How to Convert Stair Climbing to Miles

Climbing stairs, whether in a building or on a stair-climber machine, is a healthy way to lose weight and increase your cardiovascular activity. Climbing stairs is not only good for your heart, but also builds lean muscle and strength due to the lifting of your own body weight with each step climbed. This allows you to lose weight and tone your lower body. Climbing stairs or using a stair climber set at a light to moderate pace is a moderate-intensity exercise recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Convert stairs into miles to see how far you are climbing.

Close-up of jogger running up stairs. (Image: lzf/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Count the number of steps your are climbing and multiply it by 17, which is the standard number of inches for most steps. This is number if inches you are climbing.

Step 2

Convert miles into inches. One mile is equal to 63,360 inches.

Step 3

Compare the number of inches of stairs you have climbed to the inches in a mile to see how far you have climbed.

Tip

An example of this equation would be if you climbed 400 steps, it would be 6,800 inches. Compare that number to the 63,360 inches of a mile. While this may seem like a low number, keep in mind that climbing stairs if a strenuous workout that requires you to lift your own body weight, one foot at a time. This is a strength training workout that can be done slowly to burn fat and build lean muscle, or be used as a cardiovascular exercise by climbing at a brisk pace, followed by points of rest.

Warning

Consult a physician prior to partaking in an exercise regimen. Stretch before and after every workout to prevent strains and injuries.