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Mechanical Engineering2D

Head Loss Calculator

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

Inputs
Enter your values below

Water = 1000 kg/m³

Result
Head Loss
—
Enter values and click Calculate
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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.

How This Calculator Works

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

Step-by-step process:

  1. Enter your input values in the calculator above
  2. The engine converts all inputs to SI base units (meters, kg, Pa)
  3. The formula is evaluated: pressure / (density * 9.81)
  4. Result is formatted with the appropriate unit and precision

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.

How do I convert head loss to pressure drop?

Multiply head by fluid density and gravity: ΔP = ρgh. For water, 1 m head ≈ 9.81 kPa ≈ 0.0981 bar. For other fluids, scale by specific gravity: ΔP = SG × 9.81 kPa per metre of head.

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Engineering Disclaimer: Calculations are for reference and educational purposes only. Always verify results independently for engineering design. See full disclaimer.
Reviewed by: Industrial Engineering Team
References: ASME B31.3, ASTM A36, Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook