EcoTrack

Tree Carbon Sequestration Calculator

How much carbon do these trees pull from the air?

Number of trees

CO₂ absorbed per tree/year (kg)

Years

Total CO₂ absorbed

2,100 kg

What you entered

Number of trees: 10CO₂ absorbed per tree/year (kg): 21Years: 10

1
Total CO₂ = trees × kg/tree/year × years
10 × 21 × 10= 2100 kg CO₂

Result

Total CO₂ absorbed: 2,100 kg

Over 10 years, 10 trees would absorb roughly 2,100 kg of CO₂.

CO2 absorbed by common tree plantings at 22 kg per tree per year

Every row is trees x 22 kg of CO2 per tree per year x years, which is exactly the multiplication the calculator performs. The 22 kg rate is the commonly cited average for a mature broadleaf tree in a temperate climate, and it is held constant across all rows so the effect of tree count and time is easy to read.

Planting	Trees	Years	Total CO2 (kg)	Total CO2 (tonnes)
Single street tree, one year	1	1	22	0.02
Single street tree, one decade	1	10	220	0.22
Small garden group	5	10	1,100	1.10
Backyard planting	10	10	2,200	2.20
Community planting day	50	10	11,000	11.00
School or park project	100	10	22,000	22.00
Long-run offset project	100	25	55,000	55.00
Half-hectare woodlot	500	20	220,000	220.00
One-hectare reforestation	1,000	30	660,000	660.00

These are illustrative estimates, not carbon credits. The absorption rate is the single biggest assumption: a slow-growing oak may fix only 10 to 15 kg of CO2 a year while a fast-growing poplar or eucalyptus can reach 40 kg or more, so swapping 22 for 15 cuts every total by about a third and swapping it for 40 nearly doubles them. The model also assumes every tree survives the full period and absorbs at a steady rate, whereas real plantings lose a share of saplings early and only reach peak uptake after 10 to 20 years. For scale, a typical US household emits roughly 16 tonnes of CO2 per person per year, so the 50-tree row offsets around 1.1 tonnes annually. Certified offset projects use species-specific, age-specific growth curves and independent verification.

Trees are natural carbon sinks

A mature tree absorbs roughly 20-25 kg of CO₂ per year on average through photosynthesis, storing the carbon in its wood, roots, and leaves — multiplying by tree count and years gives a simple total estimate.

Why this varies by species and age

Fast-growing young trees and large mature trees absorb very different amounts — the default rate here is a commonly cited average, but reforestation and carbon-offset projects use species- and age-specific figures for accuracy.

Frequently asked questions

I planted 50 trees — how much CO2 will they absorb in 10 years?

At roughly 22 kg CO2/tree/year average, 50 trees over 10 years absorb about 50 × 22 × 10 = 11,000 kg (11 tonnes) of CO2.

How does tree sequestration compare to the carbon footprint calculator's output?

The average American's carbon footprint is about 16 tonnes CO2/year. Those 50 trees absorb about 1.1 tonnes/year — roughly 7% of one person's annual emissions. Useful, but not sufficient as a sole offset strategy.

Do all tree species absorb CO2 at the same rate?

No. Fast-growing species like eucalyptus or poplar can absorb 30-50 kg CO2/year, while slow-growing species like oak absorb 10-20 kg/year when young. The calculator uses an average rate of about 22 kg/year.