If you would like to train as efficiently as possible, without accumulating unnecessary miles, choose a Training Plan for Runners.



How Many Steps Are in 12 Kilometers?

More and more people are turning to a healthy lifestyle and want to be as active as possible.

One of the ways to achieve that is to track the number of steps they take in a day.

In this article, you will find out how many steps are in 12 kilometers, how many steps a day you should take, and how long it takes to run the same distance.

On average, you take 15700 steps in 12 kilometers of walking and 11400 steps in 12 kilometers of running. The exact number of steps depends on several factors, such as gender, height, stride length, and pace of walking or running.

For example, a shorter person has a shorter stride and has to take more steps in 12 kilometers than a taller person who has a longer stride.

Likewise, the faster you run, the longer your stride naturally becomes, and the fewer steps you have to take to cover the same distance.

The information in this article is based on research published in the ASCM Health and Fitness Journal.

Slow walk
(3mph)
20:00 min/mi
12:26 min/km
Brisk walk
(4mph)
15:00 min/mi
9:19 min/km
Light jog
(5mph)
12:00 min/mi
7:27 min/km
Slow run
(6mph)
10:00 min/mi
6:13 min/km
Run
(7mph)
8:00 min/mi
4:58 min/km
Fast run
(8mph)
6 min/mi
3:44 min/km
All16896145201464012540105008100
Females17328149041484412816110169096
Males16320140161440012264102007980

The table shows an overview of how many steps you will take in 12 kilometers while moving at a certain speed.

how many steps are in 12 kilometers

How many steps are in 12 kilometer run?

A person with a height of 5 feet 4 inches will take an average of 14568 steps while running 12 kilometers at a pace of 12 minutes per mile, and 8112 steps at a pace of 6 minutes per mile.

Depending on the running pace and height of the person, the table shows the average number of steps needed to run 12 kilometers.

Height
(ft + in)
Light jogging
12:00 min/mi
 7:27 min/km
Slow run
10:00 min/mi
6:13 min/km
Run
8:00 min/mi
4:58 min/km
Fast run
6 min/mi
3:44 min/km
5’ 0”1497612828106688520
5’ 2”1477212624104768316
5’ 4”1456812420102728112
5’ 6”1437612216100687908
5’ 8”141721201298647716
5’ 10”139681180896607512
6’ 0”137641161694567308
6’ 2”135601141292527104
6’ 4”133561120890486900

How many steps will a woman take in 12 kilometer walk?

A woman with a height of 5 feet 4 inches will take 17364 steps to cross 12 kilometers at a pace of 20 minutes per mile, and 14508 steps at a pace of 14 minutes per mile.

Depending on the walking pace and height of the woman, the table shows the average number of steps needed to walk 12 kilometers.

Females
Height
(ft + in)
Normal walking
20:00 min/mi
12:26 min/km
Walking at a faster pace
18:00 min/mi
11:11 min/km
Brisk walking
16:00 min/mi
9:57 min/km
Race walking
14:00 min/mi
8:42 min/km
5’ 0”17784168361587614928
5’ 2”17568166201567214712
5’ 4”17364164161545614508
5’ 6”17148162001525214292
5’ 8”16932159841503614088
5’ 10”16728157681482013872
6’ 0”16512155641461613656

How many steps will a man take in 12 kilometer walk?

A man with a height of 6 feet 0 inches will take 16272 steps to cross 12 kilometers at a pace of 20 minutes per mile, and 13416 steps at a pace of 14 minutes per mile.

Depending on the walking pace and height of the man, the table shows the average number of steps needed to walk 12 kilometers.

Males
Height
(ft + in)
Normal walking
20:00 min/mi
12:26 min/km
Walking at a faster pace
18:00 min/mi
11:11 min/km
Brisk walking
16:00 min/mi
9:57 min/km
Race walking
14:00 min/mi
8:42 min/km
5’ 4”17112161641521614256
5’ 6”16896159481500014052
5’ 8”16680157321470013836
5’ 10”16476155281456813632
6’ 0”16272153121436413416
6’ 2”16056151081414813200
6’ 4”15840148921394412996

What affects the number of steps in 12 kilometers?

The main factor affecting the number of steps needed to cover 12 kilometers is the stride length.

The shorter the stride, the more steps you need to take to cover 12 kilometers.

Stride length is the distance from the heel of one foot to the heel of the other foot. It varies from person to person, depending on your height, sex, speed, and running terrain.

