Dynamic Viscosity

About Dynamic Viscosity Conversion

Dynamic viscosity (also called absolute viscosity) measures a fluid's internal resistance to flow when an external force is applied—how "thick" or "sticky" it is. High viscosity fluids like honey, molasses, and motor oil flow slowly and require more force to move; low viscosity fluids like water, gasoline, and alcohol flow easily. Viscosity is the key property determining pumping requirements, flow rates through pipes, and coating behavior.

The SI unit is pascal second (Pa·s), but centipoise (cP) is widely used in industry because water at 20°C has a viscosity of conveniently about 1 cP—making it an intuitive reference point. This property is temperature-dependent: liquids become less viscous when heated, which is why motor oil flows more easily in warm engines. Understanding viscosity is essential for fluid dynamics, lubrication engineering, food processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, paint and coating formulation, and polymer processing.

Our converter handles all standard dynamic viscosity units for scientific research, engineering, and industrial applications.

Common Dynamic Viscosity Conversions

Dynamic Viscosity Unit Reference

Pascal second (Pa·s) – The SI unit for dynamic viscosity. 1 Pa·s = 1 kg/(m·s) = 1 N·s/m². Water at 20°C has a viscosity of approximately 0.001 Pa·s (1 mPa·s). This unit integrates directly into fluid dynamics equations like the Navier-Stokes equations. Used in scientific research and engineering calculations worldwide.

Centipoise (cP) – One hundredth of a Poise (0.01 P). The most common practical unit for viscosity because water at 20°C has a viscosity of conveniently about 1 cP. This makes water an intuitive reference—honey at 2000-10000 cP is thousands of times more viscous than water. Numerically identical to mPa·s. Dominant in industrial specifications, quality control, and process engineering.

Poise (P) – The CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit for dynamic viscosity, named after Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille who studied blood flow. 1 P = 0.1 Pa·s = 100 cP. Less common in modern practice but still appears in older literature and some rheology references.

Millipascal second (mPa·s) – The SI-derived unit numerically equal to centipoise (1 mPa·s = 1 cP exactly). Increasingly preferred in scientific publications and international standards that avoid CGS units. Offers SI compatibility while maintaining the convenient water ≈ 1 reference point.

Pound per foot second (lb/ft·s) – US customary unit for dynamic viscosity. Used in some American petroleum, chemical, and process engineering applications. 1 lb/ft·s = 1.488 Pa·s = 1488 cP. Less common than metric units even in US industry.

Learn More

Explore our in-depth guides on this topic:

• Understanding Viscosity
• Viscosity in Industry