How Long Does It Take to Walk Half a Mile?
It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk half a mile at an average walking pace of 3.0 mph. At a brisk pace (3.5 mph), you'll finish in about 8 minutes and 34 seconds, while a leisurely walker (2.0 mph) may need 15 minutes. These estimates come from Bohannon & Andrews (2011), a meta-analysis of 23,111 subjects across 41 studies.
Calculate Your Walking Time
Distance: 0.5 mi (0.80 km)
Walking Time for Half a Mile at Different Paces
Half a mile is short enough that your pace choice determines whether this walk feels like a quick errand or a casual stroll. Here are the exact times at six standard pace levels, derived from the Compendium of Physical Activities and CDC walking pace guidelines.
| Pace Level | Speed (mph) | Speed (km/h) | Time for 0.5 Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leisurely | 2.0 | 3.2 | 15:00 | Casual stroll, window shopping |
| Easy | 2.5 | 4.0 | 12:00 | Relaxed walk, chatting easily |
| Moderate | 3.0 | 4.8 | 10:00 | Average adult walking pace |
| Brisk | 3.5 | 5.6 | 8:34 | Purpose-driven, breathing harder |
| Fast | 4.0 | 6.4 | 7:30 | Power walking, slight sweat |
| Very Fast | 4.5 | 7.2 | 6:40 | Race walking / athletic pace |
At every pace, half a mile takes less than 15 minutes. That makes it one of the most walkable distances in daily life — short enough to replace a car trip for nearby errands, appointments, or transit connections.
The CDC defines moderate-intensity walking as 2.5–4.0 mph. Even at the slowest end of that range, half a mile takes just 12 minutes.
How Long to Walk Half a Mile by Age
Age affects walking speed, but over half a mile the time differences are relatively small. According to Bohannon & Andrews (2011), published in Physiotherapy and covering 23,111 participants:
| Age Group | Men's Typical Speed | Men's Half-Mile Time | Women's Typical Speed | Women's Half-Mile Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–29 | 3.04 mph | 9:52 | 3.00 mph | 10:00 |
| 30–39 | 3.20 mph | 9:23 | 3.00 mph | 10:00 |
| 40–49 | 3.20 mph | 9:23 | 3.11 mph | 9:39 |
| 50–59 | 3.20 mph | 9:23 | 2.93 mph | 10:14 |
| 60–69 | 3.00 mph | 10:00 | 2.77 mph | 10:50 |
| 70–79 | 2.82 mph | 10:38 | 2.53 mph | 11:52 |
| 80–99 | 2.17 mph | 13:49 | 2.10 mph | 14:17 |
The key insight: even for adults over 80, half a mile takes under 15 minutes. This makes it a universally accessible walking distance across all age groups.
For the fastest walkers — men aged 30–59 at 3.20 mph — half a mile takes just 9 minutes and 23 seconds. The widest gap in the entire table is only about 5 minutes, from the fastest group to the slowest.
5 Real-World Examples
1. The "Should I Drive?" Test
Elena, 30, needs to pick up a prescription from a pharmacy 0.5 miles from her apartment. Driving means finding her keys, walking to the parking garage, pulling out, navigating two traffic lights, finding a parking spot at the pharmacy, and reversing the whole process — realistically 12–15 minutes door to door. Walking at her natural 3.0 mph pace (Bohannon average for women aged 30–39) takes exactly 10 minutes each way.
The round trip on foot is 20 minutes, burns approximately 74 calories (140 lbs × 0.53 × 1 mile round trip), and adds about 2,252 steps to her day. The drive saves her roughly 5 minutes but costs her the exercise.
2. The Transit Connection
Raj, 27, just moved to a new neighborhood and discovers the nearest subway station is half a mile from his front door. At a brisk 3.5 mph commuter pace, he covers the distance in 8 minutes and 34 seconds — easily factored into his morning routine. According to Bohannon & Andrews (2011), men aged 20–29 naturally walk at 3.04 mph, but commuter urgency typically pushes pace higher.
