Carbon Emissions Calculator

About this calculator

Knowing a car trip's carbon footprint requires more than distance alone, it depends on how much fuel the trip actually burns and how much CO₂ that specific fuel releases when combusted, numbers most people don't have memorized or ready to multiply. This calculator first works out fuel used (distance divided by fuel efficiency), then multiplies by an emission factor specific to the fuel type, roughly 2.31 kg CO₂ per litre for petrol, 2.68 for diesel, and 1.94 kg CO₂ per kg for CNG, to give total emissions in kilograms. It's aimed at anyone tracking their travel carbon footprint, comparing the environmental cost of a road trip against flying or public transport, or estimating emissions for a personal or workplace sustainability report. The calculator saves you from having to source and correctly apply fuel-specific emission factors, a step that's easy to skip or get wrong if you're not already familiar with the numbers.

How to use this

1. 1Enter the distance travelled.
2. 2Enter the vehicle's fuel efficiency.
3. 3Select or enter the emission factor for your fuel type, then read the total CO₂ emissions for that trip.

Troubleshooting

• Where does the emission factor number come from?

  Emission factors are standardized figures (typically from government or environmental agencies) representing CO₂ released per unit of fuel burned, they vary by fuel type (petrol, diesel, electricity), which is why selecting the right one matters for an accurate result.

• Does this account for manufacturing or full lifecycle emissions?

  No, this calculates only the direct emissions from fuel combustion during travel, not the vehicle's manufacturing footprint or full lifecycle emissions, which would require a separate, more detailed accounting.

Frequently asked questions