The present article investigates viscous fluid flow’s heat and mass transfers over a stretching/shrinking sheet using the single and multi-wall carbon nanotube models. The analysis considers the effects of thermal radiation, induced slip, mass transpiration, and inclined magnetic force. The effect of the carbon nanotube model on fluid flow has not been considered in previous studies. By exploiting the similarity variable, the governing nonlinear partial differential equations are converted into nonlinear ordinary differential equation. The derived equations are solved analytically, and we obtained an exact solution for the velocity and energy conservation equation. The physical parameters of interest such as induced slip parameter, suction/injection, magnetic field, thermal radiation, and shear stress are analyzed and presented graphically. In particular, we show that the fluid flow in a single wall carbon nanotube transfers more energy than the multivalued nanotubes.