Kinematic Viscosity of Water
Reference table, calculator, and chart for the kinematic viscosity of water at standard atmospheric pressure
Kinematic Viscosity of Water Calculator
Enter a temperature in Celsius or Kelvin to calculate the kinematic viscosity of water:
Kinematic Viscosity of Water Table
| Temperature (°C) | Kinematic Viscosity (×10⁻⁶ m²/s) | Kinematic Viscosity (cSt) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1.792 | 1.792 |
| 5 | 1.519 | 1.519 |
| 10 | 1.308 | 1.308 |
| 15 | 1.139 | 1.139 |
| 20 | 1.004 | 1.004 |
| 25 | 0.893 | 0.893 |
| 30 | 0.801 | 0.801 |
| 35 | 0.719 | 0.719 |
| 40 | 0.658 | 0.658 |
| 50 | 0.553 | 0.553 |
| 60 | 0.475 | 0.475 |
| 70 | 0.418 | 0.418 |
| 80 | 0.372 | 0.372 |
| 90 | 0.338 | 0.338 |
| 100 | 0.294 | 0.294 |
Kinematic Viscosity of Water Chart
About Kinematic Viscosity of Water
Kinematic viscosity (ν) is the ratio of a fluid’s dynamic viscosity to its density (ν = μ/ρ), representing the fluid’s resistance to flow under the influence of gravity. It is typically expressed in m²/s or centistokes (cSt) and is a key property in fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics, and thermodynamic system analysis.
Standard Reference Value
At 25°C (298.15 K) and standard atmospheric pressure, water has a kinematic viscosity of approximately 0.893 × 10-6 m²/s (0.893 cSt). This reference value is widely used in laboratory experiments, engineering calculations, and hydraulic system design.
Factors Affecting Kinematic Viscosity
Kinematic viscosity primarily varies with temperature, decreasing as temperature rises. Accurate knowledge of kinematic viscosity is critical for predicting flow regimes, Reynolds numbers, laminar and turbulent flow, and pipe performance. Key applications include:
- Fluid Mechanics: Modeling pipe flow, channels, and pumps for accurate fluid behavior analysis.
- Hydraulic System Design: Selecting and sizing pumps, valves, and piping to optimize efficiency.
- Thermal Systems & Heat Transfer: Calculating convective heat transfer and flow-dependent energy losses.
- Engineering Simulations: CFD and hydraulic simulations requiring precise viscosity inputs.
- Environmental & Laboratory Applications: Studying water movement, mixing, and flow phenomena under varying temperatures.
Engineering and Research Applications
Engineers and scientists combine kinematic viscosity with other water properties—such as density, dynamic viscosity, and temperature— to design, analyze, and optimize hydraulic systems, heat exchangers, fluid machinery, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models.
This page provides a kinematic viscosity table, interactive calculator, and graphical chart to help engineers, researchers, and students accurately determine water viscosity across temperatures from 0°C to 100°C. Understanding kinematic viscosity is essential for hydraulic design, fluid flow analysis, and water-related engineering applications.