Key Takeaways
- Walking time is distance divided by speed. At 5 km/h, 1 km takes 12:00, 1 mile takes 19:19 and 5 km takes 1:00:00.
- A review of 41 studies of healthy adults found average comfortable speeds of 4.7 to 5.2 km/h for ages 20 to 59, falling to 3.4 to 3.5 km/h at 80 to 99[4].
- These were timed over short courses, so a long walk with crossings, hills or a bag can differ.
- The 2024 Compendium calls 2.8 to 3.4 mph a moderate pace and 3.5 to 3.9 mph brisk, for a level firm surface[6]. WHO's 2020 guideline is 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity a week[8].
How the Calculator Works
The first tab, How long will it take, turns a distance and a speed into a walking time. You can type a speed in km/h or mph, a pace in minutes per km or per mile, or start from a published average for your age and sex.
It can also add break time and, if you give a start time, an arrival time on a 24-hour clock. The second tab, What is my speed, does the reverse for a walk you have done.
On that tab the time goes in as separate hours, minutes and seconds, so 1 hour 5 minutes is typed as 1 and 5, not 1.05.
The Walking Speed and Time Formula
One relationship covers every mode. The tool turns it around depending on what you know.
| To find | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Distance ÷ speed | 5 km ÷ 5 km/h = 1:00:00 |
| Speed | Distance ÷ time | 3 mi ÷ 1 h = 3 mph |
| Pace per km | 60 ÷ speed in km/h, in minutes | 60 ÷ 5 = 12:00 per km |
| Pace per mile | 60 ÷ speed in mph, in minutes | 60 ÷ 3 = 20:00 per mile |
| km/h to mph | km/h ÷ 1.609344 | 5 km/h = 3.11 mph |
The walking formulas with a worked example for each.
A mile is exactly 1,609.344 m, and NIST marks that factor as exact[1]. The half marathon is 21.0975 km[3] and the marathon is 42.195 km[2].
Minutes and seconds are not decimals
How Long Does It Take to Walk 1 km, 1 Mile, 5 km or 10 km?
Each time assumes one steady speed on level ground with no stops. Find your distance in the first column, then read across to the speed closest to yours. For a distance that is not listed, such as 350 m or 11 km, enter it in the calculator.
| Distance | 3 km/h | 4 km/h | 5 km/h | 6 km/h | 7 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 2:00 | 1:30 | 1:12 | 1:00 | 0:51 |
| 250 m | 5:00 | 3:45 | 3:00 | 2:30 | 2:09 |
| 400 m | 8:00 | 6:00 | 4:48 | 4:00 | 3:26 |
| 500 m | 10:00 | 7:30 | 6:00 | 5:00 | 4:17 |
| 800 m | 16:00 | 12:00 | 9:36 | 8:00 | 6:51 |
| 1 km | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 | 8:34 |
| 2 km | 40:00 | 30:00 | 24:00 | 20:00 | 17:09 |
| 3 km | 1:00:00 | 45:00 | 36:00 | 30:00 | 25:43 |
| 4 km | 1:20:00 | 1:00:00 | 48:00 | 40:00 | 34:17 |
| 5 km | 1:40:00 | 1:15:00 | 1:00:00 | 50:00 | 42:51 |
| 8 km | 2:40:00 | 2:00:00 | 1:36:00 | 1:20:00 | 1:08:34 |
| 10 km | 3:20:00 | 2:30:00 | 2:00:00 | 1:40:00 | 1:25:43 |
| 12 km | 4:00:00 | 3:00:00 | 2:24:00 | 2:00:00 | 1:42:51 |
| 15 km | 5:00:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:00:00 | 2:30:00 | 2:08:34 |
| 20 km | 6:40:00 | 5:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 3:20:00 | 2:51:26 |
Walking time in h:mm:ss for common distances in km at five steady speeds.
