Steps to Calories Converter

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Updated on February 08, 2023

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Steps to Calories Converter — Verywell / Photo Illustration by Sabrina Jiang / Getty Images

When calculating your calories burned per step, the number will depend on your weight and height. For instance, a typical 160-pound person of average height will burn about 40 calories per 1,000 steps. This is the equivalent of 0.04 calories per step. The charts below show you how many calories you'd burn in 1,000 steps, 5,000 steps, 10,000 steps, or more. Here is what you need to know about converting your steps to calories burned.

Convert Your Steps to Calories

To convert your steps to calories, you will need to know your approximate steps per mile. Most fitness trackers estimate your steps per mile from your height. An average number at a brisk walk or easy running pace is 2,000 to 2,400 steps per mile.

You also can measure your stride length to find your steps per mile or count your steps over a measured mile for greater accuracy. Alternatively, you can use a steps-per-mile chart, along with your height and weight, to estimate calories burned at various step counts. The calorie numbers are based on metabolic equivalents (MET) research, taking an average of the calories burned at walking speeds from 2 to 4 miles per hour.

Here are some charts that are based on height and weight. These will give you an approximate number of calories burned per step.

Height 6 Feet and Above

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if your height is 6 feet or more. This assumes that you take 2,000 steps per mile.

2,000 Steps per Mile (Height 6 Feet and Above) Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight
Weight	100 lb	120 lb	140 lb	160 lb	180 lb	200 lb	220 lb	250 lb	275 lb	300 lb
Steps	45 kg	55 kg	64 kg	73 kg	82 kg	91 kg	100 kg	114 kg	125 kg	136 kg
1,000	28 cal.	33	38	44	49	55	60	69	75	82
2,000	55	66	76	87	98	109	120	137	150	164
3,000	83	99	114	131	147	164	180	206	225	246
4,000	110	132	152	174	196	218	240	274	300	328
5,000	138	165	190	218	245	273	300	343	375	410
6,000	165	198	228	261	294	327	360	411	450	492
7,000	193	231	266	305	343	382	420	480	525	574
8,000	220	264	304	348	392	436	480	548	600	656
9,000	248	297	342	392	441	491	540	617	675	738
10,000	275	330	380	435	490	545	600	685	750	820
11,000	303	363	418	479	539	600	660	754	825	902
12,000	330	396	456	522	588	654	720	822	900	984
13,000	358	429	494	566	637	709	780	891	975	1,066
14,000	385	462	532	609	686	763	840	959	1,050	1,148
15,000	413	495	570	653	735	818	900	1,028	1,125	1,230
16,000	440	528	608	696	784	872	960	1,096	1,200	1,312
17,000	468	561	646	740	833	927	1,020	1,165	1,275	1,394
18,000	495	594	684	783	882	981	1,080	1,233	1,350	1,476
19,000	523	627	722	827	931	1,036	1,140	1,302	1,425	1,558
20,000	550	660	760	870	980	1,090	1,200	1,370	1,500	1,640

Height 5'6" to 5'11"

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if your height ranges from 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 11 inches. This assumes that you take 2,200 steps per mile.

2,200 Steps per Mile (Height 5'6" to 5'11") Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight
Weight	100 lb	120 lb	140 lb	160 lb	180 lb	200 lb	220 lb	250 lb	275 lb	300 lb
Steps	45 kg	55 kg	64 kg	73 kg	82 kg	91 kg	100 kg	114 kg	125 kg	136 kg
1,000	25 cal.	30	35	40	45	50	55	62	68	75
2,000	50	60	69	79	89	99	109	125	136	149
3,000	75	90	104	119	134	149	164	187	205	224
4,000	100	120	138	158	178	198	218	249	273	298
5,000	125	150	173	198	223	248	273	311	341	373
6,000	150	180	207	237	267	297	327	374	409	447
7,000	175	210	242	277	312	347	382	436	477	522
8,000	200	240	276	316	356	396	436	498	545	596
9,000	225	270	311	356	401	446	491	560	614	671
10,000	250	300	345	395	445	495	545	623	682	745
11,000	275	330	380	435	490	545	600	685	750	820
12,000	300	360	415	475	535	595	655	747	818	895
13,000	325	390	449	514	579	644	709	810	886	969
14,000	350	420	484	554	624	694	764	872	955	1,044
15,000	375	450	518	593	668	743	818	934	1,023	1,118
16,000	400	480	553	633	713	793	873	996	1,091	1,193
17,000	425	510	587	672	757	842	927	1,059	1,159	1,267
18,000	450	540	622	712	802	892	982	1,121	1,227	1,342
19,000	475	570	656	751	846	941	1,036	1,183	1,295	1,416
20,000	500	600	691	791	891	991	1,091	1,245	1,364	1,491

Height 5'5" and Under

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if you are 5 feet 5 inches or less. This assumes that you take 2,400 steps per mile.

2,400 Steps per Mile (Height 5'5" and Under) Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight
Weight	100 lb	120 lb	140 lb	160 lb	180 lb	200 lb	220 lb	250 lb	275 lb	300 lb
Steps	45 kg	55 kg	64 kg	73 kg	82 kg	91 kg	100 kg	114 kg	125 kg	136 kg
1,000	23 cal.	28	32	36	41	45	50	57	63	68
2,000	46	55	63	73	82	91	100	114	125	137
3,000	69	83	95	109	123	136	150	171	188	205
4,000	92	110	127	145	163	182	200	228	250	273
5,000	115	138	158	181	204	227	250	285	313	342
6,000	138	165	190	218	245	273	300	343	375	410
7,000	160	193	222	254	286	318	350	400	438	478
8,000	183	220	253	290	327	363	400	457	500	547
9,000	206	248	285	326	368	409	450	514	563	615
10,000	229	275	317	363	408	454	500	571	625	683
11,000	252	303	348	399	449	500	550	628	688	752
12,000	275	330	380	435	490	545	600	685	750	820
13,000	298	358	412	471	531	590	650	742	813	888
14,000	321	385	443	508	572	636	700	799	875	957
15,000	344	413	475	544	613	681	750	856	938	1,025
16,000	367	440	507	580	653	727	800	913	1,000	1,093
17,000	390	468	538	616	694	772	850	970	1,063	1,162
18,000	413	495	570	653	735	818	900	1,028	1,125	1,230
19,000	435	523	602	689	776	863	950	1,085	1,188	1,298
20,000	458	550	633	725	817	908	1,000	1,142	1,250	1,367

If you're looking to track your steps, a pedometer is an excellent tool that can measure steps and other metrics. Like this chart, many fitness trackers can estimate total caloric expenditure based on your personal inputs, such as height, weight, and gender.

A Word From Verywell

If you are looking to increase caloric expenditure while walking, you can try speeding up, doing running intervals, and using fitness walking poles. Most fitness trackers don't accurately track activities that aren't step-based, so they may not be included in your total steps. You can calculate step equivalents for other activities based on the calories burned.

1 Source

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, et al. 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities: a second update of codes and MET values. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(8):1575-81. doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31821ece12

Additional Reading

Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Herrmann SD, et al. 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2011;43(8):1575-1581. doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31821ece12.

By Wendy Bumgardner
Wendy Bumgardner is a freelance writer covering walking and other health and fitness topics and has competed in more than 1,000 walking events.

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