Walking Time Calculator

This calculator estimates how long it takes to walk a given distance. You can type the distance in kilometres yourself, or search a start and an end place on the free map and let it measure the walking route along real paths and roads. Then you choose your pace, the terrain, your fitness level, the weather and how often you stop for a rest. The result is a basic time (distance divided by pace), an adjusted time that includes those real-world factors, and a rough calorie estimate.

Walking speed differs from person to person. A pace of about 5 km/h (about 3.1 mph) is often quoted as a typical adult walking speed, but this is only a rule of thumb. Children, older walkers, people carrying a backpack and people walking uphill are usually slower, while fit walkers on a flat path can be faster. That is why you can set your own pace instead of relying on a single average.

1. Basic time = distance ÷ pace. If you leave the pace empty, the calculator uses 4 km/h for a beginner, 5 km/h for intermediate and 6 km/h for advanced.
2. Terrain adds a share of the basic time: flat adds nothing (factor 1.0), hilly adds 30% (1.3) and mountainous adds 80% (1.8).
3. Fitness level adds or removes a share: beginner adds 20% (1.2), intermediate adds nothing (1.0) and advanced removes 10% (0.9).
4. Weather adds a share: good adds nothing (1.0), moderate wind or light rain adds 15% (1.15) and challenging weather adds 30% (1.3).
5. Rest stops add 10 minutes each. The stops are counted per hour of basic walking time, so 1 stop per hour on a 2-hour basic walk adds 2 stops × 10 min = 20 minutes.
6. Adjusted time = basic time + terrain extra + fitness extra + weather extra + rest time. Calories = MET × 70 kg × adjusted hours, using a MET of 3.5 for flat, 5.3 for hilly and 7.3 for mountainous terrain.

Because the extras are added together (not multiplied), a hilly route in moderate weather adds 30% + 15% = 45% to the basic time. Note that the fitness factor is applied on top of the pace you enter. If you already typed a pace that matches your real speed, set the fitness level to intermediate so you do not count your fitness twice.

• 10 km at 5 km/h, flat, intermediate, good weather, no rests: 10 ÷ 5 = 2 hours. No extras apply, so the adjusted time is also 2 hours. Calories: 3.5 × 70 × 2 = 490 kcal.
• 10 km at 5 km/h, hilly, intermediate, moderate weather, 1 rest stop per hour: basic 2 h. Terrain +0.6 h (2 × 0.3), weather +0.3 h (2 × 0.15), rests 1 × 2 × 10 ÷ 60 = 0.33 h. Total 2 + 0.6 + 0.3 + 0.33 = 3.23 hours, which is about 3 h 14 min. Calories: 5.3 × 70 × 3.233 ≈ 1,200 kcal.
• 6 km as a beginner with the pace left empty (4 km/h), flat, good weather: basic 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5 h. Fitness adds 1.5 × 0.2 = 0.3 h. Total 1.8 hours = 1 h 48 min.
• 15 km as an advanced walker (6 km/h), mountainous, challenging weather, no rests: basic 2.5 h. Terrain +2.0 h, fitness -0.25 h, weather +0.75 h. Total 5.0 hours.

Using the basic formula on flat ground: 5 km at 5 km/h takes 1 hour. 10 km takes 3 h 20 min at 3 km/h, 2 h 30 min at 4 km/h, 2 hours at 5 km/h and 1 h 40 min at 6 km/h. One mile is about 1.609 km, so at 5 km/h it takes about 19 minutes, and at 3 mph (about 4.8 km/h) exactly 20 minutes. A half marathon distance (21.1 km) at 5 km/h is 4.22 hours, about 4 h 13 min. The chart under the calculator shows these comparisons for your own distance.

• Pace: the biggest factor. A walker at 6 km/h needs only two thirds of the time of a walker at 4 km/h on the same route.
• Hills and stairs: climbing slows most people down much more than the same distance on flat ground.
• Surface: sand, snow, mud or loose gravel are slower than pavement.
• Weather: strong wind, heat, ice or heavy rain slow you down and make you stop more.
• Load: a heavy backpack lowers your speed.
• Stops: junctions, traffic lights, photos and breaks add up on longer walks. The map's routing time does not include them.

• Measure the real route with the map, not a straight line. Paths and roads are almost always longer than the straight-line distance.
• Compare the map's time with your own estimate. The routing service uses its own default walking speed, so use your pace for a personal figure.
• For long walks, plan a rest roughly every hour and add a safety margin so you finish before dark.
• Carry water, check the weather and tell someone your route for hikes in remote places.