Steady, two-dimensional mixed convection boundary layer flow of an incompressible Al 2 O 3 -water nanofluid along an inclined permeable plate in the presence of transverse magnetic field has been examined numerically. The governing equations (Boussinesq approximation) with associated boundary condition are solved using FEM for nanofluid containing spherical-shaped nanoparticles having volume fraction ranging from 1 to 4 %. Staticbased model for calculating the effective thermal conductivity at 300 K, proposed by Leong et al. (J Nanopart Res 8:245-254, 2006) and Murshed et al. (Int J Therm Sci 47:560-568, 2008) has been implemented. Effect of various pertinent parameters with different classical and experimental models for effective dynamic viscosity is discussed.