how fast can the average person run

The average person can usually jog around 6–8 mph and sprint about 12–15 mph if they’re untrained, with fit adults often reaching 15–20 mph in a short burst. For a quick real-world benchmark, a typical 100-meter sprint time of about 15 seconds works out to roughly 14.2 mph.

Quick Scoop

• Casual running/jogging: about 6–8 mph.

• Untrained sprinting: about 12–15 mph.

• Physically active adults sprinting: about 15–20 mph.

• Elite sprinters: can exceed 27 mph in short bursts.

What “average” means

There isn’t one exact number, because speed changes a lot by distance, fitness, age, and sex. Short sprints are much faster than long-distance running, so “average person running speed” can mean either a jogging pace or a burst sprint depending on context.

Easy way to picture it

If someone says they “run normally,” they’re often closer to a 9:00–10:00 per mile pace or 6–8 mph. If they’re sprinting hard for a short distance, 12–15 mph is a reasonable everyday estimate for an untrained person.

If you want, I can also give you the answer in km/h or compare it to walking, jogging, and sprinting in a small table.