What this calculator does
The most common way to ask "how many steps in a km" is with a fitness tracker or phone step count in hand, wanting to know what it actually adds up to in distance. This steps to km calculator converts in either direction: steps into distance, or a target distance into the steps needed to cover it.
The answer depends on stride length, which varies by height and walking pace. This calculator defaults to a typical adult stride of 76 cm, which puts roughly 1,300 steps to the kilometre, but that figure can be adjusted for a longer or shorter stride.
The formula
Distance is steps multiplied by stride length. Steps needed for a target distance is that distance divided by stride length. Stride length is entered in centimetres and converted internally to kilometres for the arithmetic.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stride length | The distance covered by one step, from heel-strike to heel-strike, typically 70-80 cm for an adult walking at a normal pace. |
| Steps per kilometre | How many steps of the entered stride length it takes to cover one kilometre: 100,000 ÷ stride length in cm. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Convert | Choose which direction to convert: steps into distance, or a target distance into steps. |
| Step count (if converting steps to distance) | The step count to convert, when converting steps to distance. |
| Distance (if converting distance to steps) (km) | The target distance, when converting distance to steps. |
| Average stride length (cm) | Average stride length. 76 cm is a reasonable adult default; a taller person or a faster walking pace will have a longer stride. |
When to use it
Making sense of a daily step count target
A "10,000 steps a day" target means something different depending on stride length; converting it to kilometres puts it in a distance most people can picture more easily.
Planning a walking route to hit a step goal
Working backwards from a target distance to the steps it represents helps check a planned walk against a daily step goal before setting out.
Comparing against a height-based stride estimate
This calculator uses a fixed, adjustable stride length rather than deriving one from height; for a stride estimated from height instead, see the stride length calculator.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
Steps converted to distance at an average stride
Common step-count milestones, converted to distance.
| Step count | Distance covered | In miles |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 3.80 km | 2.36 mi |
| 7,000 | 5.32 km | 3.31 mi |
| 8,000 | 6.08 km | 3.78 mi |
| 10,000 | 7.60 km | 4.72 mi |
| 12,000 | 9.12 km | 5.67 mi |
| 15,000 | 11.40 km | 7.08 mi |
Questions
How many steps are in a km?
At a typical 76 cm stride, about 1,300 steps make up a kilometre. A taller person or someone with a longer stride needs fewer steps to cover the same distance; a shorter stride needs more.
How many steps in 10,000 steps in km, roughly?
At the default stride length used here, 10,000 steps works out to about 7.6 km. That rises toward 8 km or more for a longer stride, or a brisk walking or jogging pace.
Why not just use a fixed steps-per-km number for everyone?
Stride length varies enough by height and pace that a single fixed ratio can be off by 10-20% for some people. Adjusting the stride length input gives a more accurate personal figure.
Does this work for running as well as walking?
Yes, as long as the stride length entered reflects a running stride rather than a walking one, since running strides are typically longer than walking strides at the same height.
For a stride length estimated from height rather than entered directly, see the stride length calculator. To convert a step count into calories burned, use the calories burned calculator.