Pressure Measurement · Glossary

What is Hydrostatic Pressure?

pressure from a liquid columnPressure Measurement

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure created by the weight of a liquid column; it depends only on height and density.

Hydrostatic Pressure Explained

Pressure at the bottom of a tank depends on liquid height and density, not on tank shape or width. This is the basis of DP and pressure level measurement.

It also explains why transmitters mounted below their tapping point read high: the liquid in the impulse line adds pressure.

Hydrostatic Pressure Formula

p = ρ × g × h

ρ	liquid density (kg/m³)
g	9.80665 m/s²
h	liquid height (m)

Example: 10 m of water at 1000 kg/m³: p = 1000 × 9.80665 × 10 = 98.07 kPa, about 0.98 bar.

Calculators for Hydrostatic Pressure

CalculatorHydrostatic Pressure CalculatorFree online calculator with formula and worked example.CalculatorPressure Transmitter Elevation CorrectionFree online calculator with formula and worked example.CalculatorPressure to Level CalculatorFree online calculator with formula and worked example.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hydrostatic Pressure?

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure created by the weight of a liquid column; it depends only on height and density.

Does tank diameter change hydrostatic pressure?

No. Only height and density matter. A narrow pipe and a wide tank with the same liquid height give the same pressure at the bottom.

How much pressure does 1 m of water give?

About 9.8 kPa, or 98 mbar.

Learn more on the blog

Hydrostatic level measurement

A practical guide on instrumentationblog.in with more detail on hydrostatic pressure and how it is applied on real plants.

Read Full Article

More Pressure Measurement Terms

Pressure termStatic PressureStatic pressure is the pressure of a fluid measured at right angles to the flow, without the effect of…Pressure termUpper Range LimitUpper range limit is the highest value a transmitter sensor can be calibrated to measure.Pressure termTransmitter TurndownTransmitter turndown is how far a transmitter span is reduced from its sensor upper range limit.Pressure termOverpressure LimitOverpressure limit is the highest pressure a sensor can take without damage or loss of its calibration.Pressure termBurst PressureBurst pressure is the pressure at which the sensor or pressure boundary ruptures and process fluid can escape.Pressure termMaximum Allowable Working PressureMaximum allowable working pressure is the highest gauge pressure permitted at the top of a vessel at its…

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