How We Compare
Cycling MET at 16 km/h ≈ 6.0; walking at 5 km/h ≈ 3.5.
Same formula: Calories = MET × kg × hours. Cycling wins per hour because MET is higher.
Weight-bearing matters: walking loads the skeleton (bone-density signal); cycling doesn't.
Bone density & posture
Weight-bearing activity like walking triggers osteoblast activity — cycling doesn't. If you're over 40 or peri-menopausal, walking has an edge on skeletal health.
Time efficiency
Cycling covers ~4× the distance per hour. If your goal is calories-per-minute or exploring the countryside, cycling wins.
Injury profile
Cycling is very low-impact but can cause knee/back issues if the fit is poor. Walking is nearly injury-proof at low volumes.
Walking vs Cycling — 1 Hour
| Weight | Walk kcal | Cycle kcal (mod.) | Cycle kcal (vig.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg | 193 | 330 | 495 |
| 70 kg | 245 | 420 | 630 |
| 85 kg | 298 | 510 | 765 |
| 100 kg | 350 | 600 | 900 |
Walking MET 3.5; moderate cycling MET 6.0; vigorous cycling MET 9.0.
How we calculate this (worked example)
Every figure on this page is produced by the same calculation engine as the calculator above — no hardcoded numbers. Here is the full arithmetic for 10,000 steps at 70 kg (154 lbs), moderate pace, flat ground.
- Distance: 10,000 steps × 0.74 m ÷ 1,000 = 7.40 km (4.60 miles)
- Walking time: 7.40 km ÷ 5 km/h × 60 = 1h 29m (89 minutes)
- Calories: 3.5 MET × 70 kg × 3.5 ÷ 200 × 89 min = 381 kcal
- Per step: 381 kcal ÷ 10,000 steps = 0.038 kcal per step
10,000 steps by body weight
| Body weight | Distance | Walking time | Calories burned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg (121 lbs) | 7.40 km (4.60 mi) | 1h 29m | 299 kcal |
| 70 kg (154 lbs) | 7.40 km (4.60 mi) | 1h 29m | 381 kcal |
| 85 kg (187 lbs) | 7.40 km (4.60 mi) | 1h 29m | 462 kcal |
| 100 kg (220 lbs) | 7.40 km (4.60 mi) | 1h 29m | 544 kcal |
Distance and time are identical across weights (7.4 km at 0.74 m stride) because only energy expenditure scales with body mass.
Definitions
- Step
- One single footfall. Two steps make one full stride cycle, so a pedometer counting 10,000 steps records 5,000 complete left-right cycles.
- Stride length
- The horizontal distance covered by one step, measured heel-to-heel. We use 0.74 m (2.43 ft) as the average adult value, or 0.415 × height in cm for men and 0.413 × height for women.
- Walking distance
- Steps × stride length. Distance in kilometres = (steps × stride in metres) ÷ 1,000; miles = kilometres × 0.621371.
- Calories burned
- Energy expenditure estimated with the MET equation: kcal = MET × weight (kg) × 3.5 ÷ 200 × minutes. Moderate walking at 5 km/h is MET 3.5.
- Walking time
- Distance ÷ walking speed. At the 5 km/h baseline, one kilometre takes 12 minutes and one mile takes about 19 minutes.
- Cadence
- Steps per minute. A moderate 5 km/h pace corresponds to roughly 100–110 steps per minute; brisk walking is 120+ steps per minute.
Assumptions and rounding rules
| Parameter | Default | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Stride length | 0.74 m (2.43 ft) | Average adult; overridden by your height or entered stride |
| Walking pace | 5 km/h (3.1 mph) | Moderate, flat ground; reduced 20% on hills and 30% on trails |
| MET value | 3.50 | Flat terrain, moderate fitness; +0.1 MET per 1% incline |
| Body weight | 70 kg (154 lbs) | Reference weight for examples; your input replaces it |
| Distance rounding | 2 decimals (km and miles) | Rounded for display only — full precision is used in the maths |
| Calorie rounding | Nearest whole kcal | Rounded at the last step, never mid-calculation |
| Step rounding | Nearest whole step | Reverse calculations round to the nearest integer step |
Limitations
- All results are estimates, not measurements. MET-based calorie models typically fall within ±10–20% of indirect calorimetry for an individual.
- Individual differences in gait efficiency, age, body composition and fitness change actual energy cost at the same speed.
- Terrain, surface softness, wind and altitude are only partly captured by the terrain and incline settings.
- Stride length varies with pace, footwear and fatigue; a single average stride cannot represent a whole walk.
- Pedometers and phone accelerometers miscount steps by roughly 5–15%, especially at slow speeds or when carried in a bag.
- Figures describe activity energy expenditure only and exclude resting metabolism, so they should not be subtracted twice from a daily budget.
Method: stride-based distance plus the MET equation from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al.). Results are estimates — see our estimation disclaimer.
Key takeaway
Cycling wins on calories per hour and distance; walking wins on steps, bone density, and near-zero injury risk. Both together is best.
Want your exact number?
Real-Life Scenarios
The commuter
Cycling saves time and torches calories, but adds no steps. Consider mixed weeks (bike 3 days, walk 4).
The 55-year-old
Walking + 2 strength sessions/week beats cycling-only for bone density and balance.
The knee-sensitive walker
Cycling is ideal on flare-up days — cardio benefit without joint load.
In summary: Cycling wins on calories per hour and distance; walking wins on steps, bone density, and near-zero injury risk. Both together is best.