Average Stride Length by Height (Chart for Women and Men)
Quick answer: A typical walking step is about 41% of your height. That’s about 26.4 inches (67 cm) for a 5’4″ woman and about 29.9 inches (76 cm) for a 6’0″ man. Fitness trackers call this “stride length”. In gait research, a full stride is two steps, so it’s about twice as long.
Try it yourself: At 5’4″, your step is about 26.4 inches, so you take about 2,397 steps per mile. Enter your own height in the steps to miles calculator to turn your step count into miles and km.
Average Step Length by Height: Women
| Height | Step length (women) | Steps per mile | Stride (2 steps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4’10” (147 cm) | 24.0 in (61 cm) | 2,645 | 4.0 ft (1.22 m) |
| 4’11” (150 cm) | 24.4 in (62 cm) | 2,600 | 4.1 ft (1.24 m) |
| 5’0″ (152 cm) | 24.8 in (63 cm) | 2,557 | 4.1 ft (1.26 m) |
| 5’1″ (155 cm) | 25.2 in (64 cm) | 2,515 | 4.2 ft (1.28 m) |
| 5’2″ (157 cm) | 25.6 in (65 cm) | 2,474 | 4.3 ft (1.30 m) |
| 5’3″ (160 cm) | 26.0 in (66 cm) | 2,435 | 4.3 ft (1.32 m) |
| 5’4″ (163 cm) | 26.4 in (67 cm) | 2,397 | 4.4 ft (1.34 m) |
| 5’5″ (165 cm) | 26.8 in (68 cm) | 2,360 | 4.5 ft (1.36 m) |
| 5’6″ (168 cm) | 27.3 in (69 cm) | 2,324 | 4.5 ft (1.38 m) |
| 5’7″ (170 cm) | 27.7 in (70 cm) | 2,290 | 4.6 ft (1.41 m) |
| 5’8″ (173 cm) | 28.1 in (71 cm) | 2,256 | 4.7 ft (1.43 m) |
| 5’9″ (175 cm) | 28.5 in (72 cm) | 2,223 | 4.7 ft (1.45 m) |
| 5’10” (178 cm) | 28.9 in (73 cm) | 2,192 | 4.8 ft (1.47 m) |
| 5’11” (180 cm) | 29.3 in (74 cm) | 2,161 | 4.9 ft (1.49 m) |
| 6’0″ (183 cm) | 29.7 in (76 cm) | 2,131 | 5.0 ft (1.51 m) |
Average Step Length by Height: Men
| Height | Step length (men) | Steps per mile | Stride (2 steps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5’2″ (157 cm) | 25.7 in (65 cm) | 2,462 | 4.3 ft (1.31 m) |
| 5’3″ (160 cm) | 26.1 in (66 cm) | 2,423 | 4.4 ft (1.33 m) |
| 5’4″ (163 cm) | 26.6 in (67 cm) | 2,386 | 4.4 ft (1.35 m) |
| 5’5″ (165 cm) | 27.0 in (69 cm) | 2,349 | 4.5 ft (1.37 m) |
| 5’6″ (168 cm) | 27.4 in (70 cm) | 2,313 | 4.6 ft (1.39 m) |
| 5’7″ (170 cm) | 27.8 in (71 cm) | 2,279 | 4.6 ft (1.41 m) |
| 5’8″ (173 cm) | 28.2 in (72 cm) | 2,245 | 4.7 ft (1.43 m) |
| 5’9″ (175 cm) | 28.6 in (73 cm) | 2,213 | 4.8 ft (1.45 m) |
| 5’10” (178 cm) | 29.0 in (74 cm) | 2,181 | 4.8 ft (1.48 m) |
| 5’11” (180 cm) | 29.5 in (75 cm) | 2,150 | 4.9 ft (1.50 m) |
| 6’0″ (183 cm) | 29.9 in (76 cm) | 2,120 | 5.0 ft (1.52 m) |
| 6’1″ (185 cm) | 30.3 in (77 cm) | 2,091 | 5.0 ft (1.54 m) |
| 6’2″ (188 cm) | 30.7 in (78 cm) | 2,063 | 5.1 ft (1.56 m) |
| 6’3″ (190 cm) | 31.1 in (79 cm) | 2,036 | 5.2 ft (1.58 m) |
| 6’4″ (193 cm) | 31.5 in (80 cm) | 2,009 | 5.3 ft (1.60 m) |
| 6’5″ (196 cm) | 32.0 in (81 cm) | 1,983 | 5.3 ft (1.62 m) |
| 6’6″ (198 cm) | 32.4 in (82 cm) | 1,957 | 5.4 ft (1.64 m) |
Estimates use step length ≈ 0.413 × height for women and 0.415 × height for men, a common rule of thumb used by pedometers and walking guides. Your real step can be a few inches longer or shorter.
Step Length vs. Stride Length: What’s the Difference?
- Step length is the distance from one heel strike to the other foot’s heel strike.
- Stride length is the distance from one heel strike to the same foot’s next heel strike. That’s two steps.
Most phones, watches and pedometers ask for “stride length” but mean step length. When a tracker asks for your stride, enter your step length from the chart, or better, your measured number.
How to Measure Your Own Step Length
- Mark a starting line, then walk at your normal pace for 20 steps.
- Measure the distance in inches (or cm).
- Divide by 20. That’s your step length.
For example, if 20 steps cover 540 inches (45 feet), your step length is 27 inches. Measure on a flat, straight path, and repeat it twice for a reliable average.
What Changes Your Stride Length?
- Pace: you take longer steps when you walk faster. Running steps are much longer.
- Age: step length tends to get a little shorter with age.
- Terrain: hills, trails, crowds and treadmills shorten your step.
- Leg length and fitness: two people of the same height can have different steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good stride length for a 5’4″ woman?
About 26.4 inches (67 cm) per step when walking, or about 2,397 steps per mile.
What is my step length if I’m 5’3″?
About 26.0 inches (66 cm) for a woman, or 2,435 steps per mile.
What is the average stride of a 6 ft man?
About 29.9 inches (76 cm) per step, which is about 2,120 steps per mile. A full two-step stride is about 5.0 feet.
What is the average stride length for a 5’7″ male?
About 27.8 inches (71 cm) per step.
Is stride length the same as step length?
Not exactly. A stride is two steps. Fitness trackers usually say “stride” when they mean one step.
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This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Read our Medical Disclaimer.
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