He leaves his apartment at 7:50 AM and reaches the platform by 7:59 AM, with one minute to spare before his 8:00 AM train.
3. The School Drop-Off
Maria, 42, walks her 8-year-old son to school, which is exactly half a mile away. Accommodating a child's shorter stride and occasional distractions, their effective pace is about 2.5 mph, making the walk 12 minutes. At her natural solo pace of 3.11 mph (Bohannon data, women aged 40–49), she'd cover the distance in 9 minutes 39 seconds.
The daily round trip adds 1 mile and approximately 2,252 steps to Maria's day. Over five school days, that's 5 miles and 11,260 steps per week from school runs alone.
4. The Office Worker's Micro-Walk
Ben, 52, reads that sitting for extended periods increases health risks and decides to walk half a mile during his morning break. At a moderate 3.0 mph pace, his walk takes exactly 10 minutes — fitting neatly into a 15-minute break with time to spare. He weighs 200 lbs, so this short walk burns about 53 calories (200 × 0.53 × 0.5 miles).
It doesn't sound like much, but done twice daily (morning and afternoon breaks), Ben accumulates 1 mile, 106 calories, and roughly 2,252 steps — all without touching his lunch hour.
5. The Post-Dinner Stroll
Linda, 67, and her husband walk half a mile through their neighborhood after dinner every evening. At Linda's comfortable pace of 2.77 mph (Bohannon data, women aged 60–69), the walk takes about 10 minutes and 50 seconds. It's short enough to feel effortless but long enough to aid digestion and contribute to her weekly activity total.
Seven evening walks per week add up to 3.5 miles and roughly 70 minutes of moderate-intensity activity — nearly half the CDC's recommended 150 minutes per week.
What Affects Your Half-Mile Walking Time?
Half a mile is short enough that most external factors have minimal impact, but a few still matter.
Age changes your time by a smaller margin than you might expect. Bohannon & Andrews (2011) data shows only a 5-minute spread between the fastest and slowest age groups over this distance — from 9:23 for men in their 30s to 14:17 for women over 80.
Traffic signals and crosswalks can actually add more time than your pace. A single red light adds 30–90 seconds, which can increase a 10-minute walk by 10–15%. For short walks, route selection matters more than fitness.
Terrain has a proportionally large effect on effort but a smaller effect on time over just half a mile. The Compendium of Physical Activities rates uphill walking at 1–5% grade at a MET of 5.3 versus 3.5 on flat ground. You'll feel the difference, but it adds only 1–2 minutes.
Half a Mile in Steps and Calories
Steps
At a moderate 3.0 mph pace, half a mile equals approximately 1,126 steps, based on the ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal (2008) figure of ~2,252 steps per mile. Your step count varies by height:
| Height | Approximate Steps (0.5 mi) |
|---|---|
| 5'0" | ~1,257 |
| 5'4" | ~1,179 |
| 5'8" | ~1,100 |
| 6'0" | ~1,048 |
| 6'4" | ~993 |
The average American walks only 3,000–4,000 steps per day (CDC data). A single half-mile walk adds over 1,100 steps — boosting a sedentary baseline by roughly 30%.
Calories Burned
Half a mile burns fewer calories than longer walks, but it still adds up — especially if repeated throughout the day. Using the Compendium of Physical Activities formula (body weight in lbs × 0.53 per mile, halved for 0.5 miles):
| Body Weight | Calories Burned (0.5 mi) |
|---|---|
| 120 lbs | ~32 cal |
| 140 lbs | ~37 cal |
| 150 lbs | ~40 cal |
| 160 lbs | ~42 cal |
| 180 lbs | ~48 cal |
| 200 lbs | ~53 cal |
| 220 lbs | ~58 cal |
| 250 lbs | ~66 cal |
These numbers use a MET of 3.5 for moderate walking on flat ground. The real value of a half-mile walk isn't the single-session calorie burn — it's the cumulative effect of replacing short car trips with walks throughout the week.
