Half Marathon Time Calculator
Predict your half marathon finish time from your pace, a recent 5K or 10K, or a run-walk strategy. See how your time compares by age and gender.
Pace to Finish Time
Enter your running pace to calculate your half marathon finish time
Half Marathon Finish Time
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Half Marathon Finish Time by Pace
Quick reference table showing half marathon finish times for common running paces. Find your usual training pace and see what that translates to over 13.1 miles.
Average Half Marathon Time by Age and Gender
These averages come from analyzing hundreds of thousands of half marathon results across major races. Find your age group to see how the average runner in your bracket performs.
Is My Half Marathon Time Good?
Compare your finish time to the general half marathon population. These percentiles are based on aggregated race results and give you a sense of where you stand among all finishers.
Predicted Half Marathon Time by Fitness Level
Not sure which recent race time to plug into the predictor above? This table maps a recent 5K time and a rough training profile to the half marathon range you would expect from the Riegel formula. Use it to sanity check the calculator result or to set a first goal if you have not raced a half marathon before. If you are starting from zero, our half marathon training guide walks through building up to this distance safely.
First half marathon, likely using run-walk intervals for at least part of the distance. The Riegel prediction assumes trained endurance, so expect to land slower than this if the half marathon is your longest run to date.
Runs 2 to 3 times per week, comfortable finishing but not chasing a specific time goal.
Runs consistently, has completed at least one half marathon, training includes some structured workouts.
Follows a structured plan with tempo runs and intervals, racing to a specific goal time.
High weekly mileage, dedicated speed work, often has multiple half marathons under their belt.
Watch: Turning Your Predicted Time Into a Pacing Strategy
A predicted finish time is only useful once it becomes a mile-by-mile plan. This video walks through how to pace a half marathon so you actually hit the number the calculator gave you, instead of blowing up in the final miles.
Reading and Using Your Predicted Time
How should I actually read my predicted time?
Treat the predicted time as a ceiling, not a floor. It represents what you could run today if your endurance for 13.1 miles were as developed as your endurance for the shorter distance you entered. If your longest recent run is under 8 miles, build in a cushion of 5 to 10 minutes, because the last third of the race is where an undertrained endurance base shows up.
How does training change the prediction over time?
The prediction moves as your input race time moves. Run a faster 5K after a block of speed work and the predicted half marathon time drops with it. But the number only becomes reliable once your weekly mileage and long run distance have caught up. A runner who cuts their 5K time by 90 seconds through interval work alone, without extending their long run, will usually undershoot the predicted half marathon time on race day.
What causes the biggest variance between predicted and actual race day time?
Three factors move the needle the most: pacing discipline in the first 3 miles (starting too fast is the single most common way runners miss their predicted time), race day temperature and humidity, and course elevation. A hilly, warm half marathon can add 5 to 15 minutes to a flat, cool-weather prediction even when fitness is identical. Get ahead of the parts you can control with our race day checklist and pre-race fueling guide.
A Worked Example
Illustrative example, not a guarantee of results
Say a runner recently finished a 10K in 52:30 and has been consistently running four times a week, including one long run that has reached 9 miles. Plugging 52:30 into the predict-from-race mode gives a Riegel estimate of roughly 1:55:50, which lines up with the "regular runner" row in the table above.
Because their long run has only reached 9 miles, not the full 13.1, they build in a small buffer and set a race goal of 1:57:00, about 8:56 per mile. On race day they start 10 to 15 seconds per mile slower than goal pace for the first 3 miles to avoid the early-race adrenaline trap the Q&A above describes, then settle into goal pace through the middle miles, and allow themselves to slow slightly in the final 2 miles if needed. That plan protects the finish rather than gambling it on an exact prediction. A structured plan like our sub 2 hour half marathon training plan would extend that long run over the following weeks to close the gap between prediction and race-ready fitness.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator predicts your half marathon finish time in three ways. The pace-to-time mode multiplies your pace per mile (or km) by the half marathon distance of 13.1094 miles. Simple math, but essential for setting realistic goals.
The race prediction mode uses the Riegel formula (T2 = T1 x (D2/D1)^1.06), which is the gold standard for estimating performance across distances. It accounts for the natural slowdown that occurs as race distance increases. A 25-minute 5K runner will not run at the same pace for a half marathon because fatigue compounds over longer distances.
The walk break calculator is unique to this tool. It calculates your effective pace by weighting the time you spend running versus walking, then applies that effective pace to the full 13.1 miles. This is valuable for runners using the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run method or anyone planning to take walk breaks through water stations.
For pace-focused calculations and mile-by-mile split tables, check out our half marathon pace calculator. For predictions across all race distances, use our race pace calculator.
Your Predicted Time Can Claim Real Ground
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MoteraFrequently Asked Questions
What is the average half marathon finish time?
The average half marathon finish time across all ages and genders is approximately 2:01 to 2:05. For men, the average is around 1:55 to 2:00. For women, the average is around 2:10 to 2:15. These averages come from large race datasets and vary by course, weather, and the competitive level of the event.
Can I walk during a half marathon and still finish?
Absolutely. Many half marathon runners use a run-walk strategy. A common approach is running for 4 minutes and walking for 1 minute. This typically adds 10 to 20 percent to your finish time compared to running the entire way, but it reduces fatigue and muscle damage significantly. Most half marathons have a time limit of 3.5 to 4 hours, which allows plenty of room for walk breaks.
How accurate is predicting a half marathon from a 5K time?
The Riegel formula is accurate to within 2 to 5 percent for most trained runners. The prediction assumes you have trained adequately for the half marathon distance. If you only train for 5K distances, your actual half marathon time will likely be slower than the prediction because your endurance base will not be developed enough for 13.1 miles.
Is a 2-hour half marathon good?
A 2:00 half marathon is a solid achievement that puts you in roughly the top 40 to 50 percent of all half marathon finishers. It requires an average pace of 9:09 per mile, which is very achievable for runners who train consistently for 3 to 4 months. For many runners, breaking 2 hours is their first major half marathon milestone.
What is a good half marathon time for my age?
Performance varies significantly by age group. A 25-year-old male running 1:45 is performing at a similar relative level as a 55-year-old male running 2:05. The age and gender table on this page shows average times by decade. Use it to find where you stand relative to your peers rather than comparing to the overall average.
How do I calculate my half marathon time from my pace?
Multiply your pace per mile by 13.1094 (the half marathon distance in miles). For example, at 9:00 per mile, your finish time is 9 x 13.1094 = 117.98 minutes, or about 1:58:00. If using kilometers, multiply your pace per km by 21.0975. The calculator on this page does this automatically.
Should I use a walk break strategy for my first half marathon?
Yes, this is a smart strategy for first-time half marathon runners. The Jeff Galloway method recommends run-walk intervals from the very start (not just when you get tired). Popular ratios include 4:1 (run 4 minutes, walk 1), 3:1, or 2:1. Starting with walk breaks from mile 1 keeps your heart rate lower and saves your legs for the final miles.
