Garmin Steps Auto-Goal - how it works

Garmin devices track the number of steps you walk each day and automatically calculate a goal for the next day. This is how it works.

Garmin Steps: Auto-Goal calculation

Exceeding your Step Goal

On a day where you exceed your step goal, if your current goal is less than 7,500, then 25% of the number of steps by which you exceed the goal is added to tomorrow's step goal, subject to a maximum increase of 6%.

If your current step goal is between 7,500 and 10,000 steps, then 15% of the number of steps by which you exceed the goal is added to the step goal for the next day, subject to a maximum increase of 4%.

If your current step goal is above 10,000 steps, then 5% of the number of steps by which you exceed the goal is added to the step goal for the next day, subject to a maximum increase of 2%.

In summary, the next day's Garmin auto-goal for steps is increased as follows:

• Goal < 7,500 steps: add 25% of the excess, 6% max
• Goal 7,500 to 10,000 steps: add 15% of the excess, 4% max
• Goal > 10,000 steps: add 5% of the excess, 2% max

Missing your goal

When you do not reach your step goal for one day, 5% of the number of steps by which you missed it is deducted from your goal for the next day. For subsequent days, 35% of the number of steps by which you miss the goal is deducted. The maximum changes are 5% in a day for goals less than 10,000 steps and 7.5% for goals more than that.