Mechanical EngineeringP0

Head Loss Calculator

Convert pressure drop to head loss in meters or feet of fluid column for pump sizing.

Inputs

Enter your values below

Pressure Drop*kPa

Fluid Density*kg/m³

Water = 1000 kg/m³

Result

Head Loss

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Enter values and click Calculate

Formula

pressure ÷ (density × 9.81)

Result unit: m

h = P/(ρg). Pressure in Pa (engine converts kPa→Pa), density in kg/m³, g=9.81 m/s². Result in meters of fluid.

Introduction

Convert pressure loss to equivalent head (meters of fluid column), essential for pump total head calculations and reading pump curves.

Calculation Example

50 kPa pressure drop in water = 5.1 m head loss.

Inputs: pressure=50, density=1000

Result: 5.1 m

Engineering Applications

•Pump system head curves
•Hydronic design
•NPSH calculations
•Pipeline analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between head and pressure?

Head is energy per unit weight (m of fluid), independent of fluid density. Pressure depends on density: P = ρgh. Pump curves use head, not pressure.

How do I convert head to pressure for other fluids?

P(kPa) = h(m) × ρ(kg/m³) × 9.81 / 1000. 10m of water = 98.1 kPa; 10m of gasoline (750 kg/m³) = 73.6 kPa.

Related Calculators

Pump Power Calculator Pressure Drop Calculator (Darcy-Weisbach)NPSH Calculator - Net Positive Suction Head

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Disclaimer: Calculations are for reference and educational purposes only. Always verify results independently for engineering design. See full disclaimer.