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Kinematic Viscosity Converter

Science

Convert kinematic viscosity between centistokes, stokes, square metres per second, and square feet per second — used for motor oil and fluid engineering.

Reviewed by the thecalcu.com team · Last updated July 27, 2026

From
To
All conversionsfor 1 Centistokes (cSt)
Square Metres per Second (m²/s)0.000001
Stokes (St)0.01
Centistokes (cSt)1
Square Feet per Second (ft²/s)0.000010763915
Square Millimetres per Second (mm²/s)1

What is a Kinematic Viscosity?

The Kinematic Viscosity Converter converts kinematic viscosity between square metres per second (SI), stokes and centistokes (CGS), square millimetres per second, and square feet per second (imperial). Kinematic viscosity measures a fluid's resistance to flow relative to its own density, distinct from dynamic viscosity, which the existing Viscosity Converter covers, and which measures resistance to flow independent of density.

Enter a value in any supported unit and the converter calculates the equivalent instantly.

Why Use a Kinematic Viscosity Converter?

Motor oil grades, hydraulic fluid specifications, and pipe flow engineering calculations all reference kinematic viscosity, typically in centistokes for everyday fluids, but SI-based engineering calculations need it in m²/s, and US references sometimes use ft²/s. Converting between these scales accurately matters for pump sizing, Reynolds number calculations, and fluid selection.

Who Should Use This Converter?

  • Automotive and lubrication engineers working with motor oil and hydraulic fluid viscosity grades specified in centistokes.
  • Chemical and process engineers calculating Reynolds number and pipe flow characteristics that require kinematic viscosity in SI units.
  • Aerospace engineers working with jet fuel and hydraulic system viscosity specifications.
  • Mechanical engineering students learning to distinguish and convert between kinematic and dynamic viscosity.

What Insights Does the Kinematic Viscosity Converter Give You?

The main output is the converted value in your chosen target unit, calculated precisely from the fixed multiplier relationship between units. Since water's kinematic viscosity is approximately 1 centistoke, the converter's results are easy to sanity-check against that widely known reference point.

How to use this Kinematic Viscosity calculator

  1. Choose your starting unit from the source dropdown, for example, "Centistokes (cSt)".
  2. Enter the numeric value you want to convert in the input field.
  3. Choose your target unit from the destination dropdown, for example, "Square Metres per Second (m²/s)".
  4. Read the converted result, which updates instantly as you type or change units.
  5. Use the swap (⇅) button if you need to reverse the conversion direction.
  6. Use the copy button to grab the result for a fluid engineering calculation or motor oil comparison.
Show formula & methodology ↓Show less ↑

Formula & Methodology

The converter's base unit is square metres per second (m²/s). Every supported unit has a fixed multiplier:

- 1 stoke (St) = 0.0001 m²/s
- 1 centistoke (cSt) = 0.000001 m²/s
- 1 square millimetre per second (mm²/s) = 0.000001 m²/s (identical to centistoke)
- 1 square foot per second (ft²/s) = 0.092903 m²/s

Any conversion follows:

Result = Input × (toBase of source unit ÷ toBase of target unit)

Worked example, converting a typical motor oil viscosity of 100 cSt to m²/s:

Result = 100 × 0.000001 = 0.0001 m²/s

This confirms how the everyday-scale centistoke value translates to the very small SI base unit value.

Related Tools

You may also find these useful: Flow Converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kinematic viscosity, and how is it different from the viscosity on the existing Viscosity Converter?
Kinematic viscosity measures a fluid's resistance to flow relative to its own density (in units like m²/s or centistokes), while the existing [Viscosity Converter](/viscosity-converter/) covers dynamic viscosity (in Pa·s or centipoise), which measures resistance to flow independent of density. Kinematic viscosity equals dynamic viscosity divided by density.
How do I convert centistokes to stokes?
Divide the centistokes value by 100, since one stoke equals 100 centistokes. Enter your value with 'Centistokes (cSt)' as the source and 'Stokes (St)' as the target to apply this automatically.
Why is motor oil viscosity often given in centistokes?
Motor oil viscosity grades (like the numbers in an SAE rating) are based on kinematic viscosity measured in centistokes at specific reference temperatures, since centistokes produces convenient, readable numbers for the viscosity range typical of engine oils.
How do I convert kinematic viscosity to dynamic viscosity?
Multiply kinematic viscosity by the fluid's density: dynamic viscosity = kinematic viscosity × density. Use the [Viscosity Converter](/viscosity-converter/) for the dynamic viscosity units and the [Density Converter](/density-converter/) for density conversions to complete this calculation.
What is water's kinematic viscosity, and why is it a useful reference?
Water at room temperature has a kinematic viscosity of approximately 1 centistoke (1 mm²/s), making it a convenient reference point, fluids with a kinematic viscosity higher than 1 cSt are 'thicker' than water in this specific sense, and lower values are 'thinner.'
Why does kinematic viscosity matter for pipe flow and pump calculations?
Kinematic viscosity is a key input for calculating Reynolds number, which determines whether flow in a pipe is laminar or turbulent, this affects pump sizing, pressure drop calculations, and overall fluid system design.
What is the difference between m²/s and mm²/s for kinematic viscosity?
Square millimetres per second (mm²/s) is numerically identical to centistokes, both commonly used for typical liquid viscosities, while square metres per second (m²/s) is the SI base unit but produces very small, less convenient numbers for everyday fluids, a millionfold difference between the two scales.
How does temperature affect kinematic viscosity?
Kinematic viscosity generally decreases significantly as temperature increases for most liquids (fluids flow more easily when warm), which is why viscosity grade specifications, like motor oil ratings, always specify the reference temperature the measurement was taken at.
What industries commonly need kinematic viscosity unit conversion?
Automotive and lubricant engineering (motor oil and hydraulic fluid grading), aerospace (jet fuel and hydraulic system specifications), and chemical process engineering (pipe flow and heat exchanger design) all routinely work with kinematic viscosity data across different unit conventions.
Can I use this converter for gases as well as liquids?
Yes, kinematic viscosity applies to gases as well as liquids, though gas kinematic viscosity values are typically reported in similar units (often mm²/s or cSt) despite gases generally having much lower dynamic viscosity than liquids, since their much lower density partially offsets this in the kinematic viscosity ratio.
Also known as
kinematic viscosity convertercst to stokes convertercentistokes convertermotor oil viscosity converterm2/s to cst converter