{
  "id": "running-cadence",
  "version": "94fe65f4019a",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Running Cadence Calculator",
  "question": "What is my running cadence?",
  "summary": "Computes running cadence in steps per minute from a step count, and the step length, stride length and steps per mile or kilometer from cadence and pace.",
  "category": "sports",
  "subcategory": "running",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/sports/running-cadence-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/sports/running-cadence-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "cadence = steps × 60 ÷ seconds; step length = (meters per mile or km) × 60 ÷ (cadence × pace in seconds); stride = 2 × step.",
  "assumptions": [
    "A step is one foot landing; a stride is two steps (the same foot landing again).",
    "Step length is the average over the pace you type, on level ground.",
    "1 mile = 1,609.344 m and 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly (NIST)."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "known": {
        "title": "I know",
        "description": "Whether you counted steps over a time, or already know your cadence in steps per minute.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "steps",
          "cadence"
        ]
      },
      "steps": {
        "title": "Steps counted",
        "description": "Steps counted with both feet over the counting time (count one foot and double it if easier).",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 100000
      },
      "sec": {
        "title": "Counting time (seconds)",
        "description": "How long you counted for, in seconds: 15, 30 or 60 are common.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 86400
      },
      "spm": {
        "title": "Cadence (steps per minute)",
        "description": "Your cadence: steps per minute with both feet.",
        "type": "number",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 400
      },
      "per": {
        "title": "Pace per",
        "description": "Whether the pace is the time per mile or per kilometer.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "mi",
          "km"
        ]
      },
      "pm": {
        "title": "Pace minutes",
        "description": "The minutes part of your pace per mile or kilometer.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 99
      },
      "ps": {
        "title": "Pace seconds",
        "description": "The seconds part of your pace, from 0 to under 60.",
        "type": "number",
        "minimum": 0,
        "exclusiveMaximum": 60
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "spm": {
      "label": "Cadence",
      "description": "Steps per minute: steps counted × 60 ÷ seconds counted.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "stepCm": {
      "label": "Step length (cm)",
      "description": "Distance per step, one foot to the other: speed ÷ cadence.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "stepIn": {
      "label": "Step length (in)",
      "description": "The step length in inches.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "strideCm": {
      "label": "Stride length (cm)",
      "description": "Distance per stride, one foot to the same foot again: 2 × step length.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "strideIn": {
      "label": "Stride length (in)",
      "description": "The stride length in inches.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "stepsPer": {
      "label": "Steps per mile or km",
      "description": "Steps for each mile or kilometer of the pace: cadence × pace in minutes.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "mph": {
      "label": "Speed (mph)",
      "description": "Running speed in miles per hour, from the pace.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "kmh": {
      "label": "Speed (km/h)",
      "description": "Running speed in kilometers per hour, from the pace.",
      "format": "number"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "known": "steps",
      "steps": 43,
      "sec": 15,
      "spm": 170,
      "per": "mi",
      "pm": 9,
      "ps": 0
    },
    "outputs": {
      "spm": 172,
      "stepCm": 103.96279069767442,
      "stepIn": 40.93023255813954,
      "strideCm": 207.92558139534884,
      "strideIn": 81.86046511627907,
      "stepsPer": 1548,
      "mph": 6.666666666666667,
      "kmh": 10.72896
    },
    "text": "Your cadence is 172 steps per minute, with a step length of 104 cm."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "known": "steps",
        "steps": 43,
        "sec": 15,
        "per": "mi",
        "pm": 9,
        "ps": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "spm": 172,
        "stepCm": 103.96279069767442,
        "stepIn": 40.93023255813954,
        "strideCm": 207.92558139534884,
        "stepsPer": 1548,
        "mph": 6.666666666666667,
        "kmh": 10.72896
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: 43 × 60 ÷ 15 = 172; 1,609.344 × 60 ÷ (172 × 540) = 1.0396 m; Python 3: Fraction; NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Appendix B.8: 1 mi = 1,609.344 m and 1 in = 0.0254 m exactly. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "known": "cadence",
        "spm": 180,
        "per": "km",
        "pm": 5,
        "ps": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "spm": 180,
        "stepCm": 111.11111111111111,
        "strideCm": 222.22222222222223,
        "stepsPer": 900,
        "kmh": 12
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: 1,000 m ÷ (180 × 5) steps = 1.1111 m per step; 12 km/h; Python 3: Fraction"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "known": "steps",
        "steps": 81,
        "sec": 30,
        "per": "km",
        "pm": 6,
        "ps": 30.5
      },
      "expect": {
        "spm": 162,
        "stepsPer": 1054.35,
        "stepCm": 94.84516526770048
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: 81 × 60 ÷ 30 = 162; 162 × 390.5 ÷ 60 = 1,054.35; 1,000 × 60 ÷ (162 × 390.5) = 0.9485 m; Python 3: Fraction"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "Heiderscheit BC, Chumanov ES, Michalski MP, Wille CM, Ryan MB. Effects of step rate manipulation on joint mechanics during running. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(2):296–302 (step rate in steps per minute; +5% and +10% step rate). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3022995/ (retrieved 2026-10-19)",
    "NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Appendix B.8: 1 mi = 1,609.344 m and 1 in = 0.0254 m exactly. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811 (retrieved 2026-10-19)"
  ],
  "related": [
    "pace",
    "vdot"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}