| Distance | 2 mph | 2.5 mph | 3 mph | 3.5 mph | 4 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 miles | 7:30 | 6:00 | 5:00 | 4:17 | 3:45 |
| 0.5 miles | 15:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 | 8:34 | 7:30 |
| 0.75 miles | 22:30 | 18:00 | 15:00 | 12:51 | 11:15 |
| 1 mile | 30:00 | 24:00 | 20:00 | 17:09 | 15:00 |
| 2 miles | 1:00:00 | 48:00 | 40:00 | 34:17 | 30:00 |
| 3 miles | 1:30:00 | 1:12:00 | 1:00:00 | 51:26 | 45:00 |
| 4 miles | 2:00:00 | 1:36:00 | 1:20:00 | 1:08:34 | 1:00:00 |
| 5 miles | 2:30:00 | 2:00:00 | 1:40:00 | 1:25:43 | 1:15:00 |
| 6 miles | 3:00:00 | 2:24:00 | 2:00:00 | 1:42:51 | 1:30:00 |
| 8 miles | 4:00:00 | 3:12:00 | 2:40:00 | 2:17:09 | 2:00:00 |
| 10 miles | 5:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 3:20:00 | 2:51:26 | 2:30:00 |
| 12 miles | 6:00:00 | 4:48:00 | 4:00:00 | 3:25:43 | 3:00:00 |
| 15 miles | 7:30:00 | 6:00:00 | 5:00:00 | 4:17:09 | 3:45:00 |
| 20 miles | 10:00:00 | 8:00:00 | 6:40:00 | 5:42:51 | 5:00:00 |
Walking time in h:mm:ss for common distances in miles at five steady speeds.
For a distance in steps, convert it first with the kilometers to steps calculator or the miles to steps calculator, then enter the distance here.
Average Walking Speed by Age and Sex
These are the grand mean comfortable speeds from Bohannon and Williams Andrews (2011), a meta-analysis of 41 studies and 23,111 healthy adults[4]. Pick the same age group and sex in the calculator to use them.
| Age | Women m/s | Women km/h | Women mph | Men m/s | Men km/h | Men mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 29 | 1.34 | 4.8 | 3.00 | 1.36 | 4.9 | 3.04 |
| 30 to 39 | 1.34 | 4.8 | 2.99 | 1.43 | 5.2 | 3.21 |
| 40 to 49 | 1.39 | 5.0 | 3.11 | 1.43 | 5.2 | 3.21 |
| 50 to 59 | 1.31 | 4.7 | 2.94 | 1.43 | 5.2 | 3.21 |
| 60 to 69 | 1.24 | 4.5 | 2.78 | 1.34 | 4.8 | 3.00 |
| 70 to 79 | 1.13 | 4.1 | 2.53 | 1.26 | 4.5 | 2.82 |
| 80 to 99 | 0.94 | 3.4 | 2.11 | 0.97 | 3.5 | 2.17 |
Average comfortable walking speed by age group and sex, in m/s, km/h and mph.
The same speeds as times for 1 km, 1 mile and 5 km, without stops:
| Age | Women 1 km | Women 1 mile | Women 5 km | Men 1 km | Men 1 mile | Men 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 29 | 12:26 | 20:00 | 1:02:09 | 12:16 | 19:45 | 1:01:22 |
| 30 to 39 | 12:28 | 20:04 | 1:02:20 | 11:38 | 18:43 | 58:09 |
| 40 to 49 | 11:59 | 19:18 | 59:57 | 11:37 | 18:42 | 58:07 |
| 50 to 59 | 12:42 | 20:26 | 1:03:28 | 11:38 | 18:43 | 58:09 |
| 60 to 69 | 13:26 | 21:37 | 1:07:09 | 12:27 | 20:02 | 1:02:14 |
| 70 to 79 | 14:43 | 23:42 | 1:13:37 | 13:12 | 21:15 | 1:06:02 |
| 80 to 99 | 17:40 | 28:27 | 1:28:22 | 17:13 | 27:43 | 1:26:05 |
Time to walk 1 km, 1 mile and 5 km at the average speed for each age group and sex.
- The study timed people over 3 to 30 m at a normal pace, and its authors say the values may not suit short courses timed from the command "go" or courses with a turn[4].
