Do You Burn More Calories Running or Walking?

There is no definitive answer as to whether running or walking burns more calories. Variables such as surface type, speed, motion and distance all affect the number of calories you burn. Walking briskly burns more calories than walking slowly because more energy is expended. Conversely, jogging slowly will burn fewer calories than running faster because less energy is required.

  1. Running

    • Running or jogging at a moderate speed will burn more calories than walking at a moderate speed over the same distance. That is because running involves the use of more muscles and energy than walking.

    Walking

    • Walking generally burns fewer calories than running when covering the same distance because walking is a more efficient way of moving. Walking can burn as much as 40 percent fewer calories than running over the same distance. However, if you jog at a very slow pace, you may burn eight calories per minute, but walking the same distance at a very fast pace can burn 15 calories per minute.

    Conclusion

    • Walking can burn more calories than running if you can walk at a faster pace. If it takes you twice as long to walk a certain distance than to run, you can burn about the same amount of calories. But if you walk for 30 minutes or run for 30 minutes, running will burn more calories. So running will burn more calories over the same distance if walking and running paces are comparable.