How to Calculate Walking Stride

A stride is two steps.

Whether for exercise purposes, for doing shorthand measurement or just for fun, you can calculate your stride pretty accurately if you use a large enough distance. Figure your average stride--typically defined as a full, left-and-right walking cycle (two steps)--by walking a measured distance while counting your steps.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Calculator
• Chalk

Instructions

1. Measure out 100 feet on a flat, even sidewalk or paved surface. Mark the beginning and end with chalk.

2. Start about 20 feet before the first mark and begin walking naturally. Time it so you hit the mark with one of your feet, without disturbing your stride.

3. Count your steps from the time you hit the mark until the time you pass the second mark at 100 feet. If you are in mid-step, estimate what fraction of the final step occurs within the marked distance.

4. Divide the number of steps by two to get the number of strides. If, for example, you took 41.5 steps, that would be 20.75 strides.

5. Divide 100 by the number of strides to get your average walking stride. In this example, 20.75 strides over 100 feet yields an average stride of 4.82 feet.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using this measurement for a pedometer, check what the manufacturer's definition of a stride is. If it is defined as one step rather than two, divide your final result by two.

References

• Bella Online: Measure Your Stride