How many steps make a mile?

suzieduh
suzieduh Posts: 196 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

I have a mobile phone that counts steps - but it doesnt tell me how many steps thats equates to in distance! How many steps (obv. approximate to average stride) are in a mile? Ideally I want to walk 10 miles a week.

Thanks!:huh:

Replies

  • apsmith51
    apsmith51 Posts: 48 Member
    About 2,000 steps in a mile.
  • chefchazz
    chefchazz Posts: 427 Member
    yep, what she said
  • SDkitty
    SDkitty Posts: 446 Member
    I'm curious how a step counter works on a phone? What is the app called?
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    It depends on how long your stride is. The best way to measure is to:

    1. mark a spot on the side walk at the back of one heel.
    2. Walk 10 "average" paces.
    3. Mark the back of your heel that landed the 10th step.
    4. measure the distance in inches between the two marks and divide by 10.
    5. Take this number ( x ) and divide it into 5280 * 12, so 5280 * 12 / x.

    This will be how many steps you take per mile.
  • jamie1888
    jamie1888 Posts: 1,704 Member
    Why not just use a different app that tracks distance? If distance is your goal, forget the # of steps!
    Runmeter, Nike, etc. all have free apps.
  • I would agree. My iPod nano counts my steps, and I also have the Nike Fit adapter to calculate miles. Running is less steps/mile, for me 1 mile running is about 1600-1700 steps, and walking is about 1900-2000 steps depending on my stride.
  • suzieduh
    suzieduh Posts: 196 Member
    I have a Sony Ericcson, the app is called Walk Mate Eco. It is built into the phone. I wasn't sure if it was accurate so I wore a friend's pedometer while carrying the phone in my pocket and they both showed the same number.

    So if it is one mile per 2000 steps then if I reach the 10,000 steps a day I have walked 5 miles a day? That seems very high?
  • suzieduh
    suzieduh Posts: 196 Member
    I don't have an iPhone or Blackberry so I might go with the manual method as descibed :)
  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    Crazy but it depends on how big the steps you take are! OMG! So, count the amount of steps it takes you to walk 5,280 feet. Then multiply it by 1, then multiply it by 1/2, then multiply that number by 2. That's how many steps it takes to walk a mile.


    Or, just count the steps it takes you to walk 52.8 feet (ok, round up to 53 feet), multiply by 100 and voila. You have how many steps it takes to walk a mile.

    Or, you can walk a set amount of feet, figure out an average of how many steps it took you to walk said amount of feet, then divide 5,280 feet by that number and you have an estimate of how many steps it took you to walk a mile.

    Or you can just skip for a mile.
  • Starlage
    Starlage Posts: 1,709 Member
    i disagree on the 2,000 steps in a mile thing unless you're taller. I'm 5'1, right now my pedometer says 5,491 steps and says that is 2.19 miles so for me it's more like 2,600ish in a mile? my stride's pretty short though with my little legs :o)
  • i agree with most people, it just depends on your stride, im taller and i routinely walk a 1.25 mile trail and it takes me just over 1900 steps for that
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    with programs like gmap and all things available on phones, it is probably easier to measure distance than count steps

    http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/
  • This tells you the average based on your height ;)
    http://walking.about.com/od/pedometer1/a/steps-per-mile.htm

    (If the link doesn't work, try copy & pasting it into your browser)
  • codycsweet
    codycsweet Posts: 1,019 Member
    I'm 5'3" and 2400 steps is a mile for me give or take a few.
  • nonnie35750
    nonnie35750 Posts: 11 Member
    I use a pedometer by Runtastic on my android phone. It is awesome. It was only like .99 cents and keeps track of the distance that I walk, time, speed and calories burned. It's very simple to use once you figure out what your stride is.
  • MissSaturday
    MissSaturday Posts: 784 Member
    yeah 2000 steps is more like 1 kilometer. 1 mile should be much more..
  • eslcity
    eslcity Posts: 323 Member
    The 10,000 steps a day is more about how active you are.. With the theory that people that are less active will average few steps a day.. (sitting, watching tv, sleeping or surfing the net).
    It really doesn't matter just how far you walk or not... or how tall or short you are... it is just a gage we can use to indicate our level of activity…