1. Height

The taller you are, the longer your stride is, and the fewer steps you have to take to cross 12 kilometers.

A person who is 5 feet 4 inches tall does not have the same stride length as a person who is 6 feet 0 inches tall, even if they are in the same shape.

A shorter person has to take more steps than a taller person to cover the same distance.

2. Speed

The faster you move, the longer your stride becomes and the fewer steps you have to take to cross 12 kilometers.

3. Sex

According to research, sex is another factor affecting the number of steps you have to take to cover 12 kilometers.

The average stride length for women is 2.2 feet and for men, it is 2.5 feet.

This means that women take more steps than men to cover 12 kilometers.

4. Running terrain

Stride length depends on whether you are moving on flat ground or uphill.

When running uphill, the step is shorter and you take more steps to cover 12 kilometers.

How to track the number of steps you take in 12 kilometers?

The simplest way to track the number of steps is with the help of a pedometer, smart watch, or activity monitor.

A pedometer is a device that counts your steps, and most smartphones today have this option.

For a pedometer, activity monitor, or other device to measure the exact number of steps you take, you need to know the average length of your step and height.

How to measure average stride length?

There are different methods for measuring stride length.

One of them is to walk or run a certain distance and count the steps. Then divide the distance you walked or ran by the number of steps you took to get your average stride length.

Total distance/number of steps = stride length

Another way is to take 10 steps and measure the distance between the starting point and the ending point. Then divide the distance traveled by 10 and you will get the average length of your stride.

For example, if you have walked 255 inches in 10 steps, your average stride length is 25.5 inches.

A third way to measure stride length is based on your height. To get the average stride length, multiply your height in inches by 0.413 if you are a woman and 0.415 if you are a man.

Women = height in inches x 0.413 equals average stride length
Men = height in inches x 0.415 equals average stride length
For example, a runner with a height of 65 inches has an average stride length of 26.84 inches.

There is a standard estimate that a person’s stride length is proportional to their height, that is, it is equal to approximately 42% of their height. It is not a precise estimate, but most digital pedometers use it.

You can use a calculator to determine exactly how many steps you have taken in 12 kilometers of walking or running.

How many steps a day should you take?

You probably heard many times the recommendation that it is necessary to take 10,000 steps a day for health benefits.

Where did that figure come from?

The magic figure of 10,000 steps per day actually came from a marketing campaign, not from scientific research.

It is actually the name of a pedometer that was sold in Japan in 1965. The device was called “Manpo-kei“, which literally means “10,000 step counter”.

Although the device’s name had a strictly promotional function, it stuck around the world and started indicating the daily goal for the number of steps.

Newer research indicates that even 7000 steps a day bring significant health benefits.

Tip

The answer to how many steps you need to take per day requires a more individual approach and should be based on your goals. The best number of steps for you is the one that can fit into your daily schedule and regular habits.

According to research, you can compare your step count with activity level categories:

  • Inactive (sedentary lifestyle): less than 5000 steps a day
  • Light active lifestyle: 5000 to 7499 steps a day
  • Moderately active lifestyle: 7500 to 9999 steps a day
  • Active lifestyle: 10000 to 12499 steps a day
  • Highly active lifestyle: more than 12500 steps a day

When determining the daily step goal, keep in mind that your number of steps will be lower if you run or walk at a faster pace, and you will get a better workout.

So regardless of the lower number of steps achieved, you will get a great workout that will benefit your health.

What’s the average time for 12 kilometer run?

Beginner runners need approximately 1 hour 22 minutes (average running pace 10:28 minutes per mile) to run 12 kilometers, while more experienced runners need 51 minutes (average running pace 6:50 minutes per mile).

The table shows how long it takes to run 12 kilometers depending on the running pace.

Minutes per mileMinutes per kilometer12 kilometers
8:004:5859:39
8:305:171:03:23
9:005:361:07:07
9:305:541:10:51
10:006:131:14:34
10:306:311:18:18
11:006:501:22:02

Use my running pace calculator with which you can calculate the time needed to run 12 kilometers at a certain pace. You can also calculate what pace you will run if you run 12 kilometers in a certain time.

matea-matosevic-running

Matea Matošević

Hi, I’m Matea! I’m an Olympic Marathon Runner, founder, and writer behind OLYRUN.com. On this site, I provide help in the form of my knowledge and experience to all who love running and active living. Read more…