How many steps in 1 km (and per day)
Updated on June 30, 2026 · by Rafael Rossi
The number of steps per kilometer depends on your stride length, which depends on your height.
The math
Average stride is about height × 0.415. For 1.70 m, that's ~71 cm, so 1 km = 1000 ÷ 0.71 ≈ 1,400 steps.
Common range
Most people take between 1,300 and 1,500 steps per km walking. Running, the stride is longer and the count drops.
What about 10,000 steps?
10,000 steps is roughly 7 to 8 km for most people — a popular daily activity goal. Fun fact: the number came from a 1960s Japanese marketing campaign (the "manpo-kei", or "10,000-step meter"), not a medical recommendation. Recent studies show health benefits from around 7,000 steps.
FAQ
Fewer steps per km running than walking? Yes. A running stride is longer, so you take fewer steps per kilometer (typically ~1,000–1,200).
How to find my exact stride? Walk 10 meters counting your steps and divide: 10 m ÷ steps = stride length. More accurate than the height formula.