Running
How Far Is a 5K?
Updated 1 Nov 2026 · Source: NIST unit conversion factors ↗
A 5K is 5 kilometers: 5,000 meters, or 3.107 miles. Enter your pace per mile below to see how long the distance will take you.
Worked example
- 5,000 m ÷ 1,609.344 = 3.1069 miles
- 3.1069 × 10:00 per mile = 0:31:04
5K finish time by pace
| Pace per mile | Pace per km | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 | 3:44 | 0:18:38 |
| 7:00 | 4:21 | 0:21:45 |
| 8:00 | 4:58 | 0:24:51 |
| 9:00 | 5:36 | 0:27:58 |
| 10:00 | 6:13 | 0:31:04 |
| 11:00 | 6:50 | 0:34:11 |
| 12:00 | 7:27 | 0:37:17 |
| 13:00 | 8:05 | 0:40:23 |
| 14:00 | 8:42 | 0:43:30 |
| 15:00 | 9:19 | 0:46:36 |
| 16:00 | 9:57 | 0:49:43 |
| 18:00 | 11:11 | 0:55:55 |
| 20:00 | 12:26 | 1:02:08 |
5K in other units
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Miles | 3.1069 |
| Kilometers | 5.0000 |
| Meters | 5,000.0 |
| Feet | 16,404 |
| Laps of 400 m | 12.50 |
3.1 miles, to be exact
One mile is 1,609.344 meters, so 5,000 meters works out to 3.10686 miles. Race signs round it to 3.1. In feet it is 16,404, and in yards about 5,468.
On a track and around your neighborhood
A standard outdoor track measures 400 meters in the inside lane, so a 5K is 12.5 laps. Start on the far side of the track, at the 200 m point, and you will finish on the usual line. Outer lanes are longer, so stay in lane one if you are counting laps.
On roads, think of it as three miles plus about 190 yards. If you ran a route by time and pace and want to know the distance, the running distance calculator works it out.
How long a 5K takes
Your time depends on pace. At 10:00 per mile you finish in 31:04; at 12:00 per mile, 37:17. Walking at 20:00 per mile takes about 1:02:08.
In the 2014 race year, the U.S. median 5K finish was 29:47 for men and about 33:45 for women. Half of all finishers were faster and half slower, so these numbers describe the middle of the field, not a bar you have to clear. More is on average 5K time.
How a 5K compares with longer races
A 10K is exactly twice as far, at 6.214 miles. A half marathon is 13.1094 miles, about 4.2 times a 5K, and a full marathon is 26.2188 miles, about 8.4 times. That makes the 5K a sensible first race: long enough to need some training, short enough to finish after a few weeks of it.
Getting ready for a first 5K
Beginner walk-run programs from major health organizations last about 7 to 9 weeks. One large U.S. medical center suggests starting once you can exercise for about 30 minutes at a time. Our 5K training plan page covers the build-up.
Related pages
5K Pace Chart, How Long Is a Half Marathon?, Km to Mile Pace, Running Distance Calculator
Questions
Is a 5K 3 miles?
Slightly more: 3.107 miles. The extra 0.107 mile is about 190 yards.
How many laps is a 5K on a track?
12.5 laps of a 400 m track.
Can I run a 5K on a treadmill?
Yes. Set the distance to 3.11 miles. At 6 mph it takes 31:04, and the chart on this page shows the finish for other paces.
How long does it take to walk a 5K?
At 15:00 to 20:00 per mile, a 5K walk takes from about 47 minutes to just over an hour.
How we calculate: every formula, with its author and year, is on our method page; data sources and their licenses are on sources.
gymnical.com gives estimates from published formulas and public data. It is not medical advice and not a training prescription. Last reviewed November 2026.