Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator
CO₂e per passenger and what offsetting costs.
Enter your values
Enter the flight distance one way in km.
Choose one of: Economy, Premium economy, Business, First.
Enter the number of flights (2 = return) you are working with.
Enter the passengers travelling you are working with.
Enter the offset price in $/tonne.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Total CO₂e
- 3.17 tonnes
- Per passenger, per leg
- 792 kg
- Offset cost
- $57.05
- Equivalent driving
- 18,642 km in an average car
- Share of a 2-tonne annual budget
- 79%
Quick answer
A typical economy passenger emits about 90 g of CO₂ per kilometre on short haul and 75 g on long haul; premium cabins multiply that by the extra floor space they use.
CO₂e = km × factor × cabin multiplier × RFI
At a glance
| What it does | CO₂e per passenger and what offsetting costs. |
|---|---|
| Category | Travel |
| Inputs needed | Flight distance one way, Cabin, Number of flights (2 = return), Passengers travelling, Offset price |
| Main output | Total CO₂e |
| Formula | CO₂e = km × factor × cabin multiplier × RFI |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator
- 1Enter the one-way great-circle distance in kilometres.
- 2Pick the cabin — premium seats take more space and carry a higher share of emissions.
- 3Set the number of legs and passengers.
Inputs explained
- Flight distance one way(km)
- Enter the flight distance one way in km.
- Cabin
- Choose one of: Economy, Premium economy, Business, First.
- Number of flights (2 = return)
- Enter the number of flights (2 = return) you are working with.
- Passengers travelling
- Enter the passengers travelling you are working with.
- Offset price($/tonne)
- Enter the offset price in $/tonne.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Flight distance one way5560 km
- CabinEconomy
- Number of flights (2 = return)2
- Passengers travelling2
- Offset price18 $/tonne
Results
- Total CO₂e3.17 tonnes
- Per passenger, per leg792 kg
- Offset cost$57.05
- Equivalent driving18,642 km in an average car
- Share of a 2-tonne annual budget79%
Frequently asked questions
What is radiative forcing?
High-altitude emissions of water vapour and nitrogen oxides add warming beyond CO₂ alone. A multiplier of about 1.9 is the common convention for aviation.
Are offsets worth buying?
They are a mitigation, not a fix. Choose certified removal or Gold Standard projects, and treat flying less or flying economy as the bigger lever.
What do I need to enter into the Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator?
Just 5 values: flight distance one way, cabin, number of flights (2 = return), passengers travelling, offset price. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator work out the answer?
A typical economy passenger emits about 90 g of CO₂ per kilometre on short haul and 75 g on long haul; premium cabins multiply that by the extra floor space they use. It applies the formula CO₂e = km × factor × cabin multiplier × RFI and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Flight Carbon Footprint Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.