Freight CO₂ Emission Calculator
Estimate the carbon footprint of a shipment across road, rail, sea and air in seconds. Enter origin, destination and weight — compare modes and ship smarter.
Estimated transport emissions
Compare modes — the lowest-emission option is highlighted.
How the numbers are calculated
The calculator uses the established tonne-kilometre method for transport emissions. Factors are on a Well-to-Wheel (WTW) basis and draw on the GLEC Framework v3.2 and DEFRA 2026.
Emissions (kg CO₂e) = (weight ÷ 1000) × distance (km) × emission factor (g/tonne-km)
| Transport mode | Factor (g CO₂e/tonne-km) | Distance basis |
|---|---|---|
| Road (articulated) | 86 | Real road distance via Google |
| Rail | 28 | Great-circle × 1.10 |
| Sea | 16 | Great-circle × 1.15 |
| Air | 900 | Great-circle × 1.09 |
- All factors are Well-to-Wheel (WTW) and CO₂e (CO₂ + CH₄ + N₂O).
- Empty running and average load factor are already included in the published default factors.
- The air factor includes a radiative forcing multiplier (RF ×1.9) for high-altitude impact.
- Results are Tier-1 estimates; actual carrier-specific values may vary by ±30%.
Frequently asked questions
How the calculator works and which standards it follows.
We use the standard tonne-kilometre method: emissions = (weight in tonnes) × distance × emission factor. Factors follow the GLEC Framework v3.2 / DEFRA 2026 on a Well-to-Wheel (WTW) basis.
Road distance is the real driving distance from Google Maps. Sea, rail and air use great-circle distance with mode-specific routing factors.
They are Tier-1 estimates using published default factors and are intended for guidance. Actual carrier-specific emissions may differ by ±30%.
Yes. The air factor includes a radiative forcing multiplier (DEFRA approach), reflecting the additional high-altitude climate impact of aviation.
Turn insight into lower emissions
Loggerise helps you plan loads, cut empty runs and track your fleet — reducing both cost and carbon. Start free.