4–20 mA Calculator
Convert 4–20 mA transmitter current to pressure, level, temperature, flow or any linear engineering range — or calculate the expected mA signal from a process value.
How to use this calculator
- 1
Choose the conversion direction.
- 2
Enter the current or engineering value.
- 3
Enter the transmitter LRV and URV.
- 4
Enter the engineering unit and calculate the result.
A 4–20 mA current loop is widely used for industrial pressure, differential pressure, level, flow and temperature transmitters. This calculator performs linear mA scaling between the configured lower range value (LRV) and upper range value (URV).
Use it for common tasks such as converting 12 mA to bar, finding the current output for a tank level, checking PLC scaling or verifying a transmitter during calibration. The calculation is ideal linear scaling and does not add instrument accuracy or loop uncertainty.
Formula and assumptions
The calculation assumes a linear 4–20 mA relationship between the configured lower-range value (LRV) and upper-range value (URV).
Examples and guidance
- 12 mA on a 0–10 bar transmitter equals 5 bar.
- 7.5 bar on a 0–10 bar transmitter produces 16 mA.
Continue your calculation
Move between related pressure, level, flow, signal and measurement calculations without starting a new search.
Questions and answers
What do LRV and URV mean?
LRV is the process value assigned to 4 mA. URV is the process value assigned to 20 mA.
Can the calculator be used for reverse ranges?
Yes. Enter the actual configured LRV and URV, including a URV lower than the LRV when the transmitter is reverse acting.
Does this include transmitter accuracy?
No. It performs ideal linear scaling. Instrument accuracy, loop error and calibration uncertainty must be considered separately.