6 Minute Walk Test Calculator

In the reference study of healthy adults aged 40 to 80, the median distance was 576 meters for men and 494 meters for women.¹ The exact number depends on your sex, age, height, and weight. Men tend to walk farther than women. Younger and taller people also tend to walk farther. Use this calculator to find the specific predicted distance for your profile.

These are two math formulas published in 1998 by researchers Enright and Sherrill. One formula is for men and one is for women:

• Men: 6MWD = (7.57 × height in cm) − (5.02 × age) − (1.76 × weight in kg) − 309
• Women: 6MWD = (2.11 × height in cm) − (2.29 × weight in kg) − (5.78 × age) + 667

They were created from data on 117 men and 173 women aged 40 to 80.¹ Other research groups have published their own reference equations, and different equations can give quite different predicted distances for the same person.³

The Lower Limit of Normal is the lowest 6 minute walk distance still considered normal for someone of your sex, age, height, and weight. It is calculated by subtracting a fixed value from the predicted distance: 153 meters for men and 139 meters for women.⁴ If a person walks less than the LLN, it may mean their physical function is below what is expected.

Percentage of predicted shows how your actual walk distance compares to the predicted distance. It is calculated as (actual distance ÷ predicted distance) × 100. A score of 100% means you walked exactly the predicted distance. Above 100% means you did better than expected. Below 100% means you walked less than expected.

Sex, age, height, and weight each affect how far healthy adults walk in six minutes.² The Enright study fitted separate equations for men and women, and the men in the study walked farther than the women.¹ The two equations weigh height differently, so the men's equation gives the higher prediction for taller adults, while the women's equation can give the higher prediction for shorter adults. For example, at age 60 and a weight of 60 kg, the women's equation predicts the longer distance for anyone shorter than about 165 cm.

Carrying more weight makes it harder for the body to move quickly over six minutes. In both the male and female equations, higher weight reduces the predicted distance. In the Enright study, heavier men and women walked shorter distances.¹

You need a flat, straight hallway of the standard length, about 30 meters (100 feet), a stopwatch or timer, two cones or markers to mark the turnaround points, a chair in case the person needs to rest, and a way to measure the distance walked.² The ATS guidelines also list a blood pressure cuff, a source of oxygen, a telephone, and a defibrillator as required equipment.² The newer ERS/ATS standard adds a pulse oximeter, worn throughout the test.³

The person walks back and forth along a flat hallway for exactly 6 minutes. They walk at their own pace and can slow down or stop to rest if needed, but the timer keeps running. At the end of 6 minutes, the total distance covered is measured. No running or jogging is allowed.

The 6MWT is commonly used for people with:

• Heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Interstitial lung disease
• Before and after lung surgery, such as lung transplantation or lung resection²
• Peripheral artery disease
• Neuromuscular disorders

It helps clinicians track how these conditions affect a person's ability to perform everyday physical tasks.

A result below the Lower Limit of Normal (LLN) suggests reduced functional capacity. A low distance is not a diagnosis on its own, because it does not point to a cause. When the distance is low, a care team looks for the reason with other tests, such as lung, heart, and muscle checks.² Very low distances are linked to a higher risk of serious health events in studies of patients with heart or lung disease.

The MCID is the smallest change in distance that is meaningful to a patient. For adults with chronic lung disease, the ERS/ATS standard puts it at about 30 meters, and says it most likely lies between 25 and 33 meters.³ That is roughly 100 feet. Most of the estimates behind these figures come from group averages in people with COPD.³ For one patient, a bigger change is needed to be sure it is real. The 2002 ATS guidelines say a person with COPD needs to improve by more than 70 meters for the change to be 95% certain.²

This depends on the clinical situation. Most tests are done before and after a treatment, such as a rehabilitation program, a medicine, or surgery.² Repeat tests should be done at about the same time of day.²

Your healthcare provider will decide the best schedule for your situation.

Yes. The person can slow down or stop to rest at any time during the test. However, the timer does not stop. Rest time counts as part of the six minutes. If the person stops, the number of stops and the total time stopped should be reported.³

The 2002 American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines say a practice test is not needed in most clinical settings but should be considered.² They note that the second walk often produces a slightly longer distance due to a learning effect. If a practice test is done, wait at least 1 hour before the second test and use the longer distance.² The newer ERS/ATS standard goes further. When the test is used to measure change over time, such as the response to a treatment, two tests should be done and the best distance recorded.³ The two tests can be on the same day if they are at least 30 minutes apart and the person's heart rate and oxygen level are back to their resting values.³