How long does it take to walk one mile?

Adults walk about 3-4 miles per hour and walk one mile in between 15 and 20 minutes. There are people who can walk faster than other however speed can be affected by gender , age , as well as fitness level.


Can you calculate walking speed?


If you're planning a trip, a day out or training for a marathon or a sponsored walk, it is important to know how long it will take you to walk one mile. The health of your individual will certainly be a factor in the length of time needed to walk a mile but other general aspects such as gender, age and speed are factors to account for when planning.


Walking speed is influenced by the age


No, we don't mean the amazing fact that it takes three hours walk for just two blocks with a toddler (so many fascinating holes in walls to look at!)


You may be shocked to find out that young, lively twenty-somethings actually tend to walk slower than their older 30 and forty-something peers. It is true. After we reach our fifties, walking speed decreases again.

A 75-year-old could walk an entire mile with 2.1mph in just 28 minutes and 34 seconds. A person aged 23 can walk at 3mph in just 20 minutes.


Speed of walking based on gender


Men are more agile than women in all age ranges. This could be due to the fact that men are taller. They are also more likely to delay something.


The speed of walking is determined by the pace.


Another consideration to make when determining the amount of distance to walk one mile is whether you are walking, strolling, or just strolling along the street. If  how long should it take to walk a mile  love the fresh air of the countryside, your pace will be slower than if you're concerned about not getting to the train.


Here are some numbers to help you select the right pace for you:



Fast 100-119 steps per hour / 11 minutes per miles


Normal - 80-99 steps per hour / 15 minutes each mile


Relaxed 60-79 steps per minute/20 minutes per mile



You can see the miles chart below for an estimate of how much time it will take to walk a certain distance at a normal, easy or fast pace.


The last entry in our chart provides us with the answer to the question "How long would the Proclaimers walk 500 miles?" It takes the Proclaimers around 125 hours (7500 mins) to walk 500 miles at a normal pace.