How this calculator works
Distance walked or run is the number of steps multiplied by the distance of each step. Most people do not know their step length, so the page offers three estimates. The average option uses a typical adult stature and the population step-to-height ratio. The height option multiplies your own height by 0.415 for men or 0.413 for women. The measured option uses a step length you supply. A step length measured over a known distance is always the most accurate, because pace, footwear, terrain and fatigue all change it.
Formula
Step length = height x 0.415 for men, or height x 0.413 for women. Average step length uses 1.75 m and 1.62 m as typical statures. Distance = steps x step length. Steps per kilometre = 1000 / step length in metres. Steps per mile = 1609.344 / step length in metres.
Worked example
A 1.75 m man has an estimated step length of 1.75 x 0.415 = 0.726 m. At 10,000 steps the distance is 7,262.5 m, which is 7.26 km or 4.51 miles. His steps per kilometre are 1000 / 0.726 = 1,377, and steps per mile are 1609.344 / 0.726 = 2,216. If he measures a 0.80 m step, the same 10,000 steps become 8.00 km.
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Frequently asked questions
Is step length the same as stride length?
No. Step length is the distance from one foot contact to the next, so a left then right pair counts as two steps. Stride length is one full cycle, from left contact to the next left contact, and is about twice the step length. This page uses step length.
Why is the height estimate different for men and women?
The population ratios differ slightly, 0.415 for men and 0.413 for women. The difference is small compared with individual variation, so treat the sex choice as a refinement rather than a correction.
How do I measure my own step length?
Walk or run a measured 100 m at your normal pace, count the steps, and divide 100 by the step count. Repeat once to check consistency. Running step length is usually longer than walking step length.
Why do my phone and watch disagree?
Each device estimates step length differently, and many scale it with cadence. Over a long walk the errors partly cancel, but a single session can differ by several percent.