Current for 2026•As of: July 2026

CO2 Price Calculator 2026 CO2 Costs for Heating & Car.

Calculate CO2 costs for heating oil, gas, petrol & diesel – €55/tonne CO2 price 2026, with forecast to 2028

FreeNo sign-upGDPR-compliant

Heating

5,000 kWh50,000 kWh

Car

0 km50,000 km

Note on the CO2 price 2026:

  • The CO2 price in 2026 is EUR 55/tonne (price corridor EUR 55-65)
  • The costs are passed on to heating oil, natural gas and fuels
  • From 2027, national trading will be transitioned into EU ETS 2

CO2 costs per year (2026)

283.14 EUR

= 23.60 EUR per month

Comparison with previous year

2025 (EUR 55/t)

283.14 EUR

→

2026 (EUR 55/t)

283.14 EUR

Difference 2026

+0.00 EUR(+0.0%)

Heating

165.83 EUR

3,015 kg CO2

Natural gas

Car

117.32 EUR

2,133 kg CO2

12,000 km/year

Forecast 2025–2028

2025283.14 EUR
Heating: 165.83Car: 117.32
CO2 price: 55 EUR/tonne
2026 (current)283.14 EUR
Heating: 165.83Car: 117.32
CO2 price: 55 EUR/tonne
2027283.14 EUR
Heating: 165.83Car: 117.32
CO2 price: 55 EUR/tonne
2028283.14 EUR
Heating: 165.83Car: 117.32
CO2 price: 55 EUR/tonne

Comparison with average

Your household

5,148 kg

CO2 per year

German average

5,148 kg

CO2 per year

Tips for reducing CO2

  • •Optimize heating: Lowering the room temperature by 1°C saves about 6% of heating energy. Hydraulic balancing can save up to 15%.
  • •Save fuel: Anticipatory driving can save 10-20% fuel. Check tire pressure and remove roof boxes.
  • •Use alternatives: Bicycles, public transport or carpooling for shorter distances reduce CO2 and costs.

Your CO2 balance in detail:

Heating (Natural gas):
3.02 t CO2
Car (12,000 km/year):
2.13 t CO2
Total:
5.15 t CO2

CO2 price 2026: 55 EUR per tonne | Calculation: emissions (t) × CO2 price

Important note

These calculations are for non-binding information only and do not replace professional tax advice. All information without guarantee. Learn more

Sources & calculation basis

Our calculations are based on the following official sources (as of: July 2026):

The CO2 Price 2026: What You Need to Know

The CO2 price is a levy on the emission of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. Since 2021, it has been charged in Germany under the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG). The costs are passed on to heating oil, natural gas, petrol and diesel.

In 2026 the CO2 price is 55 euros per tonne of CO2 (price corridor 55-65 EUR). That is the same level as 2025. Every household that heats with fossil fuels or drives a combustion-engine car is directly affected.

CO2 Price Development in Germany

2024: EUR 45/t
Jump from EUR 30
2025: EUR 55/t
Further increase
2026: EUR 55/t
Current price (corridor)
2027+: EU ETS 2
European trading system

Calculating CO2 costs for heating

Example: 15,000 kWh of natural gas per year

Example: 15,000 kWh of natural gas per year
ItemAmount
Annual gas consumption15,000 kWh
CO2 emission factor gas0.201 kg/kWh
CO2 emissions per year3,015 kg = 3.015 t
CO2 price 2026EUR 55/t
Annual CO2 costs for heatingEUR 165.83

The CO2 emission factors determine how much CO2 is released per unit consumed. Natural gas produces around 0.201 kg of CO2 per kWh, heating oil around 2.65 kg of CO2 per liter (approx. 0.266 kg/kWh).

Heat pumps produce no direct CO2 and are therefore exempt from the CO2 levy. The electricity for the heat pump is priced separately, but is significantly cheaper than the CO2 costs of fossil heating systems.

Calculating CO2 costs for cars

Example: 12,000 km/year with a petrol car (7.5 L/100km)

Example: 12,000 km/year with a petrol car (7.5 L/100km)
ItemAmount
Annual mileage12,000 km
Consumption7.5 L/100km
Annual petrol consumption900 liters
CO2 emission factor petrol2.37 kg/L
CO2 emissions per year2,133 kg = 2.13 t
CO2 price 2026EUR 55/t
Annual CO2 costs for carEUR 117.32

Petrol produces around 2.37 kg of CO2 per liter, diesel around 2.65 kg of CO2 per liter. The higher value for diesel is partly offset by the lower consumption of diesel vehicles.

