How to Measure Miles with a Walking Pedometer

Pedometers display the number of steps you walk.

Pedometers measure the number of steps you travel. Determining the length of your stride allows you to calculate the distance you travel while walking with a pedometer. Two methods determine the length of your stride. One measures the exact distance you travel in one step, and the other uses a mathematical average to determine the distance of your stride. The method you use will depend on the accuracy needed for your measured mile.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Stand against a wall with the heels of your feet tight against the wall.

2. Take one normal step away from the wall with your left foot. Mark the location of your heel on the ground with a pencil.

3. Measure the distance from the wall to the heal mark you made on the ground. Multiple the number of feet in a mile -- 5,280 -- by 12 inches for a total of 63,360 inches. Divide 63,360 by the measured length to determine the number of your steps in a mile. For example, 63,360 divided by a measurement of 30 inches equals 2,112 steps. Therefore, the 2,112 steps displayed on the pedometer would equal one mile.

4. Multiply your height -- in feet -- by 0.413 for a female or 0.415 for a male to determine your average stride if you do not have a tape measure. For example, a male 6 feet tall times 0.415 equals 2.49 feet. Multiply 2.49 by 12 -- to convert feet to inches -- for 29.88 or 30 inches. Enter the number in the pedometer.

References

• America's Walking: Pedometers
• Bella Online: How to Measure Your Step or Stride

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish