Your Footprint. Australia’s Trees. Our Future.

Calculate your footprint

Try our personal carbon footprint calculator

About our carbon footprint calculator

Knowing your carbon footprint can be the first step to understanding your impact. It empowers you to take action in all areas of your life. Our carbon footprint calculator makes it easy and can take less than ten minutes.

Choose the parts of your footprint you want to calculate.

Answer simple questions or use easy averages provided.

Get hints, tips and hacks along the way and after you calculate.

Reduce in the areas you can.

Remove what you can’t reduce through planting trees here in Australia.

How do we calculate your footprint?

Don’t have time to calculate right now? Make a quick offset based on averages.

Low angled drone shot of trees in planting rows

We plant native trees to offset your emissions

Tree planting is essential to combat climate change and restore healthy ecosystems. When we plant trees, we measure how much carbon has been sequestered, but we also ensure that the trees we plant have multiple benefits for wildlife, communities and land restoration.

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What you’ll need to calculate

5 to 10 minutes.
A desktop or mobile device with internet connection.
For the most accurate calculation, we recommend using your personal source data (e.g. electricity consumption, water usage); don’t worry, the calculator includes tooltips that will help you find these figures.
That said, you should be able to answer most of the calculator questions without needing to access external documents.
You can also choose to autofill specific fields with the Australian or state average for a faster calculation.

Calculate and offset with the Carbon Footprint Calculator by Carbon Positive Australia

What to expect from our calculator

Our Australian Carbon Footprint Calculator is a free step-by-step tool that empowers you to make positive changes to reduce your carbon footprint and combat climate change.

Your carbon footprint is calculated retrospectively based on your lifestyle and resource consumption for a specific period. You can calculate your footprint for the past month, 3 months, or year.

Here’s what you can expect inside:

You’ll be asked to choose which categories you would like to include in your calculation (travel, energy, water etc). The more categories you include, the more accurate your calculation will be.
The calculator includes tooltips designed to guide you through your calculation.
It’s also full of “Did You Know?” facts about carbon emissions to put your footprint (and Australia’s!) into perspective.
At the end of your calculation, you’ll get an itemised footprint “receipt” with tailored insights to help you reduce your impact over time.

What’s next? Take action!

Offset your footprint by donating to Carbon Positive Australia’s range of native restoration projects.
For more than 20 years, our projects have restored degraded land across Australia and captured carbon. This means when you offset your footprint with us, you are restoring our native landscape and fighting climate change.
Use your tailored insights to reduce your footprint and calculate again so you can track your progress.
Together, we can build a Carbon Positive future.

Woman sitting cross legged with a tub full of seedlings on her lap

Frequently asked questions

What does your Carbon Footprint Calculator do?

Our calculator is a free tool that allows you to calculate and understand your personal carbon footprint. The calculator is broken down into six main categories (Travel, Energy, Water, Transport, Food & Drinks, and Waste). You can choose to include any or all of these categories. By inputting data about your lifestyle and resource consumption, the calculator will determine the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) you have produced. The calculator is a retrospective tool in that it looks at a past period – you can choose to answer for a 1 month, 3 months or 12 month period. It provides facts, tips, and practical steps to help you reduce and offset your footprint.

What will I need to calculate my footprint?

5 to 10 minutes and a desktop or mobile device with an internet connection. For the most accurate calculation, we recommend using your personal source data (e.g. electricity bills, water bills, kilometres travelled). If you don’t have this data or are looking for a fast calculation, we have included relevant state and Australian averages wherever possible – look out for the “Use Average” buttons.

What time period is my footprint calculated over?

Your carbon footprint is calculated retrospectively based on your lifestyle and resource consumption for a specific period. You can choose to calculate your carbon footprint for a past month, 3 months or year.

How is my footprint calculated?

Wherever possible, the calculator uses emissions factors published by the Australian Federal Government and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Data is updated annually in line with the latest data releases. To find out more about specific calculations, check out the “How Did We Calculate This?” section in the calculator footer.

How does my footprint compare to the average?

The average Australian household (2.6 people) has an annual carbon footprint of approximately 15-20 tonnes of CO2e. According to the UN, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050 we must limit our per-person emissions to 2 tonnes CO2e per year. That means if you have a family of 4, for example, you should be aiming for 8 tonnes CO2e per year.

Can I calculate my footprint for a specific event?

You can calculate your footprint for specific travel events like a road trip, flight, or cruise using our Carbon Footprint Calculator. Select any time period and enter your data as usual.

If you would like to calculate the footprint of an event like a wedding, party or music festival, please contact us at [email protected] and we will be able to assist you.

Can I use the online calculator for my business?

Yes, to an extent. The factors that contribute to the carbon footprint of a small business can be similar to that of a household. If your business is predominantly office-based, has less than 10 employees and does not manufacture and/or import or export goods, our calculator should fit your needs.

If your business is more complicated than this, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] so we can assist you with your calculation.

I have solar panels, how do I account for this?

If your residence has solar panels installed please enter your Total Imported kWh for the period in the electricity section of the calculator. This figure represents the electricity you have consumed from the grid and does not include the clean energy consumed from your home solar system. You can learn more about our approach to accounting for solar panels in the “How Did We Calculate This?” section in the calculator footer.

I have an electric vehicle, how do I account for this?

Electric vehicles are not powered by liquid fuels and as such do not directly produce carbon emissions. To account for the emissions from charging your electric vehicle, make sure you complete the electricity section of the calculator. If you charged your vehicle at home, the electricity consumption will be included in your total kWh consumption (found on your electricity bill). If you have solar panels, see the previous FAQ to find out how to account for this.

