How many steps does it take to burn a pound

Kelly Burch is a New Hampshire-based freelance journalist writing about finances, health, family, and more. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes, among others. Follow her on
Fitbit starts everyone off with a 10,000-step goal, and here’s why: It adds up to about five miles each day for most people, which includes about 30 minutes of daily exercise—satisfying the CDC’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Thing is, 10,000 steps per day might not make sense for you. You may need to nab more if you want to lose a certain amount of weight, or take fewer steps if you’re new to fitness or recovering from an injury. Your step goal can vary depending on your needs, and it can also shift over time. Here’s how to set it right for you.

Your fitness goal: General Fitness Gains

Your plan: If you’re new to exercise or returning from injury, you’ll want to start slowly to avoid burnout or further injury. Wear a Fitbit tracker and determine how many steps you take on average each day over the course of a week. That’s your baseline. The Mayo Clinic recommends adding 1000 daily steps each week, so if your baseline is 4000 steps per day, set your goal at 5000 steps each day. Meeting your goal may be as simple as an extra five-minute walk, or even parking a few cars further away at the supermarket, depending on your speed and stride.

Your fitness goal: Weight Loss

Your plan: First, determine how much weight you wish to lose—then, do a little math. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends slow weight loss for lasting results—usually 1/2 pound to one pound per week. Completing an extra 10,000 steps each day typically burns about 2000 to 3500 extra calories each week. One pound of body fat equals 3500 calories, so depending on your weight and workout intensity, you could lose about one pound per week simply by completing an extra 10,000 steps each day.

Your fitness goal: Health Maintenance

Your plan: Once you have met your desired goals, you may simply want to maintain your fitness level. The 10,000-step goal could be just right for you—and the benefits of a 30-minute daily stroll are nearly boundless, from slowing mental decline and lowering blood pressure, to improving sleep and relieving depression. One study out of California State University showed that mood lifted in correlation with increased numbers of daily steps, and researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that 30 minutes of walking each day cut stroke risk by a minimum of 20%. Of course, you’ll also burn calories and fat, and if outside, enjoy an extra dose of sunny vitamin D while you’re at it.

Ready to adjust your step goal? Click into your Fitbit app on your mobile device, tap Account, scroll down to Goals, choose Activity, and then tap Steps to set the number that makes sense for you. You can also visit your Fitbit dashboard on your computer, hover over Steps to reveal the Settings icon, click Activity Goals, and then set the number of steps.

What’s your perfect number? Tell us all about your ultimate step goal and join the conversation below.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.

Lara Rosenbaum

How many steps does it take to burn a pound

Lara Rosenbaum is a writer, certified fitness trainer, and dog lover with a serious passion for the outdoors. Formerly Fitbit's fitness editor, Lara has held editorial positions at several magazines, including Women’s Health, where she was the founding fitness editor. Lara is also a former elite athlete, and has traveled the world as a member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team.

When calculating your calories burned per step, the number will depend on your weight and height. For instance, a typical 160-pound person of average height will burn about 40 calories per 1,000 steps. This is the equivalent of 0.04 calories per step. The charts below show you how many calories you'd burn in 1,000 steps, 5,000 steps, 10,000 steps, or more. Here is what you need to know about converting your steps to calories burned.

Convert Your Steps to Calories

To convert your steps to calories, you will need to know your approximate steps per mile. Most fitness trackers estimate your steps per mile from your height. An average number at a brisk walk or easy running pace is 2,000 to 2,400 steps per mile.

You also can measure your stride length to find your steps per mile or count your steps over a measured mile for greater accuracy. Alternatively, you can use a steps per mile chart, along with your height and weight, to estimate calories burned at various step counts. The calorie numbers are based on metabolic equivalents (MET) research, taking an average of the calories burned at walking speeds from 2 to 4 miles per hour.

Here are some charts that are based on height and weight. These will give you an approximate number of calories burned per step.

Height 6 Feet and Above

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if your height is 6 feet or more. This assumes that you take 2,000 steps per mile.

2,000 Steps per Mile (Height 6 Feet and Above) Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight

Weight

100 lb

120 lb

140 lb

160 lb

180 lb

200 lb

220 lb

250 lb

275 lb

300 lb

Steps

45 kg

55 kg

64 kg

73 kg

82 kg

91 kg

100 kg

114 kg

125 kg

136 kg

1,000

28 cal.

33

38

44

49

55

60

69

75

82

2,000

55

66

76

87

98

109

120

137

150

164

3,000

83

99

114

131

147

164

180

206

225

246

4,000

110

132

152

174

196

218

240

274

300

328

5,000

138

165

190

218

245

273

300

343

375

410

6,000

165

198

228

261

294

327

360

411

450

492

7,000

193

231

266

305

343

382

420

480

525

574

8,000

220

264

304

348

392

436

480

548

600

656

9,000

248

297

342

392

441

491

540

617

675

738

10,000

275

330

380

435

490

545

600

685

750

820

11,000

303

363

418

479

539

600

660

754

825

902

12,000

330

396

456

522

588

654

720

822

900

984

13,000

358

429

494

566

637

709

780

891

975

1,066

14,000

385

462

532

609

686

763

840

959

1,050

1,148

15,000

413

495

570

653

735

818

900

1,028

1,125

1,230

16,000

440

528

608

696

784

872

960

1,096

1,200

1,312

17,000

468

561

646

740

833

927

1,020

1,165

1,275

1,394

18,000

495

594

684

783

882

981

1,080

1,233

1,350

1,476

19,000

523

627

722

827

931

1,036

1,140

1,302

1,425

1,558

20,000

550

660

760

870

980

1,090

1,200

1,370

1,500

1,640

Height 5'6" to 5'11"

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if your height ranges from 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 11 inches. This assumes that you take 2,200 steps per mile.

