Convert steps to km (kilometres)
Enter your step count or a distance, plus your step length. The converter turns steps to km: it shows the distance in kilometres (km) and miles, or how many steps a distance takes. Example: 10,000 steps at a 70 cm step are 7.00 km (4.35 miles); at 80 cm they are 8.00 km. It is most accurate with a step length you have measured yourself.
Example: Convert: steps → kilometres · Number of steps 10,000 · Step length 70 cm → Result: 7.00 km. Source: NIST SP 811, NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.8 – mile (mi) = 1.609 344 km (exact). Updated: .
How it is calculated
How the conversion works
- Distance in km = steps × step length in cm ÷ 100,000
- Steps = distance in km × 100,000 ÷ step length in cm (rounded to whole steps)
- Miles = km ÷ 1.609344
One kilometre has 100,000 centimetres. Since the international yard agreement of 1959, a mile is exactly 1,609.344 metres (1 yard = 0.9144 m), as listed in the conversion tables of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8).
Worked example
10,000 steps with a step length of 70 cm: 10,000 × 70 = 700,000 cm = 7.00 km. In miles: 7 ÷ 1.609344 = 4.35 mi. That is 100,000 ÷ 70 ≈ 1,429 steps per kilometre. The other way round, 5 km at 70 cm takes 500,000 ÷ 70 ≈ 7,143 steps.
Steps to km chart
| Steps | 60 cm step | 70 cm step | 80 cm step | Miles (70 cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 0.60 km | 0.70 km | 0.80 km | 0.43 mi |
| 2,000 | 1.20 km | 1.40 km | 1.60 km | 0.87 mi |
| 5,000 | 3.00 km | 3.50 km | 4.00 km | 2.17 mi |
| 8,000 | 4.80 km | 5.60 km | 6.40 km | 3.48 mi |
| 10,000 | 6.00 km | 7.00 km | 8.00 km | 4.35 mi |
| 12,000 | 7.20 km | 8.40 km | 9.60 km | 5.22 mi |
| 15,000 | 9.00 km | 10.50 km | 12.00 km | 6.52 mi |
| 20,000 | 12.00 km | 14.00 km | 16.00 km | 8.70 mi |
Steps per kilometre: 1,667 at 60 cm, 1,429 at 70 cm, 1,250 at 80 cm. Steps per mile: 2,682, 2,299 and 2,012.
Measure your own step length
Step length differs from person to person, so your own measurement beats any standard value:
- Start at a mark on level ground.
- Walk 10 steps at your normal pace – every time a foot lands counts as one step.
- Measure the distance from the start to your toes and divide by 10.
Example: 7 metres for 10 steps gives a step length of 70 cm. For more accuracy walk 20 steps and divide by 20. The default is 70 cm (about 27.6 inches) – replace it with your own value.
Walking or running?
Running steps are usually much longer than walking steps, so measure a separate step length for walking and for jogging. Pedometers and fitness watches often use an estimated step length; entering your measured value there makes their distances more accurate too.
Related: see calories from your steps with the steps to calories calculator, energy use for other sports with the calories burned calculator, speed with the pace calculator, and training zones with the heart rate zone calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many km is 10,000 steps?
It depends on your step length: 7 km at 70 cm, 6 km at 60 cm, 8 km at 80 cm. That is about 4.35, 3.73 and 4.97 miles. Use your own measured step length.
How many steps are in a kilometre?
100,000 divided by your step length in cm. At 70 cm that is about 1,429 steps, at 80 cm 1,250 steps.
How do I measure my step length?
Walk 10 normal steps, measure the distance covered and divide it by 10. Measure separately for running, because running steps are longer.
Why doesn’t the calculator estimate step length from height?
Height-based formulas only give rough estimates, and step length also depends on pace, terrain and gait. Measuring your own takes a minute and is more accurate.
How many km is a mile?
Exactly 1.609344 km. Conversely, 1 km is about 0.621 miles.
How many steps is 5 km?
500,000 divided by your step length in cm: about 7,143 steps at 70 cm, 6,250 at 80 cm and 8,333 at 60 cm. A 10 km walk at 70 cm takes about 14,286 steps.
How many steps are in a mile?
160,934.4 divided by your step length in cm: about 2,299 steps at 70 cm, 2,012 at 80 cm and 2,682 at 60 cm.
Sources and legal basis
- NIST SP 811: NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.8 – mile (mi) = 1.609 344 km (exact)
- NIST Office of Weights and Measures – SI units: length (international yard = 0.9144 m, agreement of 1958/1959)
As of: · Editorial policy
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