Free calculator

Walking Calorie Calculator

Work out how many calories you burn walking, based on your weight, pace and duration — the most sustainable way to build a calorie deficit.

How walking calories are calculated

This calculator uses the MET method — the same approach used in exercise physiology research.

A MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) is a multiple of your resting energy use. Sitting quietly is 1 MET; brisk walking is about 3.5 METs. The equation is:

calories/min = MET × 3.5 × weight(kg) / 200

MET values for walking

PaceSpeedMET
Slow stroll3.2 km/h2.8
Easy4.0 km/h3.0
Moderate / brisk4.8 km/h3.5
Brisk5.6 km/h4.3
Fast6.4 km/h5.0
Power walk7.2 km/h7.0

Why bodyweight matters so much

Calories burned scale almost linearly with mass, because you are moving that mass. A 90 kg person burns roughly 29% more than a 70 kg person over the identical walk. This is also why calorie burn slowly declines as you lose weight.

Walking is underrated for fat loss

Walking barely dents your recovery capacity, so you can do it daily without compromising harder training. A brisk 45-minute walk burns roughly 180–250 kcal for most adults — repeated six days a week that is over 1,200 kcal, without any of the fatigue of high-intensity work.

Trakon's walking tracker records this automatically from your phone's GPS, so distance, pace and calories are logged without manual entry.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories does walking 10,000 steps burn?
For most adults 10,000 steps is roughly 7–8 km and burns approximately 300–500 kcal, depending heavily on bodyweight and pace. A 60 kg person may burn nearer 300 kcal while a 95 kg person can exceed 500 kcal for the same step count.
How many calories are burned walking 1 km?
A useful rule of thumb is about 0.5 kcal per kg of bodyweight per kilometre. A 70 kg person burns roughly 35 kcal per km walked, so a 5 km walk is around 175 kcal.
Is walking or running better for weight loss?
Running burns more calories per minute, but walking is easier to sustain daily, carries far lower injury risk and interferes less with recovery. For total weekly calorie burn and long-term adherence, consistent walking often wins.
Does walking uphill burn more calories?
Considerably more. A moderate incline can raise energy cost by 30–50%, and steep hills or stairs can nearly double it at the same pace. Adding hills is one of the most efficient ways to increase burn without walking longer.
Do fitness apps overestimate walking calories?
Sometimes. Estimates derived from GPS distance and bodyweight are usually reasonable, but any figure carries a 10–20% margin. Use the number for tracking trends and consistency rather than treating it as exact.

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