Elevator vs. Stairs

That elevator wait might cost more than you think. Let's calculate the break-even floor.

Live Preview

🛗 Elevator

4🏁

⏳waiting...

61s

🏃 Stairs

4🏁

3╱╲

2╱╲

1╱╲

🏃

60s

Stairs faster by

Wait penalty

45s

Floors to travel4

Elevator Route

Wait Time (Seconds)45s

Stairs Route

Time per floor walking (Seconds)15s

🚶 The Activity Illusion

Taking the stairs feels faster because you are actively doing something. Standing still waiting for an elevator makes time feel dilated and slower, even if it mathematically wins.

📊 Break Even Point

Unless you're going up more than 5 floors, or the elevator wait exceeds a minute, the stairs are practically always faster. Bonus: you save your time and your heart.