How Is Distance Calculated, and How Does It Relate to Steps?

Two separate readings, not one converted into the other

It's easy to assume Welly takes your step count and works out a distance from it, using some fixed rule like "1,000 steps = 0.8km". That's not what happens. Steps and distance are two separate figures reported to Welly by your connected wearable, phone or health app (for example Apple Health, Health Connect, Garmin or Fitbit), and each one is calculated by that device, not by Welly.

Because of this, you might occasionally see a day with steps recorded but no distance, or two people with an identical step count showing different distances. Both are expected, and come down to how your specific device works out distance, not an error in your Welly numbers.

How your wearable or phone works out distance

Most phones and wearables count steps using a motion sensor, then estimate distance by multiplying your step count by an assumed step length. That step length isn't the same for everyone; it's based on things like your height, and on platforms like Apple Health and Health Connect it's refined over time using GPS, so your device gradually learns your own average step length rather than using a generic figure for everyone.

When GPS is available, for example during an outdoor walk or run with location tracking on, your device can measure distance directly from your route rather than estimating it from steps at all. This is generally more accurate, which is one of the reasons a GPS-tracked run often looks a little different, distance-wise, to a day of steps around the office.

Why steps and distance won't convert at a fixed rate

Because distance depends on your own step length rather than a single formula, the same number of steps can produce a different distance for two different members, and even a different distance for the same member on two different days, depending on things like walking pace, terrain, or whether GPS was used. This is normal. Distance reflects your own movement as measured by your device, not a generic conversion applied by Welly.

Distance is always shown in kilometres

Whatever unit your device natively records in, Welly always displays distance in kilometres. See Understanding How Your Data Is Processed for more on how Welly brings data from different wearables into one consistent format.

What this means for Challenges

Some Challenges score on Steps, others score on Distance, and organisers choose which one applies. Because these are two independent totals rather than one being derived from the other, your ranking on a Steps-based Challenge and a Distance-based Challenge won't necessarily match, even if you've been just as active in both. If you're not seeing distance for an activity you know you completed, check that your wearable connection is active and that the activity has finished syncing from your device.