Calculate walking time from steps and cadence, or estimate minutes and hours from step length and speed for any walk in metric or imperial units.
Steps to Minutes Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the time in minutes it takes to walk a certain number of steps.
Variables:
- M is the time in minutes
- S is the number of steps
- SL is the step length in inches
- WS is the walking speed in miles per hour (mph)
To calculate the time in minutes, first convert the number of steps to miles by dividing the number of steps by the number of steps per mile (which is the total number of inches in a mile divided by the step length in inches). Then, divide the miles by the walking speed to get the time in hours. Finally, multiply the time in hours by 60 to convert it to minutes.
| Steps | Minutes (min) | Hours (hr) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1.000 | 0.017 |
| 250 | 2.500 | 0.042 |
| 500 | 5.000 | 0.083 |
| 750 | 7.500 | 0.125 |
| 1,000 | 10.000 | 0.167 |
| 1,500 | 15.000 | 0.250 |
| 2,000 | 20.000 | 0.333 |
| 2,500 | 25.000 | 0.417 |
| 3,000 | 30.000 | 0.500 |
| 4,000 | 40.000 | 0.667 |
| 5,000 | 50.000 | 0.833 |
| 6,000 | 60.000 | 1.000 |
| 7,500 | 75.000 | 1.250 |
| 8,000 | 80.000 | 1.333 |
| 9,000 | 90.000 | 1.500 |
| 10,000 | 100.000 | 1.667 |
| 12,000 | 120.000 | 2.000 |
| 15,000 | 150.000 | 2.500 |
| 20,000 | 200.000 | 3.333 |
| 25,000 | 250.000 | 4.167 |
| * Rounded to 3 decimals. Assumes cadence of 100 steps/min. Formulas: minutes = steps ÷ 100; hours = minutes ÷ 60. | ||
What is Steps to Minutes?
Steps to minutes is a way to convert the number of steps walked into the equivalent time spent walking, assuming a constant walking speed. This is useful for tracking physical activity and can help individuals meet daily exercise goals. It is also a helpful metric for planning walks or runs and estimating the time required to cover a certain distance.
How to Calculate Steps to Minutes?
The following steps outline how to calculate the time in minutes based on the number of steps taken.
- First, determine the number of steps taken (S).
- Next, determine the step length (SL) in inches.
- Next, determine the walking speed (WS) in miles per hour.
- Use the formula to calculate the time in minutes (M).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Number of steps (S) = 2000 steps
Step length (SL) = 30 inches
Walking speed (WS) = 3 mph
Sources
Tudor-Locke C, Rowe DA. Using cadence to study free-living ambulatory behaviour. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI).