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In physics and engineering, in particular fluid dynamics, the volumetric flow rate is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time; usually it is represented by the symbol Q. It contrasts with mass flow rate, which is the other main type of fluid flow rate. In most contexts a mention of rate of fluid flow is likely to refer to the volumetric rate. In hydrometry, the volumetric flow rate is known as discharge.
Volumetric flow rate should not be confused with volumetric flux, as defined by Darcy's law and represented by the symbol q, with units of m/, that is, m·s. The integration of a flux over an area gives the volumetric flow rate.
The SI unit is cubic metres per second. Another unit used is standard cubic centimetres per minute. In US customary units and imperial units, volumetric flow rate is often expressed as cubic feet per second or gallons per minute. In oceanography, the sverdrup is a non-SI metric unit of flow, with 1 Sv equal to 1 million cubic metres per second ; it is equivalent to the SI derived unit cubic hectometer per second. Named after Harald Sverdrup, it is used almost exclusively in oceanography to measure the volumetric rate of transport of ocean currents.