What is the approximate normal step length?

What is the approximate normal step length?

• A. 18 cm
• B. 110 cm
• C. 72 cm
• D. 1.37 cm

Answer: (C)

Step length is the distance between the heel strike of one foot and the heel strike of the opposite foot. For a typical adult, it’s about 0.6 to 0.75 meters, which is roughly 60–75 cm. That places the usual step length near 72 cm. The other numbers are not plausible for a normal step: 18 cm is far too short, 110 cm would be longer than a typical step, and 1.37 cm is far too small to be a walking step. So 72 cm best fits the normal range.

Step length is the distance between the heel strike of one foot and the heel strike of the opposite foot. For a typical adult, it’s about 0.6 to 0.75 meters, which is roughly 60–75 cm. That places the usual step length near 72 cm. The other numbers are not plausible for a normal step: 18 cm is far too short, 110 cm would be longer than a typical step, and 1.37 cm is far too small to be a walking step. So 72 cm best fits the normal range.