Average walking speed
5 km/h · 3.1 mph · 1.4 m/s
The average adult walks at about 5 km/h (3.1 mph) — roughly a mile in 19–20 minutes or a kilometer in 12 minutes. Want to know your own speed? Start the GPS speedometer and go for a walk.
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- Avg
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- Pace
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- Live walking speed with decimals for slow speeds
- Pace in minutes per kilometer or mile
- Distance and average moving speed of your walk
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Average walking speed by age
Comfortable walking speed stays fairly constant from your 20s to your 50s and then slowly declines. The values below are the average “normal” (not brisk) walking speeds from a research meta-analysis by Bohannon and Andrews (2011), converted to km/h and mph and rounded.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 4.9 km/h · 3 mph | 4.8 km/h · 3 mph |
| 30–39 | 5.2 km/h · 3.2 mph | 4.8 km/h · 3 mph |
| 40–49 | 5.2 km/h · 3.2 mph | 5 km/h · 3.1 mph |
| 50–59 | 5.2 km/h · 3.2 mph | 4.7 km/h · 2.9 mph |
| 60–69 | 4.8 km/h · 3 mph | 4.5 km/h · 2.8 mph |
| 70–79 | 4.5 km/h · 2.8 mph | 4.1 km/h · 2.5 mph |
| 80–99 | 3.5 km/h · 2.2 mph | 3.4 km/h · 2.1 mph |
These are approximate averages measured over short distances in research settings. Individual speeds vary a lot with height, fitness, terrain and purpose.
From a stroll to a brisk walk
A brisk walk is usually about 5.5–6.5 km/h (3.5–4 mph). Health guidelines such as the CDC’s treat walking at 3 mph (4.8 km/h) or faster as moderate-intensity activity; a cadence of roughly 100 steps per minute is a common rule of thumb for the same level. At around 7 km/h (4.3 mph) most people find it easier to break into a jog than to keep walking.
| Pace | Speed | Min per km | Min per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow stroll | 3.5 km/h · 2.2 mph | 17:09 | 27:35 |
| Average walk | 5 km/h · 3.1 mph | 12:00 | 19:19 |
| Brisk walk | 6 km/h · 3.7 mph | 10:00 | 16:06 |
| Very fast walk | 7 km/h · 4.3 mph | 8:34 | 13:48 |
| Easy jog | 9 km/h · 5.6 mph | 6:40 | 10:44 |
For context, US traffic engineers time pedestrian crossing signals for a walking speed of 3.5 feet per second (about 3.8 km/h or 2.4 mph), and elite race walkers cover 20 km at around 15 km/h.
How long does it take to walk…
Walking times at a slow (4 km/h), average (5 km/h) and brisk (6 km/h) pace, on flat ground without stops:
| Distance | 4 km/h (2.5 mph) | 5 km/h (3.1 mph) | 6 km/h (3.7 mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 15 min | 12 min | 10 min |
| 3 km | 45 min | 36 min | 30 min |
| 5 km | 1 h 15 min | 1 h | 50 min |
| 1 mile | 24 min | 19 min | 16 min |
| 3 miles | 1 h 12 min | 58 min | 48 min |
| 5 miles | 2 h 1 min | 1 h 37 min | 1 h 20 min |
For walking, running and driving times over longer distances, see how long is 3 miles and how long is 5 miles, or work out your own numbers with the average speed calculator.
How to measure your walking speed
With the GPS speedometer
- Go outside, ideally to a park, a track or a quiet street with open sky.
- Tap “Start speedometer” and wait until the accuracy badge is green.
- Walk at your normal pace for at least 3–5 minutes.
- Read your Avg speed and Pace. The average is more reliable than the live number at walking speed.
Without GPS: the 100-meter test
Measure out 100 meters (a quarter lap of a standard running track), walk it at your normal pace and time it in seconds. Then divide 360 by your time to get km/h, or 224 by your time to get mph. For example, 72 seconds means 5 km/h (3.1 mph).
What affects walking speed
- Age and fitness — speed declines gradually after about 60, and regular exercise helps keep it up.
- Height and leg length — taller people tend to take longer steps and walk faster.
- Terrain — hills, sand, snow and uneven trails slow you down considerably.
- Load and footwear — a heavy backpack or unsuitable shoes reduce speed.
- Purpose and surroundings — people commuting or walking alone usually move faster than people strolling in a group.
In older adults, walking speed is also used as a simple health indicator: in studies, a usual speed below about 0.8 m/s (2.9 km/h, 1.8 mph) is linked with a higher risk of health problems. If your walking speed drops noticeably, it’s worth mentioning to a doctor.
Need to convert a speed? Use the km/h to mph converter or the speed converter for m/s, knots and more. For other trips, the GPS speedometer works in a car, on a bike or on a train too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average walking speed?
About 5 km/h (3.1 mph), or 1.4 meters per second. Research on healthy adults under 60 puts comfortable walking speed at roughly 4.7–5.2 km/h (2.9–3.2 mph). It slowly decreases after about age 60.
What is the average walking speed in mph?
Around 3 mph — more precisely about 2.9–3.2 mph for most adults under 60. A brisk walk is usually 3.5–4 mph.
How long does it take to walk a mile?
At an average 3.1 mph, a mile takes about 19–20 minutes. At a brisk 3.5–4 mph it takes 15–17 minutes, and at a slow 2.5 mph about 24 minutes. See how long is 1 mile for walking, running and driving times.
Is 3 mph a good walking speed?
Yes. 3 mph (4.8 km/h) is about the average adult walking speed, and health guidelines such as the CDC’s describe walking at 3 mph or faster as brisk, moderate-intensity exercise.
How fast am I walking right now?
Tap Start speedometer at the top of this page, allow location access and start walking outdoors. The big number is your current walking speed, and the Pace box shows how many minutes you need per kilometer or mile.
How far can you walk in an hour?
About 5 km (3.1 miles) at an average pace and around 6 km (3.7 miles) at a brisk pace — on flat ground and without stops.
Why does my walking speed jump around on GPS?
At walking speed, a few meters of GPS error make a big relative difference. Walk in the open, away from tall buildings, and look at the average speed over a few minutes rather than the second-by-second number.
Does walking speed decrease with age?
Only slightly until about 60, then more noticeably. In the meta-analysis summarized above, people in their 70s walked on average about 4.1–4.5 km/h (2.5–2.8 mph), and people over 80 about 3.4–3.5 km/h (2.1–2.2 mph).
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