A worked example: 10,000 steps at a 76cm stride
10,000 steps at a 76cm average stride length covers 7.6 km — steps multiplied by stride length, converted from centimeters to kilometers.
The formula: distance = steps × stride length
Each step covers roughly one stride length's worth of ground, so multiplying the two gives total distance directly. The default 76cm is a typical adult average, but actual stride length varies with height, leg length, and pace.
Fewer steps, a longer stride: 8,000 steps at 90cm
8,000 steps at a longer 90cm stride covers 7.2 km — nearly the same distance as the first example's 10,000 steps at a shorter stride, despite 2,000 fewer steps. Stride length matters just as much as step count for total distance covered.
How to find your actual stride length
Walk a known distance (like 20 meters), count the steps it takes, then divide the distance by that step count — a more personalized figure than the default average, especially useful for someone notably taller or shorter than typical.
Why walking and running need different stride values
Running stride length is typically longer than walking stride length for the same person, so a distance estimate from a run should use a different (larger) stride value than a walking estimate, or the distance will be understated.