmH₂O |
| A steam boiler | 1 MPa | 1.02e+04 cmH₂O |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.