If you charged your vehicle outside the home, you will need to consider whether this was from a renewable source (e.g. a solar charging station) or non-renewable (e.g. at a friend’s house who uses grid electricity). If you charged your car from a non-renewable energy source, you should include the kWh consumption in the electricity section of the calculator.

I live in a share house, how do I account for utilities like electricity, water and gas?

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this. The simplest way is to divide the consumption value for each utility by the number of people occupying your house to determine your “share”. For example, if your total electricity consumption for the period was 10,000 kWh and there are 4 people in your household (including you), your “share” is 2,500 kWh.

I live in a rental property, how do I find my water consumption?

To complete the water section of the calculator you will need to know your water consumption for the period in kL. Your property manager may be able to provide this information, otherwise, we suggest using the relevant state average, adjusting as appropriate.

I grow my own fruit and/or vegetables, how do I account for this?

To calculate emissions from Food & Drinks, our calculator requires you to enter your weekly spend on groceries, dining out and take away. If you grow your own fruit and/or vegetables you should naturally see a reduction in your weekly food spend (as you no longer have to buy this from the shops). Assuming your consumption of other Food & Drink categories remains the same, growing your own food will reduce your weekly spend, and in turn your carbon footprint.

I cycle and/or walk a lot, how do I account for this?

The emissions from walking, running, skating, and cycling are essentially zero, therefore using these as modes of transport is a great way to lower your carbon footprint. You only need to enter data for transport methods like cars, taxis, planes, buses and trains in your carbon footprint calculation.

How do I account for my clothes and other household items?

The process of creating and transporting clothes, cosmetics, appliances, and other household items creates carbon emissions. These are known as “embodied emissions”.

Embodied emissions are difficult to quantify as there are many variables at play (e.g. what material was used? what was the intensity of the production process? how far did it travel to reach you?).

At the moment, there are very few reputable sources for embodied emissions factors. This is likely to improve over time as businesses and consumers are more aware of their carbon footprint, however for now our calculator does not include these emissions.

The best thing you can do to reduce your footprint from these items is to reduce, re-use and recycle. Before you make a new purchase, consider whether you could borrow from a family member, friend or neighbour. If not, could you find it second-hand? Buy local to reduce transportation emissions and support companies that implement sustainable and ethical practices.

How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

The calculator is full of tips and practical steps to help lower your footprint. For more, sign up to our newsletter here.

Can I track my footprint over time?

Yes! Create an account here to save your calculations to track your progress over time.

What happens when I offset my carbon footprint?

Once you have completed your calculation, you have the option to offset your footprint for the period. It costs $28 to offset 1 tonne of CO2e which means the average Australian household could offset their entire yearly emissions for around $450.

Your offsets help to fund our range of high quality, native restoration projects. Our planting projects not only sequester carbon but also restore Australia’s habitat and natural biodiversity. Where possible, our projects follow methodologies developed by the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). Several of our projects are also registered with the ERF.

Is my offset donation tax deductible?

In most cases, yes! Carbon Positive Australia is a registered charity with deductible gift recipient status. Your offsets support our native revegetation projects and contributions over $2 are tax deductible.

If you are donating on behalf of a business, it may be a little more complicated and we recommend contacting us at [email protected] or on 1300 857 970.

Your offsets help to fund our range of high quality, native restoration projects. Our planting projects not only sequester carbon but also restore Australia’s habitat and natural biodiversity. Where possible, our projects follow methodologies developed by the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). Several of our projects are also registered with the ERF.

I don’t have time to do the calculator, how can I offset?

We have a range of quick offsets available. These offsets have been calculated using averages for a range of activities like electricity use, flights and vehicle use.

Calculate your footprint

About our carbon footprint calculator

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

We plant native trees to offset your emissions

What you’ll need to calculate

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

What to expect from our calculator

What’s next? Take action!

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

Frequently asked questions

What does your Carbon Footprint Calculator do?

What will I need to calculate my footprint?

What time period is my footprint calculated over?

How is my footprint calculated?

How does my footprint compare to the average?

Can I calculate my footprint for a specific event?

Can I use the online calculator for my business?

I have solar panels, how do I account for this?

I have an electric vehicle, how do I account for this?

I live in a share house, how do I account for utilities like electricity, water and gas?

I live in a rental property, how do I find my water consumption?

I grow my own fruit and/or vegetables, how do I account for this?

I cycle and/or walk a lot, how do I account for this?

How do I account for my clothes and other household items?

How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

Can I track my footprint over time?

What happens when I offset my carbon footprint?

Is my offset donation tax deductible?

I don’t have time to do the calculator, how can I offset?

Calculate your footprint

About our carbon footprint calculator

Login to your Account

Register New Account

Carbon Positive Australia Account Benefits

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

We plant native trees to offset your emissions

What you’ll need to calculate

Login to your Account

Register New Account

Carbon Positive Australia Account Benefits

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

What to expect from our calculator

What’s next? Take action!

Login to your Account

Register New Account

Carbon Positive Australia Account Benefits

Calculation

Track carbon footprint

Educational

Updates on the impact of your offsetting…

Frequently asked questions

What does your Carbon Footprint Calculator do?

What will I need to calculate my footprint?

What time period is my footprint calculated over?

How is my footprint calculated?

How does my footprint compare to the average?

Can I calculate my footprint for a specific event?

Can I use the online calculator for my business?

I have solar panels, how do I account for this?

I have an electric vehicle, how do I account for this?

I live in a share house, how do I account for utilities like electricity, water and gas?

I live in a rental property, how do I find my water consumption?

I grow my own fruit and/or vegetables, how do I account for this?

I cycle and/or walk a lot, how do I account for this?

How do I account for my clothes and other household items?

How can I reduce my carbon footprint?

Can I track my footprint over time?

What happens when I offset my carbon footprint?

Is my offset donation tax deductible?

I don’t have time to do the calculator, how can I offset?