- The group averages run from 0.94 to 1.43 m/s, but the numbers within one group vary widely. The paper's table lists a range of 0.83 to 1.50 m/s for women aged 70 to 79, so your own speed can sit well above or below your group's average.
- A 2023 review of 51,248 adults found weighted means from 97 cm/s (females 80 and over) to 140 cm/s (males 40 to 49). Male speed slowed beyond age 50 and female speed beyond age 30[5].
- In the 2011 table above, women's averages first fall clearly in the 50s. The 2023 per-decade values are not reproduced here, so the table uses the 2011 values.
- The 2011 paper describes walking speed as predictive of important outcomes[4]. This page uses it only to estimate time and does not rate your health.
Slow, Moderate and Brisk Walking Speeds
The 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities lists walking by speed on a level, firm surface[6]. Its MET values are multiples of resting energy use, and it classes 3.0 to 5.9 METs as moderate and 6.0 and over as vigorous[7].
| Speed | km/h | Compendium word | MET | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 2.0 mph | under 3.2 | strolling, very slow | 2.3 | light |
| 2.0 to 2.4 mph | 3.2 to 3.9 | slow | 2.8 | light |
| 2.5 mph | 4.0 | none given | 3.0 | moderate |
| 2.8 to 3.4 mph | 4.5 to 5.5 | moderate | 3.8 | moderate |
| 3.5 to 3.9 mph | 5.6 to 6.3 | brisk | 4.8 | moderate |
| 4.0 to 4.4 mph | 6.4 to 7.1 | very brisk | 5.5 | moderate |
| 4.5 to 4.9 mph | 7.2 to 7.9 | very, very brisk | 7.0 | vigorous |
| 5.0 to 5.5 mph | 8.0 to 8.9 | none given | 8.5 | vigorous |
2024 Compendium walking speed bands for a level firm surface with MET values and intensity class.
The Compendium words its bands to one decimal place, so the calculator rounds your speed to the nearest 0.1 mph first. Only 2.6 and 2.7 mph fall between listed bands, and the calculator says so instead of picking one.
WHO's 2020 guideline asks adults for at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity, or a mix[8]. The guideline sets no daily step target. For a step-based view, see the daily steps activity classifier.
Limits of the Estimate
- The tool assumes one steady speed on level ground. Hills, stairs, crossings, crowds, heat, a load and tiredness are not inputs. For climbs, use the hiking time calculator.
- If you stopped on a walk you timed, decide whether to enter moving time or total time, then use the same one each time. Moving time gives your walking speed, and total time gives your average including stops.
- The age and sex speeds are group averages from short timed walks. They are a starting point for a time estimate and not a target.
- A speed above 5.5 mph or below 1 mph triggers a prompt to check your units. Those two cut-offs are not published limits.
- For calories, use the steps to calories calculator. For treadmill belt speeds and incline, use the treadmill pace calculator. To go from walking to running pace, see the running pace calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically. National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Special Publication 811
- Marathon. World Athletics. World Athletics, Disciplines: Road Running
- Half Marathon. World Athletics. World Athletics, Disciplines: Road Running
- Normal walking speed: a descriptive meta-analysis. Bohannon RW, Williams Andrews A. Physiotherapy 97(3):182-189 (2011)
- Normal gait speed varies by age and sex but not by geographical region: a systematic review. Andrews AW, Vallabhajosula S, Boise S, Bohannon RW. Journal of Physiotherapy 69(1):47-52 (2023)
- Compendium of Physical Activities: Walking (major heading 17, 2024 Adult Compendium). Compendium of Physical Activities. pacompendium.com (2024)
- 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities: a third update of the energy costs of human activities. Herrmann SD, Willis EA, Ainsworth BE, et al.. Journal of Sport and Health Science 13(1):6-12 (2024)
- World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Bull FC, Al-Ansari SS, Biddle S, et al.. British Journal of Sports Medicine 54(24):1451-1462 (2020)
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Disclaimer: This calculator does arithmetic on the distance, time and speed you enter and assumes one steady speed on level ground. The age and sex speeds are group averages from short timed walks, not targets. It is not medical advice.