Hiking Time Calculator
Estimate how long a hike takes with Naismith's rule — an hour for every 5 km plus an hour for every 600 m of climb — with an allowance for breaks.
How long the walk will take, counting the climb.
How the hiking time calculator works
William Naismith's 1892 rule remains the standard planning estimate for walkers: allow one hour for every 5 km of distance and add one hour for every 600 m of ascent. It suits a reasonably fit walker on decent paths; the calculator lets you set your own flat pace in Detailed mode and adds a break allowance.
Descent, rough ground, heavy packs and heat all slow you down and the rule ignores them, so use it as a floor for planning and add margin on hard terrain.
Formula: time = distance ÷ 5 km/h + ascent ÷ 600 m/h + breaks
Worked examples
| Inputs | Estimated time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 12 km, 600 m ascent | 3:54:00 | 2:24 + 1:00 + 30 min breaks |
| 20 km, 1,200 m ascent | 6:30:00 | a full mountain day |
| 7.5 miles, 2,000 ft | 3:00:58 | imperial inputs |
| 12 km, 600 m, at 4 km/h | 4:30:00 | a slower group in Detailed mode |
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is Naismith's rule?
A planning rule from 1892: one hour per 5 km (3 miles) of distance plus one hour per 600 m (2,000 ft) of ascent. It is still the basis of most route-card estimates.
Does it account for going downhill?
No. Gentle descents are faster than flat; steep ones are slower. Corrections exist (Langmuir's), but on mixed terrain they roughly cancel — add margin for very steep or loose descents.
How much should I add for a heavy pack or heat?
Common practice is 10–20% for a multi-day pack and more in heat or snow. Set a slower flat pace in Detailed mode to model it.
Is the rule fast or slow?
It matches a fit walker on paths. Groups, photographers and families move slower — 4 km/h flat is a realistic group pace.
Where these figures come from
- Riegel PS, "Athletic records and human endurance", American Scientist 1981 — T2 = T1 × (D2 ÷ D1)^1.06
- Cooper KH, "A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake", JAMA 1968 — the 12-minute run test
- Ainsworth BE et al., Compendium of Physical Activities (2024 update) — MET values by activity
- OpenPowerlifting — DOTS coefficients (Tim Konertz, 2019) — the DOTS polynomial used for scoring
- Naismith's rule (1892) as used by UK and Australian walking bodies — 1 hour per 5 km plus 1 hour per 600 m of ascent
- Australian Institute of Sport — national sports-science body
Last checked: September 2026. Formulas are fixed by their published sources; the MET values come from the Compendium of Physical Activities.