How Many Steps Are There In A Mile?

How Many Steps Are There In A Mile?

Are you one of those people wondering how many steps there are in a mile? Well, the answer may surprise you. It highly depends on who is taking the step.

Jul 16, 2022 by FloTrack Staff
How Many Steps Are There In A Mile?

Are you one of those people wondering how many steps are in a mile? Well, the answer may surprise you. 

It highly depends on who is taking the step. The taller the person, the longer their stride length and therefore, the fewer steps it will take them to complete a mile. A shorter individual will have a shorter stride length, and it will take more steps to complete a mile.

This is true when it comes to segmenting men and women, as men tend to be taller on average and have a longer stride length.

According to the University of Wyoming, a distance-based walking program uses an average of 2,000 steps to make a mile. However, if you are running, like in track and field, it would take fewer steps, as you are taking longer strides while running, compared to when you are walking.

Speed is a big factor as well. 

If someone is running a mile, they are going to take fewer steps than if they were walking a mile, because they are covering more ground with each step. 

If you want to know how many steps are in a mile for you, the best way to find out is to time yourself walking or running a mile, and then count the number of steps you take during that mile.

Using Fitbit or an Apple Watch, where you can track your steps, also can help you determine how many steps are in a mile for you. This way, you are not bound to a track or having to time yourself.

If you don't have access to such technology, you can find a way to estimate how many steps are in a mile. 

For instance, you can use a tape measure or a ruler. Take a step forward and measure the distance from your heel to the back of your next foot. Do this 10 times, and then average out the results. 

This will give you a good estimate of your stride length. From there, you can estimate how many steps it would take you to cover a mile. 

For example, if your average stride length covers 3 feet, you can divide 5,280 feet (which is a mile) by 3 to get 1,760 steps in a mile.

While the number of steps in a mile varies depending on the individual, knowing how to estimate your steps can be beneficial, especially if you are training for a track and field event or just want to make sure you are getting enough exercise each day.

If you are into fitness and wondering how many miles you should walk a day, it is recommended to cover at least 2 miles of walking per day according to MayoClinic.org. 

This should be your baseline. As you progress, try to increase the number of miles you walk each day.