Streaming Carbon Footprint Calculator

Enter your streaming activity — service type, hours watched, device type, and number of viewers — to calculate your carbon footprint from video streaming. You'll get back your total CO₂ emissions in grams or kilograms, broken down by session and annualized, so you can see the real environmental cost of your screen time. Also try the Business Carbon Footprint Calculator.

Choose the type of streaming activity.

Higher quality uses more data and energy.

Device power consumption affects total emissions.

hrs
min
viewers

For personal use enter 1. For livestreams, enter your average audience size.

sessions

How many times per week do you stream?

Mobile networks typically have higher emissions per GB than fixed broadband.

The carbon intensity of the electricity grid varies by region.

Results

CO₂ per Session

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CO₂ per Session (kg)

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Annual CO₂ Emissions

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Data Used per Session

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Device Energy Emissions

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Network Transmission Emissions

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Data Centre Emissions

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Trees Needed to Offset (Annual)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a streaming carbon footprint?

A streaming carbon footprint is the total amount of CO₂ (and equivalent greenhouse gases) produced when you watch video or listen to audio online. It accounts for the electricity used by your device, the network transmitting the data, and the data centres serving the content — all of which consume energy and generate emissions. See also our Carbon Offset Cost Calculator.

How much CO₂ does one hour of Netflix produce?

Estimates vary, but watching one hour of Netflix in HD on a typical device produces roughly 36–100g of CO₂ depending on your country's electricity grid, your device, and your network connection. Our calculator uses breakdown figures for device, network, and data-centre energy to give you a more personalised estimate.

Does video quality really affect emissions?

Yes. Streaming in 4K UHD uses roughly 4–7× more data per hour than SD, which means more energy is consumed by networks and data centres. Switching from 4K to HD for casual viewing is one of the simplest ways to reduce your streaming carbon footprint.

Which device has the lowest streaming carbon footprint?

Smartphones and tablets are the most energy-efficient streaming devices, consuming as little as 3–5W. Laptops use around 30–50W, while desktop computers and large smart TVs can use 100–400W. Choosing a smaller device for casual viewing can cut device-related emissions by up to 90%. You might also find our Meat vs Plant Emissions Comparison Calculator useful.

Is 4G or 5G streaming worse for the environment than Wi-Fi?

Generally yes — mobile networks, especially 4G, tend to have a higher carbon intensity per GB of data transferred than fixed broadband (home Wi-Fi or Ethernet). 5G infrastructure is becoming more efficient but is still typically higher-emission than landline broadband for the same data volume.

Does the country I stream from affect my carbon footprint?

Absolutely. The carbon intensity of the electricity grid varies enormously by country. France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, has a very low grid intensity (~85 gCO₂/kWh), while coal-heavy grids like India or Australia can exceed 700 gCO₂/kWh. Streaming the same content in a cleaner-grid country produces far fewer emissions.

How can I reduce my streaming carbon footprint?

Key steps include: lowering video quality to HD or SD where possible, using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data, streaming on energy-efficient devices like phones or laptops, reducing session lengths, and choosing services powered by renewable energy. Offsetting by supporting tree-planting or renewable energy projects can also help neutralise remaining emissions.

How many trees would I need to plant to offset my streaming emissions?

A mature tree absorbs approximately 21 kg of CO₂ per year. Our calculator divides your estimated annual streaming emissions by this figure to show you how many trees would be needed to offset your habit. It is a useful way to contextualise your digital footprint in real-world terms.