Jet Fuel CO2 Emissions Calculator
Turn a quantity of jet fuel into the carbon dioxide it releases when burned, using the aviation industry’s standard emission factor.
From kilograms of fuel to kilograms of carbon
Aviation runs almost entirely on kerosene, and its climate footprint scales directly with how much of it is burned. Because combustion adds oxygen from the air, a kilogram of fuel becomes more than three kilograms of CO2 — which is why a single long-haul flight can emit several tonnes per seat.
This calculator makes that link concrete. Pair it with the Flight Fuel Burn calculator to estimate fuel from distance and aircraft type, then with the SAF Blend & CO2 Savings calculator to see how much a sustainable-fuel blend would trim from the total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 3.16 kg of CO2 per kg of jet fuel?
Jet fuel is mostly carbon and hydrogen. When it burns completely, every carbon atom combines with oxygen from the air to form CO2, which is much heavier than the fuel itself because it adds two oxygen atoms. Working through the chemistry for typical kerosene gives about 3.16 kg of CO2 for each kilogram of fuel burned — the emission factor used across the aviation industry.
Do I enter fuel in kilograms or litres?
Either. Aircraft fuel is normally measured by mass (kilograms), because that is what matters for weight and energy. If you only know the volume, enter litres and the tool converts to mass using a Jet A density of about 0.80 kg per litre before applying the emission factor.
Does this include the full climate impact of a flight?
No. This is combustion (tailpipe) CO2 only. It does not include the emissions from producing and transporting the fuel, and it does not capture aviation's non-CO2 warming effects — contrails, water vapour, and nitrogen oxides at altitude — which studies suggest can roughly double the warming impact of the CO2 alone.
How does sustainable aviation fuel change this number?
Burning SAF still produces tailpipe CO2 at a similar rate, because it is also a hydrocarbon. Its benefit is upstream: sustainable feedstocks and production can cut lifecycle CO2e by around 70–80%. To see that effect, use the SAF Blend & CO2 Savings calculator.
Educational estimate only. Covers combustion CO2 and excludes upstream and non-CO2 effects; actual emissions depend on the specific fuel, engine, and operation.