Walking a mile generally burns about 100 calories for an average person weighing between 150 and 180 pounds. However, the exact number depends on factors such as body weight, walking speed, terrain, and intensity. Calories burned walking 1 mile by weight and pace:
- At a moderate pace (~3.5 mph):
- 100 lbs: ~60 calories
- 150 lbs: ~77-96 calories
- 190 lbs: ~113 calories
- 220 lbs: ~131 calories
- 250 lbs: ~149 calories
- 280 lbs: ~167 calories
- At a faster pace (~4.5 mph):
- 100 lbs: ~67 calories
- 150 lbs: ~87-108 calories
- 190 lbs: ~128 calories
- 220 lbs: ~148 calories
- 250 lbs: ~168 calories
- 280 lbs: ~188 calories
- Walking uphill increases calorie burn further, for example, a 150-pound person burns about 95 to 108 calories per mile uphill depending on speed
Additional notes:
- The speed of walking affects how quickly you burn calories but not the total calories burned per mile. Walking faster burns calories at a higher rate per minute, but the total calories per mile remain roughly the same
- Terrain and intensity (such as walking uphill) increase calorie expenditure because your body works harder
- For a rough estimate, walking burns about 50 calories per 10 minutes, so a mile taking about 20 minutes burns roughly 100 calories for an average-weight person
In summary, walking a mile burns approximately 60 to 170 calories depending mainly on your weight and walking conditions, with 100 calories per mile being a useful general benchmark for an average adult.
