The joke's real. The math is too.
"Scientifically vibes-based" is a bit — the underlying calculation isn't. Here's exactly what happens between you typing two places and getting a step count.
1. We find the actual walking route
We don't measure distance as the crow flies. Two points that look close on a map can be separated by a river, a highway, or a one-way street system that adds real distance. We pull the walking-route distance between your two points — the path a person would actually take on foot — not a straight line.
2. We convert distance to steps
Step count depends on step length, and step length depends mostly on height. We use a standard average for adults, then convert:
The average adult step length falls in a fairly narrow band — roughly 2.2 to 2.6 feet, depending mostly on height and somewhat on gender. That works out to approximately 2,000–2,200 steps per mile for most adults walking at a comfortable pace.
| Height | Approx. step length |
|---|---|
| 5'0" | ~2.1 ft |
| 5'5" | ~2.3 ft |
| 5'9" (avg.) | ~2.4 ft |
| 6'0" | ~2.5 ft |
| 6'4" | ~2.6 ft |
Figures reflect commonly cited averages for comfortable-pace walking on flat ground. Your actual step length varies with pace, terrain, footwear, and, frankly, mood.
3. We round, and we mean it
Every number on this site is an estimate built on population averages, not a measurement of your specific legs. If you want your real number, measure your own step length: walk a known distance (a running track works well), count your steps, divide. Use that number instead of ours.
Questions about the math, or think we've got a route distance wrong? Let us know.