Electric cars produce no direct CO2 costs through fuel. While electricity production does have a CO2 footprint, electric cars are exempt from fossil CO2 pricing.

What influences your CO2 costs?

Factors influencing CO2 costs

  1. Heating type: Heating oil produces more CO2 than natural gas. Heat pumps are CO2-free.
  2. Building condition: Poorly insulated buildings have higher heating energy consumption.
  3. Annual mileage: The more kilometers driven per year, the higher the car CO2 costs.
  4. Vehicle type: SUVs consume more than compact cars. Electric cars avoid fossil CO2 costs.
  5. Driving style: Anticipatory driving can save 10-20% fuel.
  6. CO2 price development: The price rises every year. From 2026, a price corridor of EUR 55-65 applies.

How to reduce your CO2 costs

Optimize heating: Lowering the room temperature by 1 degree saves around 6% of heating energy. Hydraulic balancing of the heating system can save up to 15%. Insulation and modern windows permanently reduce demand.

Replace heating system: Heat pumps are the most effective solution. They produce no direct CO2 and are subsidized by the state with up to 70% of the costs. In the long run, you save not only on the CO2 levy but also on fuel costs.

Switch mobility: Electric cars avoid fossil CO2 costs entirely and are subsidized with up to EUR 4,500 in environmental bonuses. For shorter distances, bicycles, e-bikes or public transport are the cheapest alternatives.

Savings potential through measures

Lower heating by 1 degree
About 6% less consumption and CO2
Hydraulic balancing
Up to 15% savings possible
Heat pump instead of oil
100% of fossil CO2 costs eliminated
Electric car instead of combustion engine
100% of fuel CO2 costs eliminated

Frequently asked questions about the CO2 price

Everything important about the CO2 levy at a glance

The CO2 price in Germany is 55 euros per tonne of CO2 in 2026. A price corridor of 55–65 EUR applies; the actual price is determined by the national emissions trading scheme (BEHG). The costs are passed on to fossil fuels such as heating oil, natural gas, petrol and diesel.

Natural gas produces about 0.201 kg of CO2 per kWh. At EUR 55/tonne, that amounts to around 1.1 cents in extra costs per kWh of gas. A typical household consuming 15,000 kWh of gas therefore pays around EUR 166 in CO2 levy per year. For heating oil (2.65 kg CO2/liter), it is around 14.6 cents extra per liter.

Petrol produces about 2.37 kg of CO2 per liter, diesel about 2.65 kg of CO2 per liter. At EUR 55/tonne CO2, that means around 13 cents more per liter of petrol and about 14.6 cents more per liter of diesel. At 12,000 km of annual mileage and 7 L/100km consumption, that adds up to around EUR 110 in extra costs per year.

Formula: annual consumption (kWh or liters) × CO2 emission factor (kg/kWh or kg/liter) ÷ 1,000 × CO2 price (EUR 55/tonne). Our calculator performs this calculation automatically for gas, heating oil, petrol and diesel.

In 2026 and 2027, a price corridor of 55–65 EUR per tonne of CO2 applies under the national BEHG. From 2027, the national emissions trading scheme will gradually be merged into the European EU ETS 2, which may lead to further price increases from 2028 onward, as the price will then depend more strongly on the European market.

Since 2023, the CO2 price has been split between tenants and landlords. The worse the energy efficiency of the building (energy efficiency class), the higher the landlord's share. For highly efficient buildings (class A+–B), the tenant pays up to 100%, while for highly inefficient buildings (class F–H), the landlord covers up to 95% of the CO2 costs.

The most effective measures: upgrading your heating system to a heat pump (up to 70% federal subsidy), building insulation, switching to an electric car or public transport, and more fuel-efficient driving. Every tonne of CO2 saved saves EUR 55 – and rising. In the long run, investments in climate-friendly alternatives therefore pay off twice over.

For business

Calculators for your website or app

Integrate our GDPR-compliant calculators as a widget or use our API. Perfect for HR portals, career pages and financial applications.

  • ✓100% GDPR-compliant - no cookies, no data storage
  • ✓White-label - your branding, your colors
  • ✓REST API for your own applications
  • ✓Built by HEADON.pro - your digital agency
Learn more about HEADON.pro →

Request without obligation

Receive an individual quote from HEADON.pro

Your data will only be used to get in touch with you.
Privacy