Kilopsi

Kilopsi is a non-SI unit of pressure defined as 1,000 pounds-force per square inch (psi). It is sometimes abbreviated as kpsi, but it is not part of the International System of Units and is not widely standardized. In practice, kilopsi is rarely used in modern technical writing, where kilopascals (kPa) or megapascals (MPa) are preferred for SI-based contexts, and where thousands of psi are more commonly conveyed using the symbol ksi (kilo-psi) or simply stated as thousands of psi.

Value and conversion: 1 kpsi equals 1,000 psi, which is approximately 6.895 megapascals (MPa) or 6,895 kilopascals (kPa). Because psi and its multiples are non-metric, conversions to SI units require multiplication by 6,895 for kPa and by 6.895 for MPa.

Usage and context: Kilopsi appears occasionally in historical documents, industry notes, or specific engineering shorthand, but it is not an officially recognized unit by standard bodies. When precision and interoperability are important, engineers prefer SI units (Pa, kPa, MPa) or the widely used engineering shorthand ksi to denote thousands of psi, rather than kilopsi.

See also: PSI (pounds per square inch), ksi (kilo-psi, thousand psi), kilopascal (kPa), megapascal (MPa), pressure units.

Note: For most practical purposes, expressing pressure in psi, ksi, kPa, or MPa provides clearer communication in international contexts. Kilopsi remains a nonstandard, largely historical or incidental term.