What is the average normal step length?

What is the average normal step length?

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

Answer: (B)

Step length is the distance between the heel strike of one foot and the heel strike of the other foot during walking. For an average adult, this distance is about 0.6 to 0.8 meters, with many references citing roughly 0.72 meters. So 72 cm best represents the average normal step length. The other numbers fall outside this typical range: 18 cm is far too short for a natural step, 110 cm is longer than a usual step and more like a stride, and 1.37 cm is far too small to measure a step.

Step length is the distance between the heel strike of one foot and the heel strike of the other foot during walking. For an average adult, this distance is about 0.6 to 0.8 meters, with many references citing roughly 0.72 meters. So 72 cm best represents the average normal step length. The other numbers fall outside this typical range: 18 cm is far too short for a natural step, 110 cm is longer than a usual step and more like a stride, and 1.37 cm is far too small to measure a step.