Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Energy and the Environment

Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

Greenhouse Gas Calculator logo

Convert emissions or energy data into concrete terms you can understand — such as the annual CO2 emissions of cars, households, and power plants.

The Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies calculator allows you to convert emissions or energy data to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from using that amount. The calculator helps you translate abstract measurements into concrete terms you can understand, such as the annual emissions from cars, households, or power plants. This calculator may be useful in communicating your greenhouse gas reduction strategy, reduction targets, or other initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Updated November 2024

These estimates are approximate and should not be used for emission inventories or formal carbon emissions analysis. See Calculations & References for equations and sources used.


Step 1 - Enter and convert data

Select data to convert:There are two options for entering data into this calculator: energy data or emissions data. When you enter energy data, the calculator converts these values into carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions based on emission factors for energy consumption or electricity reductions. Then, it provides equivalent ways to express those emissions. When you enter emissions data, the calculator provides equivalent ways to express those emissions.

Enter data:

Unit Amount





 

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code so the calculator can estimate emissions avoided using an emissions factor specific to your region. If you don’t enter a ZIP code or you enter an invalid ZIP code, the calculator will use a national average avoided emissions rate, which may not be accurate for your region.

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code so the calculator can estimate emissions using an emissions factor specific to your region. If you don’t enter a ZIP code or you enter an invalid ZIP code, the calculator will use a national average emissions rate, which may not be accurate for your location.

We could not find your ZIP code in our database. The calculator will use the national weighted marginal emission rate (lb/MWh) value.


* The Equivalencies Calculator uses different emissions factors for electricity depending on whether it is avoided or consumed; at typical scales, energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and projects do not affect baseload power generation, so the calculator uses a non-baseload emissions factor. For electricity consumption, the calculator uses an average emissions factor that includes both baseload and non-baseload generation. Note that the calculator uses national average emissions factors for electricity, which may not be accurate for your region. For more accurate estimates. please use regional emissions factors available in AVERT or eGRID.
 

Enter data for one or more gases:If you enter data for multiple gases, equivalencies will be calculated for the sum of all gases entered.

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 Equivalent* Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities. CO2 is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's carbon cycle. The main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation, although certain industrial processes and land-use changes also emit CO2. Link

Carbon Greenhouse gas emissions may be expressed in terms of a quantity of the gas itself (e.g., 1 ton of methane), an equivalent quantity of carbon dioxide (e.g., 28 tons of CO2 equivalent), or in terms of carbon (e.g., 7.63 tons of carbon). Carbon is often used as the unit of measurement when tracing emissions through the carbon cycle. To convert a quantity of carbon to the equivalent quantity of carbon dioxide, multiply by 3.67.

CH4 - Methane Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil, or from the decomposition of organic waste in municipal landfills and the raising of livestock. Methane is also emitted by natural sources such as wetlands. Pound for pound, the impact of CH4 is 28 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period. Link

N2O - Nitrous Oxide Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas that occurs both naturally and due to human activities. Major sources include farming practices that add nitrogen to the soil (e.g., using fertilizers), burning fossil fuels, and some industrial processes. The impact of 1 pound of N₂O on warming the atmosphere is 265 times that of 1 pound of CO2. Link

Hydrofluorocarbon gases Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Link

Perfluorocarbon gases Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Link

Anesthetic gases Isoflurane, desflurane, and sevoflurane are gaseous ethers used to induce and/or maintain general anesthesia in medical operating rooms. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest-lasting group of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Link

SF6 - Sulfur Hexafluoride Fluorinated gases come from human-related activities. They are emitted through their use as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g., as refrigerants) and through industrial processes such as aluminum and semiconductor manufacturing. In general, fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Link

 

*If your estimated emissions of methane, nitrous oxide, or other non-CO2 gases are already expressed in CO2 equivalent or carbon equivalent, please enter your figures in the row for CO2 or carbon equivalent.


Step 2 - View results

Enter data above to convert and view equivalencies.

of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) equivalent

This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from:

gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year information icon

small car

electric-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year information icon

small car

miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle information icon

small car

This is equivalent to CO2 emissions from:

gallons of gasoline consumed information icon

gas-pump

gallons of diesel consumed information icon

gas-pump

pounds of coal burned information icon

coal

tanker trucks' worth of gasoline information icon

tankers

homes' energy use for one year information icon

home

homes' electricity use for one year information icon

lightning bolt

railcars' worth of coal burned information icon

railcars

barrels of oil consumed information icon

oil barrel

propane cylinders used for home barbeques information icon

propane tank

coal-fired power plants in one year information icon

coal plant

natural gas-fired power plants in one year information icon

coal plant

number of smartphones charged information icon

mobile phone

This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions avoided by:

tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled information icon

garbage truck

garbage trucks of waste recycled instead of landfilled information icon

garbage truck

trash bags of waste recycled instead of landfilled information icon

trash bag

wind turbines running for a year information icon

wind turbine

incandescent lamps switched to LEDs information icon

light bulb

This is equivalent to carbon sequestered by:

tree seedlings grown for 10 years information icon

seedlings

acres of U.S. forests in one year information icon

pine forests

acres of U.S. forests preserved from conversion to cropland in one yearinformation icon

cropland

 

About This Calculator

  • Calculations & References
  • Frequent Questions
  • Revision History
  • Learn About Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Calculador de equivalencias de gases de efecto invernadero (en español)

Other Resources

  • Power Profiler
  • Waste Reduction Model
  • AVERT - AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool
  • COBRA - CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Health Impacts Screening and Mapping Tool
  • Beyond Tailpipe Emissions Calculator

Get the Widget

Put the calculator on your website using our widget.

Screenshot of calculator for GHG Equivalency Calculator
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 24, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.

label // // //