Worked example
The example in the answer above covers 7.5 tonnes of CO₂e with a 10% buffer, priced at the average for all voluntary credits:
- Emissions to cover: 7.5 t CO₂e.
- Add a 10% buffer: 7.5 × 1.1 = 8.25 t.
- Round up to whole credits (one credit = one tonne): 9 credits.
- Price: All voluntary credits (market average), $6.12–$6.92 per tonne in our October 2026 snapshotSource 3. Cost: 9 × $6.12 = $55.08, up to 9 × $6.92 = $62.28.
How we calculate
- Credits. One carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂ equivalent reduced or removedSource 2. We multiply your emissions by one plus the buffer you choose, then round up to a whole credit.
- Price. We take the average price range for the credit type you pick from our latest carbon credit price snapshot. For the market average and the main forest types, the range comes from Sylvera’s Q3 2026 data on credits retiredSource 3. For other types it runs from the lower to the higher of the 2023 and 2024 average transaction prices reported by Ecosystem MarketplaceSource 1.
- Cost. We multiply the number of credits by the low and high price to give a cost range.
The buffer is your choice. It adds a margin in case your estimate is low. We don’t recommend a particular size, and 0% is fine if you trust your estimate.
Scrolls sideways to show every column.
| Category | Kind | Low (USD/t) | High (USD/t) | What the range is, and when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All voluntary credits (market average) | Mixed | 6.12 | 6.92 | Average price per credit retired: $6.12 in 2026 so far (Q1–Q3), $6.92 in Q3 2026 (Sylvera) |
| Renewable energy | Avoidance | 2.67 | 3.92 | Average transaction price: $3.92 in 2023, $2.67 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 3) |
| Chemical processes and industrial manufacturing | Avoidance | 3.66 | 4.10 | Average transaction price: $4.10 in 2023, $3.66 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 3) |
| REDD+ (forest protection) | Avoidance | 3.56 | 7.75 | Average price per credit retired in Q3 2026: $3.56 rated BB or lower, $7.75 rated BBB or higher (Sylvera) |
| Waste disposal | Avoidance | 6.72 | 7.46 | Average transaction price: $7.46 in 2023, $6.72 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 3) |
| Household and community devices (incl. cookstoves) | Avoidance | 7.30 | 7.71 | Average transaction price: $7.71 in 2023, $7.30 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 3) |
| Agroforestry | Mixed | 11.58 | 14.11 | Average transaction price: $11.58 in 2023, $14.11 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 4) |
| Improved forest management (IFM) | Mixed | 12.79 | 21.07 | Average price per credit retired in Q3 2026: $12.79 rated BB or lower, $21.07 rated BBB or higher (Sylvera) |
| Afforestation, reforestation and revegetation (ARR) | Removal | 12.80 | 23.47 | Average price per credit retired in Q3 2026: $12.80 rated BB or lower, $23.47 rated BBB or higher (Sylvera) |
| Biochar | Removal | 160.00 | 160.00 | Average transaction price in 2024 was over $160 (Ecosystem Marketplace report summary); no range published |
| All reduction credits | Avoidance | 4.05 | 4.64 | Average transaction price: $4.64 in 2023, $4.05 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 7) |
| All removal credits | Removal | 17.28 | 19.50 | Average transaction price: $17.28 in 2023, $19.50 in 2024 (Ecosystem Marketplace, Table 7) |
As of Oct 2026 · Sources: [3] Carbon Market Data Snapshot: Q3 2026; [1] State of the Voluntary Carbon Market 2025: Meeting the Moment, Renewing Trust in Carbon Finance
Limitations
A guide, not a quote
The prices are averages of deals reported to Ecosystem Marketplace’s survey, which it describes as lower bounds for the whole marketSource 1. Retail prices for small purchases, specific projects and recent vintages can be higher or lower. Use the estimate to plan a budget, then compare sellers’ prices for the credits you actually want.
To work out your emissions first, use the carbon footprint calculator or the flight emissions calculator. Our guide to where to buy carbon credits compares sellers, and all our calculators are on the tools page.