Tips for Walking Half a Mile
Half a mile is the ideal "gateway" walking distance. It requires zero preparation, no special gear, and less time than scrolling through your phone for 10 minutes.
Use it as a car replacement. Any destination within half a mile is a 10-minute walk. Pharmacy, coffee shop, convenience store, bus stop — map what's within your half-mile radius and default to walking instead of driving.
Stack multiple short walks. Two half-mile walks per day (one to a destination, one back) equals 1 mile, roughly 2,252 steps, and 10–20 minutes of moderate activity. Do this five days a week and you've hit 50–100 minutes toward the CDC's 150-minute weekly target.
Don't underestimate the mental benefit. A 10-minute walk provides a genuine cognitive reset. It's long enough to clear your head between meetings or tasks, but short enough that you never have to "find time" for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to walk half a mile on a treadmill?
At 3.0 mph, a treadmill walk of half a mile takes exactly 10 minutes. At 3.5 mph, it drops to 8 minutes 34 seconds; at 4.0 mph, just 7 minutes 30 seconds.
Treadmill times are perfectly predictable because speed is constant and there are no traffic stops. For such a short distance, there's no meaningful difference between treadmill and outdoor walking time — the main variable outdoors is interruptions, not terrain.
Is walking half a mile a day good exercise?
Half a mile per day is a solid starting point, particularly for someone currently inactive. At a moderate pace, it takes just 10 minutes and burns 40–53 calories depending on body weight (Compendium of Physical Activities formula).
By itself, a daily half-mile walk provides 70 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week — about 47% of the CDC's recommended 150 minutes. Pair it with even one longer weekend walk and you'll approach the guideline comfortably.
How many steps is half a mile?
Half a mile equals approximately 1,126 steps at a moderate 3.0 mph pace, based on ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal (2008) data. For shorter individuals (5'0"), it's closer to 1,257 steps; for taller walkers (6'4"), about 993 steps.
The general rule of thumb is 1,000–1,250 steps per half mile. At a brisk 4.0 mph pace, the count drops slightly to about 968 steps because stride length increases with speed.
How long would it take a senior to walk half a mile?
For adults aged 60–69, Bohannon & Andrews (2011) found comfortable speeds of 3.00 mph (men) and 2.77 mph (women), translating to half-mile times of 10 minutes for men and about 10 minutes 50 seconds for women. For adults aged 70–79, the walk takes about 10 minutes 38 seconds (men) and 11 minutes 52 seconds (women).
Adults over 80 typically need 13–14 minutes for half a mile. Even at the slowest comfortable speed, half a mile remains a quick, accessible distance for all age groups.
How does walking half a mile compare to running it?
A beginner runner at a 12:00 min/mile pace covers half a mile in 6 minutes — 4 minutes faster than a moderate walker. A faster runner at 8:00 min/mile finishes in just 4 minutes.
The calorie difference is modest at this distance: walking half a mile burns about 40 calories for a 150-lb person (body weight × 0.53 × 0.5), while running burns about 56 calories (body weight × 0.75 × 0.5). For a distance this short, the time savings of running may matter more than the calorie difference.
Related Pages
- How Long to Walk 1 Mile — double the distance, still under 20 minutes
- How Long to Walk 1.5 Miles — a common errand round-trip distance
- How Far Can I Walk in 10 Minutes? — the time equivalent of half a mile at moderate pace
- How Far Can I Walk in 15 Minutes? — slightly longer time window
- How Long to Run a Mile — running comparison
- Walking Time Calculator — calculate any distance
Sources Cited
- Bohannon, R.W. & Andrews, A.W. (2011). "Normal walking speed: a descriptive meta-analysis." Physiotherapy, 97(3), 182–189. PubMed: 21820535
- Bohannon, R.W. (1997). "Comfortable and maximum walking speed of adults aged 20–79 years." Age and Ageing, 26(1), 15–19. Oxford Academic
- CDC Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (2018). health.gov
- Compendium of Physical Activities — MET values. compendiumofphysicalactivities.com
- ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal (2008). Step counts per mile at various speeds.