• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
SensorsONE

SensorsONE

  • Products
  • Contact

What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

Often you will see a measurement of vacuum pressure described as an absolute pressure reading, so is there any difference between the two?

A vacuum pressure is one that is lower than the ambient environment surrounding pressure, and is typically measured relative to a perfect vacuum or full vacuum.

Since the reference pressure is not relative to another pressure and does not change, it is called the absolute reference or absolute pressure reference.

Featured vacuum measurement products

  • Waste toner dust extraction vacuum transmitter with 1000 mbar range - Intrinsically safe vacuum transmitter with ATEX approval for monitoring pressure in waste toner dust extraction systems. Features a 4-20mA output, G1/2" flush diaphragm process connection for reliable performance in hazardous dust environments.
  • Low Differential Pressure Transmitters DPS300 User Switchable Pressure Range, Volts or Current Output Low DP Sensor - The DPS 300 is a low range HVAC differential pressure sensor. The lowest possible pressure range is 0...100 pascals. 2 or 3 switchable pressure ranges, plus volts or current output are included with most standard configurations.

Any pressure measured relative to a full vacuum, whether above or below the surrounding ambient air pressure, is called an absolute pressure.

A vacuum pressure can always be measured and defined as an absolute pressure, but an absolute pressure can also be used to define pressures outside the vacuum range.

What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

Featured absolute pressure measurement products

  • IWPT Wireless Battery Powered Pressure Sensor and Receiver - Wireless battery powered pressure sensor and receiver system for connecting  pressure sensors without wires to a central wireless receiver which converts each received pressure signal channel to a 1-5Vdc, 4-20mA output, USB, Ethernet TCP, RS232 RTU, RS485 RTU or 2G 3G 4G mobile cellular network.
  • Intrinsically safe version of LEO Record Vacuum drying pressure data logger - Digital vacuum recorder for a vacuum drying pilot process.

Related Help Guides

  • Measuring vacuum with negative gauge or absolute ranges
  • Measuring liquid level in a sealed tank with a hydrostatic pressure sensor
  • What is the difference between gauge and absolute pressure measurement
  • What does negative and positive gauge pressure mean
  • Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range
  • Measuring vacuum as a negative gauge pressure using a dp sensor

Related Technical Terms

  • MSL – Mean Sea Level
  • Negative Gauge Pressure
  • Reference Pressure

Related Online Tools

  • Suction Pressure to Vacuum Calculator
  • Gauge + Barometric to Absolute Pressure Calculator

Related Product and Application Guides

  • Barometric Pressure
  • Suction Pressure
  • Absolute Pressure

Related Application Questions and Answers

  • Ex rated ambient pressure sensor with 800-1100 mbar range
  • 20 bar absolute steam pressure transducer
  • Vacuum drying pressure data logger
  • Low range vacuum pressure logger for 0 to -60 inH2O g
  • 180 degC pressure sensor for saturated steam up to 10 bar
  • High reading rate for measuring dynamic pressures to -200psf
  • 1013 to 1400 mbar barometric pressure transmitter & readout
  • Using 25 mbar DP sensor on vacuum below 0.2 bar absolute
  • Measuring steam pressure up to 10bar with analog/digital output
  • Wind turbine USB PC logging pressure & temperature sensor
  • Hydrophone array submersible 200 meter seawater depth sensor
  • Gas sensors testing barometric pressure sensor with RS485 Modbus RTU interface

Contact us about this What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure page to request more information, or to discuss your application requirements.

Primary Sidebar

Wirelessly Measure & Log Pressure

Use this battery powered wireless pressure sensor to transmit readings to a receiver connected to USB, RS485, RS232, cellular network or analog output

Use this battery powered wireless pressure sensor to transmit readings to a receiver connected to USB, RS485, RS232, cellular network or analog output

Products

  • Pressure
  • Level
  • Temperature
  • Interfacing
  • Datalogging
  • Calibration
  • Wireless

Product Enquiry

Send us your enquiry for a product associated with this What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure page, and get assistance with selecting a product for your application.

Email Your Enquiry

enquiries@sensorsone.com
By clicking "OK" or continuing to use this website you are providing your consent to use cookies as described in our Privacy Policy

© 2026 SensorsONE Ltd, all rights reserved

  • Home
  • Products
  • Tools
  • Legal
  • Contact