    I personally work hard to insure I get 10,000 steps a day… to burn extra calories throughout the day.. since we average burn 100 calories every 2000 steps. But that is a guesstimate since we are all different.. since we have to take in account our weight..
    The heavier you are the more calories you burn.. here is a good site to go to find your magic number:
    http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

    Personally, I don’t even count the daily walk outside the planned exercise as calories burned… I make it a bonus to my diet…
    Example: When I park my car the farthest I can when I go to a store or walk up and down each aisleof the store.. they are just extra calories burned without even thinking of it
  • 2essie
    2essie Posts: 2,847 Member
    I am only 5 ft tall and according to my fitbit 2000 steps is near enough 1 mile. So 10,000 steps would be 5 miles.
  • renley
    renley Posts: 35 Member
    1393 steps = .63 kms = .38525 miles, so for me close to 3000 steps = 1 mile. Approximately.
  • Susie_Ot
    Susie_Ot Posts: 7 Member
    I believe there approximately 2000 steps in a mile.
  • Ulfgard
    Ulfgard Posts: 49 Member
    It all depends on a persons stride, and the terrain that is being walked on. It can vary a great deal.
  • Samstan101
    Samstan101 Posts: 699 Member
    I am only 5 ft tall and according to my fitbit 2000 steps is near enough 1 mile. So 10,000 steps would be 5 miles.

    Did you put your stride length into the Fitbit website or are you using the default settings? I'm 5'6" and I have measured mine and for me walking its 2185 steps in a mile (Running its 1810 steps). I'd be surprised if at 6" shorter than me your walking stride was 3" more than mine as 2000 steps in a mile is a stride of 2ft 8" approx (63360" in a mile, 2000 steps means 63360/2000 = 31.7" = 2ft 7.7")
  • nonnie35750
    nonnie35750 Posts: 11 Member
    I'm curious how a step counter works on a phone? What is the app called?

    The best app I have found for a pedometer is Runtastic Pro. It's very accurate; only cost .99 or a 1.99 (can't remember). But it also syncs with MFP. I use it all the time.
  • harpere87
    harpere87 Posts: 142 Member
    5' 3" - 2,200 steps = 1 mile approximately I aim for 10,000 steps a day and usually end up around 4-4.5 miles. I have a fitbit that tells me both steps and miles, which is really nice.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Can you get a distance app?
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    Depends on the length of your stride.
  • therealjp
    therealjp Posts: 1
    Galaxy S4 has a built I pedometer in the S Health app and with no setup at all it is quite accurate. I use the app called map my walk which gives you distance and shows your route on a map. A 4.64 mile walk on map my walk shows up as 4.7 on s health continually. I've set up nothing special on either app and they both manage to get very similar results. Including up and down hills, running vs walking and speed vs elevation.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Galaxy S4 has a built I pedometer in the S Health app and with no setup at all it is quite accurate. I use the app called map my walk which gives you distance and shows your route on a map. A 4.64 mile walk on map my walk shows up as 4.7 on s health continually. I've set up nothing special on either app and they both manage to get very similar results. Including up and down hills, running vs walking and speed vs elevation.

    All that means is that your stride length is close to the program's default information.

    A 24" stride length requires over 2600 steps for a mile ... 30" stride means 2112 steps for a mile ... 34" stride is 1864 steps ...
  • soda4u
    soda4u Posts: 2 Member
    I use "Runkeeper" on my samsung galaxy 3. It syncs with My Fitness Pal and gives you extra calories for the day depending on how far you go each day. It is free and easy to work. You do not have to "run". It gives you a variety of choices of activities from skiing to skating to walking, hiking,cycling, even swimming. Although I don't know how you could use it swimming unless your phone is waterproof. Good luck with whatever you decide to go with!
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