A mile takes about 2,000 steps if each step covers about 2.64 feet. That is an example, and your number depends on how far you move with each footfall. A shorter step takes more footfalls to cover the same mile.

A mile is 5,280 feet. Divide that by your average step length in feet. For example, a 2.4-foot step gives 2,200 steps per mile, while a 3-foot step gives 1,760. Use one footfall as one step. A full stride from one foot back to that same foot covers two steps.

Walk a measured 200 feet at your normal pace and count your steps. If you count 80, your average step is 2.5 feet and your estimated mile is 2,112 steps. Repeat the walk a few times and average the counts. Start walking before the marker if you want to measure your usual pace without including the first short steps from a standstill.

Record the starting step count on your watch, walk a marked mile, and subtract the starting count from the finishing count. Try it once at an easy pace and once briskly. Keep each result for that pace, especially if you use a step goal to estimate distance over several walks.