Dynamic Viscosity Converter (cP, Pa·s, Poise, mPa·s

Rheology & Fluid Mechanics: Dynamic vs. Kinematic Viscosity

Viscosity quantifies a fluid's internal friction and resistance to gradual shear deformation or flow.

Dynamic (Absolute) vs. Kinematic Viscosity

• Dynamic Viscosity (μ): The ratio of shear stress to the rate of shear strain), measured in Pascal-seconds (Pa·s) or Centipoise (cP).

• Kinematic Viscosity (ν): The ratio of dynamic viscosity divided by fluid density), measured in Centistokes (cSt) or .

Common Dynamic Viscosity Benchmarks (at 20°C)

• Air: ~0.018 cP

• Water: 1.002 cP

• Blood (Human 37°C): ~3 to 4 cP

• Olive Oil: ~84 cP

• SAE 30 Motor Oil: ~200 cP

• Honey: ~10,000 cP

• Peanut Butter: ~250,000 cP

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Dynamic / Absolute Viscosity Value (e.g. 1), From Unit — choose from Centipoise (cP, 1 cP = 1 mPa·s - Water @ 20°C ≈ 1 cP), Pascal-Seconds (Pa·s, Base SI / N·s/m²), Poise (P, CGS, 1 P = 100 cP = 0.1 Pa·s), To Primary Target Unit — choose from Pascal-Seconds (Pa·s), Centipoise (cP), Poise (P), and Fluid Density (kg/m³, for Kinematic Viscosity ν = μ/ρ) (e.g. 1000 for water). Results update instantly as you type — adjust any value to compare scenarios.

The Formula

Universal dynamic (absolute) viscosity conversion formulas:-Seconds to Centipoise: 1 Pa·s = 1,000 cP = 1,000 mPa·s = 10 Poise to Poise: 1 Poise = 100 cP = 0.1 Pa·s Viscosity (Centistokes): ν = (μ) / (ρ) × 10^6 cSt (mm^2/s) Viscosity: 1 lbf·s/ft^2 = 47.88026 Pa·s = 47,880.26 cP

Worked Example

For example, pure liquid water at 20°C has a dynamic viscosity of 1.002 cP: 0.01002 Poise, and 1.002 mPa·s. At a density of 1,000 kg/m³, its kinematic viscosity is .

Understanding Your Result

Unit conversion precision: round to the same number of significant figures as your original measurement. Converting 6 feet to meters gives 1.8288 m — but if your measurement was approximate (±1 inch), expressing more than 2 decimal places is false precision. For international trade and technical specifications, SI units (meters, kilograms, liters) are the standard. US customary units (feet, pounds, gallons) differ from Imperial UK units: 1 US gallon = 3.785 L vs. 1 UK gallon = 4.546 L.