Kinematic Viscosity Converter

Convert between different units of kinematic viscosity instantly. Essential for fluid mechanics, lubrication engineering, and industrial fluid applications.

Conversion Formulas: 1 m²/s = 10,000 cm²/s, 10,000 St, 1,000,000 cSt, 10.7639 ft²/s, 1,550.0031 in²/s, 1,000,000 mm²/s, 100 poise/(kg/m³)

About This Kinematic Viscosity Converter

Our Kinematic Viscosity Converter is a specialized tool designed for engineers, fluid dynamicists, and industrial professionals working with fluid flow characteristics. Kinematic viscosity measures a fluid’s resistance to flow under gravity and is crucial for applications ranging from engine lubrication to hydraulic systems.

The converter handles all major kinematic viscosity units including SI (m²/s), CGS (stokes), and imperial measurements, with precise conversions between different systems. It’s particularly valuable for translating between the common centistokes (cSt) used in oil grading and the SI units preferred in scientific calculations.

Key Features

Comprehensive Unit Coverage

Convert between all major kinematic viscosity units including m²/s, stokes, centistokes, and imperial measurements.

Industrial Standard Units

Includes specialized units like centistokes (cSt) commonly used in oil viscosity grading.

Precision Engineering

Accurate conversions with up to 8 decimal places for critical engineering applications.

Time-Scale Conversions

Handles both per-second and per-hour units for different industrial standards.

Why Choose Our Converter?

  • Technical Accuracy: Uses exact conversion factors for engineering precision
  • Oil Industry Standard: Specialized support for centistokes (cSt) measurements
  • Dual-System Support: Works with both metric (SI/CGS) and imperial units
  • Practical Units: Includes square inch/hour and other industry-specific measures
  • Responsive Design: Works perfectly on all devices from desktops to smartphones

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kinematic viscosity and how does it differ from dynamic viscosity?

Kinematic viscosity (ν) is the ratio of dynamic viscosity (μ) to density (ρ): ν = μ/ρ. While dynamic viscosity measures a fluid’s internal resistance to flow, kinematic viscosity incorporates density and relates to how the fluid flows under gravity.

Why are stokes and centistokes commonly used?

The stokes (St) and centistokes (cSt) are CGS units that provide convenient numbers for typical fluids. 1 cSt = 1 mm²/s, which is about the kinematic viscosity of water at 20°C, making it a practical reference point.

How do I convert between stokes and m²/s?

1 St = 1 cm²/s = 0.0001 m²/s. Our converter handles this automatically – 1 m²/s = 10,000 St. The centistokes (cSt) are 1/100 of a stoke: 1 m²/s = 1,000,000 cSt.

What’s a typical kinematic viscosity value for engine oil?

SAE 30 oil at 100°C: ~10 cSt, SAE 10W-30 at 100°C: ~10.5 cSt. Gear oils range from ~40-150 cSt. Our converter helps translate these values to other units as needed.

When would I use square inch/hour units?

Square inch/hour is sometimes used in US standards for very slow flows (like grease) or in material science for diffusion rates. 1 m²/s = 5,580,010.8 in²/hr.