Turbine meters use a multi-bladed rotor supported by bearings in the pipe. The flowing fluid drives the rotor at a speed proportional to the fluid velocity. Movement of the rotor blades is sensed by a magnetic pickup outside the pipe. The number of blade tips passing the pickup is counted to get rotor speed.

These meters have high accuracy for a defined viscosity. They are suitable for very high and low temperatures and high pressures. However, they are sensitive to viscosity changes, and the rotor is easily damaged by going too fast a speed. Because of the relatively high failure rate of their moving parts, they are not used as much as in the past.