Walking one mile takes about 2,000 steps for the average adult, based on a typical step length of about 2.5 feet (30 inches). The exact number depends mostly on height and pace: a walker who is 5 feet tall takes roughly 2,514 steps per mile, while someone who is 6 feet tall takes roughly 2,095.
To find your own number, divide 63,360 (the number of inches in a mile) by your average step length in inches. Running a mile takes fewer steps than walking it because running strides are longer, and the faster you run, the fewer steps you take.
Source: Verywell Health: Here’s How to Measure Steps in One Mile (medically reviewed, updated June 10, 2026).
Image: Omron HJ-112 pedometer, by Arthbkins at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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