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CBAM cost calculator
Estimate the CBAM certificate cost of your imports: add your products and enter the tonnages. The calculation uses the official default values, the free allocation adjustment (CBAM benchmark), the CBAM factor and the Commission’s current certificate price. If you hold verified actual data, enter it and see the difference against the default, product by product.
Data: IR (EU) 2025/2621 + 2026/1740 (default values), IR (EU) 2025/2620 (free allocation adjustment / benchmarks). Last checked: 5 September 2026.
Method and sources
Emissions to declare: the official default value for the product — IR (EU) 2025/2621 as corrected by IR (EU) 2026/1740, Annex I. Using default values adds a mark-up: 10% in 2026, 20% in 2027, 30% in 2028 (1% for fertilisers). For iron & steel, aluminium and hydrogen only direct emissions are chargeable; cement and fertilisers include indirect emissions (Reg (EU) 2023/956, Annex II).
Free allocation adjustment: reflects the free allocation EU producers still receive. Formula per IR (EU) 2025/2620 Annex, Equation 6: SEFA = CBAM factor × CSCF × BM. The CBAM factor (Directive 2003/87/EC Art 10a(1a)): 97.5% in 2026 → 95% in 2027 → 90% in 2028. BM values come from the 570-row CN table in the same Annex (Column B), selected by the country’s default production route. The CSCF for 2026-2030 is not yet published; 1.00 is assumed.
Certificate price: the Commission’s current quarterly price (Q2 2026: €75.28). The Q3 price is due on 5 October 2026; we will update this page.
What this estimate excludes: deductions for carbon prices paid in the country of origin (mechanism not yet defined) and import/declaration handling costs are not included. This estimate also does not apply the 50-tonne single mass-based threshold assessed per importer and calendar year: under the current rules, the threshold applies to relevant goods in the iron and steel, aluminium, cement and fertiliser sectors; electricity and hydrogen are not covered by this 50-tonne exemption (Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2083). The result is an informational estimate, not an official CBAM declaration or verification. Legislation and data can change.
Undecided between the default value and actual emissions? See the decision guide. To walk through the calculation step by step: How to Calculate CBAM Cost.
The cost is only step one — the real work is the data.
The difference between default values and actual emissions can materially affect CBAM exposure. We can support supplier data collection, actual-emissions calculation and verification readiness.
Write to usFrequently asked questions
How is the CBAM cost calculated?
The free allocation adjustment is deducted from the embedded emissions to declare (default value plus mark-up, or verified actual data); the remaining "emissions subject to the certificate obligation" are multiplied by the tonnage and the current certificate price. This tool applies exactly these steps and shows every intermediate value.
What drives the CBAM cost per tonne?
Three things: the product’s emission value (which varies by country and production route), the size of the free allocation adjustment (the product group’s CBAM benchmark) and the certificate price. For the same CN code, cost per tonne can differ substantially between two countries.
Why does default vs actual emissions matter?
Default values are set conservatively and carry a mark-up on top (10% in 2026, 30% in 2028). If your installation produces cleaner than the default, reporting with verified actual data directly reduces the certificate obligation — the tool shows both scenarios side by side.
Where does the certificate price come from?
From the official quarterly price published by the European Commission (Q2 2026: €75.28). From 2027 the price will be published weekly; the page is updated with each new price.