There is no definitive answer to how many steps per day is enough, as it may depend on your individual goals, fitness level, and health conditions. However, some general guidelines are:
- The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or roughly 1.5 to 2 miles1
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking1
- For general fitness, most adults should aim for 10,000 steps per day, with fewer than 5,000 steps being a sign of a sedentary lifestyle2
- For weight loss, some research suggests that increasing your steps by 2,000 per day can lead to some modest weight loss2
- For health benefits, some studies indicate that the benefits level off before 10,000 steps per day, and that lower targets may be reasonable. For those aged up to 60 years, walking 8,000–10,000 steps a day may be enough to maintain health. After the age of 60, 6,000–8,000 appears to be sufficient3
