How Many Calories Does a 5-Mile-a-Day Walk Burn?

Walking 5 miles a day can be time consuming, but it's an effective way to stay active, relieve stress and get a low-impact workout that burns calories. Depending on how fast you walk and how much you weigh, you could burn upwards of 500 calories on a daily stroll.

Walking faster will burn more calories over a set period of time, but it won't make much difference if you're going for distance rather than speed. That is, if you were going to walk for 90 minutes every day, you'd burn more calories walking at a speed of 4 mph than at 2 mph, but you'd burn a similar number of total calories if you went for five miles at either speed, even though it would take you longer at the slower pace.

Larger people burn more calories. Your weight matters, at least when you're calculating how useful your workout is. For instance, a 125-lb. person who walks for 30 minutes at 3.5 mph burns about 125 calories, but a 185-lb. person who does the same walk burns about 178 calories.

Of course, your physical condition also matters. A lighter person who is out of shape may burn more calories than a heavier person who is in peak physical condition. This is because the lighter, less fit person has to work a lot harder.

Read more: 6 Ways to Burn More Calories by Walking

The length of time needed to complete your 5-mile walk depends on the speed you average along the route. A 5-mile walk can burn a few hundred calories, depending on your speed.

If you're short on time but still want to meet your 5-mile goal, increase your pace. It's typically possible to walk briskly, without running, up to about 4.5 mph.

There are plenty of ways to burn more calories on a daily 5-mile walk. One option is to strap on light wrist, hand or ankle weights. That will add resistance to your movements and increase your total calorie burn.

According to health and fitness expert Cedric X. Bryant on the American Council on Exercise website, using 1- to 3-lb. wrist weights during walking increases heart rate by five to 10 beats per minute and boosts calorie burn by 5 to 15 percent. If you choose to wear wrist or ankle weights, keep them at 3 lbs. or lighter to avoid muscle strain and injury.

Walking up hills instead of on flat terrain significantly increases calorie burn. The large muscle groups in your legs have to work much harder, thus your body's oxygen and energy needs increase. You can also step up part of your walk to a jog, which can burn double the number of calories that walking does.

Read more: Is Walking Good Exercise?