A finite-volume-based numerical approach has been used to solve the equations of motion for the steady and incompressible power-law fluid past a sphere in the two-dimensional symmetric range of conditions. The simulations are verified against previous numerical and experimental results available in the literature. The friction and pressure drag profiles and streamline plots showing the nature of flow and the wake structure are presented. The computed results cover the Reynolds number range of 5 ≤ Re ≤ 500 and the power-law index range of 0.5 ≤ n ≤ 2 (covering both shear-thinning and shear-thickening behavior). Based on the present numerical results, simple predictive correlations, in terms of Re and n values, are proposed to calculate the values of the total drag coefficient (CD) and the ratio of the pressure drag coefficient to the friction drag coefficient (CDp/CDf) in a new application. © 2006 American Chemical Society.