Estimate what your trees give back each year — CO2 absorbed, oxygen, shade energy savings and stormwater intercepted — using stated per-tree estimates that vary by species, age and climate.
ESTIMATES: per-tree figures are broad averages and vary by species, age, health and climate. Newly planted trees absorb far less than mature trees.
CO2 absorbed (kg/year)
How to use this tool
Count the trees and pick the closest size class — young, mature or large. Size matters more than species for a first estimate.
Carbon is only one benefit: oxygen, shade cooling and stormwater matter locally even when the carbon figure looks modest.
Add planned trees to see the annual benefit once they reach the chosen size class — not in their first year.
Benefits grow with the tree. A sapling planted today will not deliver mature-tree figures for a decade or more.
Formula & worked example
Ten mature trees absorb about 210 kg CO2 a year, produce about 1,180 kg of oxygen and intercept about 20,000 litres of stormwater.
Limitations — read this before you rely on it
Per-tree figures are broad averages: species, age, health, soil, rainfall and climate shift them substantially, and a newly planted tree absorbs far less than a mature one for many years.
Frequently asked questions
Roughly 21 kg a year for a mature tree is a common planning estimate, but real values range widely by species and conditions.
Only slowly and partially: ten mature trees absorb about 210 kg a year, while a typical lifestyle footprint is several tonnes. Trees help; they do not cancel a large footprint alone.
Rain caught by leaves and branches that evaporates or drips slowly instead of running straight off pavements, reducing drain load and erosion.
Well-placed shade cuts summer cooling demand for nearby buildings, which is why the energy figure depends on placement, not just tree count.
Per year, yes — they are smaller. But planting now is how mature benefits arrive later, so young-tree figures should not discourage planting.