Pa·s · mPa·s · cP · poise · lb/(ft·s)
Free viscosity with live results. Popular conversion: defined viscosity. Also handles meaning of viscosity. Everything runs locally in your browser — no upload, no account.
0.001
Dynamic viscosity (absolute viscosity) measures a fluid's resistance to flow — how thick or sticky it feels when layers slide past each other. SI uses pascal-seconds (Pa·s); industry and textbooks often quote centipoise (cP) or poise. This converter switches between Pa·s, mPa·s, cP, poise, and lb/(ft·s) from one input.
All conversion runs locally in your browser. Kinematic viscosity (m²/s, centistokes) needs density — see below.
The everyday engineering link:
1 cP = 1 mPa·s = 0.001 Pa·s · 1 poise (P) = 100 cP = 0.1 Pa·s
Example: 100 cP = 0.1 Pa·s · 1,000 cP = 1 Pa·s. Water at about 20°C is roughly 1 mPa·s (1 cP) — a common anchor in fluid mechanics problems.
ν = μ / ρ · μ = ν × ρ
Switching between dynamic and kinematic viscosity needs density ρ from the Density Converter. For water at 20°C (ρ ≈ 1,000 kg/m³): 1 cP gives ν ≈ 1 mm²/s (1 cSt) — the numeric coincidence students learn in introductory courses.
Approximate dynamic viscosity at room temperature: air ~0.018 cP · ethanol ~0.6 cP · water ~1 cP · motor oil 100–500 cP · glycerol ~1,000 cP · honey 2,000+ cP (shear-thinning — quoted cP depends on conditions).
Always note temperature on viscosity specs. Engine oil SAE grades are measured at defined temperatures — not interchangeable without tables.
Non-Newtonian fluids (paint, blood, polymer melts) change apparent viscosity with shear rate — a single cP value may not describe all flow conditions. This tool converts unit labels for a stated dynamic viscosity value; it does not predict viscosity from molecular structure or convert kinematic units without density.
cP → Pa·s: 100 cP × 0.001 = 0.1 Pa·s
Water: ~1 cP = 0.001 Pa·s = 1 mPa·s
Poise → cP: 1 P × 100 = 100 cP
Water μ → ν: 1 cP / (1 g/cm³) ≈ 1 cSt
Numerically, 1 centipoise equals 1 millipascal-second. Both are 0.001 Pa·s — industry uses cP, SI texts often use mPa·s.
Dynamic μ (Pa·s, cP) is what this tool converts. Kinematic ν (cSt) = μ/ρ. For water, both read ~1 at 20°C.
Always note temperature on viscosity specs. Engine oil SAE grades are measured at 100°C and cold cranking conditions — not interchangeable without tables.
Multiply cP by 0.001. 1 cP equals 0.001 Pa·s = 1 mPa·s.
One hundredth of a poise. Water is about 1 cP at 20°C.
Dynamic μ (Pa·s, cP). Kinematic ν = μ/ρ (m²/s, cSt). You need density to switch.
About 1 mPa·s (1 cP) dynamic at 20°C. Kinematic is about 1 cSt.
At 20°C, about 1:1 because ρ ≈ 1000 kg/m³. Other fluids differ.
Honey is shear-thinning — quoted cP depends on conditions.
Yes. Symbol μ, units Pa·s or cP.
Multiply poise by 100.
No. All conversion runs locally in your browser.