Shipping CO2 Emissions Calculator (Truck, Rail, Sea, Air)
Estimate the CO2e of a freight shipment by truck, rail, ship or air for up to three legs, using the UK government 2026 freight emission factors.
Freight emissions depend on three things: how much cargo moves, how far, and by which mode. This calculator multiplies tonne-kilometres by the UK government’s 2026 greenhouse gas conversion factors for freighting goods, so you can estimate the CO2e of a shipment with up to three legs, such as a truck to the port, a container ship and a truck to the warehouse, and compare transport modes.
How to use this tool
- Enter the cargo weight and choose its unit.
- Choose kilometres or miles for the distances.
- For each leg pick a transport mode and enter the distance; set unused legs to "Not used".
- For air freight, choose whether to include radiative forcing.
Formula
Emissions (kg CO2e) = cargo weight (t) × distance (km) × emission factor (kg CO2e per t·km)
DESNZ 2026 averages include articulated truck 0.07926, rail 0.02583 and container ship 0.01612 kg CO2e/t·km. Electric vans include electricity generation and transmission/distribution losses; well-to-tank energy production is excluded. These are average-load screening factors, not a complete logistics lifecycle footprint.
Example
10 tonnes of cargo travelling 150 km by articulated truck, 11,000 km by container ship and 50 km by truck: the truck legs are 2,000 t·km × 0.07926 = 158.5 kg and the sea leg is 110,000 t·km × 0.01612 = 1,773.2 kg. The shipment emits about 1,931.7 kg CO2e, roughly 193 kg per tonne. Flying the same 11,200 km would be about 100,700 kg with radiative forcing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tonne-kilometre?
One tonne of cargo moved one kilometre. Moving 10 tonnes 500 km is 5,000 t·km. Freight factors are given per tonne-km so the result scales with both weight and distance.
Why is air freight so much higher?
Aircraft burn far more fuel per tonne carried than ships or trains, and emissions released at altitude have extra warming effects. DESNZ publishes factors with and without this radiative forcing uplift; the with-RF figure reflects the wider climate effect.
Can I use these figures for carbon reporting?
Use the factor year and scope consistently. Carrier fuel or electricity data are preferable when available. This average-factor estimate does not by itself establish compliance with a complete logistics reporting standard.
Which distance should I enter?
Use routed road or sea distances. For air, enter great-circle airport distance: the factors already contain an 8% uplift. UK international short-haul uses the workbook country list, not a 3,700 km cutoff; other international flights use long-haul. UK domestic has its own option.
Sources
Last updated: 2026