How does Incense work?

The item "Incense" has the description:

Incense with a mysterious fragrance that lures wild Pokémon to your location for 30 minutes.

Does this mean that if I stay still, over the next 30 mins Pokémon will come to me, rather than me walking around to find them?


This is a part from game code that defines how incense works.

Simply, it spawns 1 Pokémon when you walk 200 meters (1 minute minimum between 200m movement spawns) or wait every 5 minute while not moving.

You can stay still and get 6 Pokémon, or get up to 30 Pokémon by moving.

Info from game code


In your Bag you start out with two Incenses. These attract Pokémon to your trainer – you get an encounter roughly every five minutes. Each incense lasts for half an hour, and you don’t have to walk around to get encounters to happen with the Incense!

Saw this on a Pokémon go tips page so, I'm assuming if you do stand still you'll encounter a few Pokémon.