2,200 Steps per Mile (Height 5'6" to 5'11") Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight

Weight

100 lb

120 lb

140 lb

160 lb

180 lb

200 lb

220 lb

250 lb

275 lb

300 lb

Steps

45 kg

55 kg

64 kg

73 kg

82 kg

91 kg

100 kg

114 kg

125 kg

136 kg

1,000

25 cal.

30

35

40

45

50

55

62

68

75

2,000

50

60

69

79

89

99

109

125

136

149

3,000

75

90

104

119

134

149

164

187

205

224

4,000

100

120

138

158

178

198

218

249

273

298

5,000

125

150

173

198

223

248

273

311

341

373

6,000

150

180

207

237

267

297

327

374

409

447

7,000

175

210

242

277

312

347

382

436

477

522

8,000

200

240

276

316

356

396

436

498

545

596

9,000

225

270

311

356

401

446

491

560

614

671

10,000

250

300

345

395

445

495

545

623

682

745

11,000

275

330

380

435

490

545

600

685

750

820

12,000

300

360

415

475

535

595

655

747

818

895

13,000

325

390

449

514

579

644

709

810

886

969

14,000

350

420

484

554

624

694

764

872

955

1,044

15,000

375

450

518

593

668

743

818

934

1,023

1,118

16,000

400

480

553

633

713

793

873

996

1,091

1,193

17,000

425

510

587

672

757

842

927

1,059

1,159

1,267

18,000

450

540

622

712

802

892

982

1,121

1,227

1,342

19,000

475

570

656

751

846

941

1,036

1,183

1,295

1,416

20,000

500

600

691

791

891

991

1,091

1,245

1,364

1,491

Height 5'5" and Under

Use the chart below to estimate calories burned by step count if you are 5 feet 5 inches or less. This assumes that you take 2,400 steps per mile.

2,400 Steps per Mile (Height 5'5" and Under) Calories Burned by Step Count and Weight

Weight

100 lb

120 lb

140 lb

160 lb

180 lb

200 lb

220 lb

250 lb

275 lb

300 lb

Steps

45 kg

55 kg

64 kg

73 kg

82 kg

91 kg

100 kg

114 kg

125 kg

136 kg

1,000

23 cal.

28

32

36

41

45

50

57

63

68

2,000

46

55

63

73

82

91

100

114

125

137

3,000

69

83

95

109

123

136

150

171

188

205

4,000

92

110

127

145

163

182

200

228

250

273

5,000

115

138

158

181

204

227

250

285

313

342

6,000

138

165

190

218

245

273

300

343

375

410

7,000

160

193

222

254

286

318

350

400

438

478

8,000

183

220

253

290

327

363

400

457

500

547

9,000

206

248

285

326

368

409

450

514

563

615

10,000

229

275

317

363

408

454

500

571

625

683

11,000

252

303

348

399

449

500

550

628

688

752

12,000

275

330

380

435

490

545

600

685

750

820

13,000

298

358

412

471

531

590

650

742

813

888

14,000

321

385

443

508

572

636

700

799

875

957

15,000

344

413

475

544

613

681

750

856

938

1,025

16,000

367

440

507

580

653

727

800

913

1,000

1,093

17,000

390

468

538

616

694

772

850

970

1,063

1,162

18,000

413

495

570

653

735

818

900

1,028

1,125

1,230

19,000

435

523

602

689

776

863

950

1,085

1,188

1,298

20,000

458

550

633

725

817

908

1,000

1,142

1,250

1,367

A Word From Verywell

If you are looking to increase caloric expenditure while walking, you can try speeding up, doing running intervals, and using fitness walking poles. Most fitness trackers don't accurately track activities that aren't step-based, so they may not be included in your total steps. You can calculate step equivalents for other activities based on the calories burned.

How many steps should you take a day to lose 2 pounds a week?

For healthy, sustainable results, you should aim to shed no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Walking 10,000 steps per day for a week burns roughly enough calories to melt a pound of fat.

How can I lose 1lb a day?

How To Lose A Pound A Day: 10 Ways To Achieve This.
Increase fiber intake..
Don't drink your liquids..
Switch to zero-calorie substitutes..
Make swaps to your food..
Add volume to meals..
Eat home cooked food..
Watch your portion sizes..
Regularly exercise..

How many steps will make you lose 1 pound?

Completing an extra 10,000 steps each day typically burns about 2000 to 3500 extra calories each week. One pound of body fat equals 3500 calories, so depending on your weight and workout intensity, you could lose about one pound per week simply by completing an extra 10,000 steps each day.

How many steps is a lb of fat?

Add those up and here's how many steps each person would need to take to burn that one pound of fat: 98,994 steps – 170 pound woman walking 3 mph. 75,451 steps – 200 pound man walking 3 mph.