As of August 2026, carbon credit prices span from under €10 per tonne for avoidance credits to €100-200 for biochar and €150-500+ for direct air capture, while high-integrity nature-based removals trade at roughly €15-35 per tonne. Carbon credits have become an important piece of the corporate and national climate strategy puzzle. In 2026, the carbon credit market is experiencing historical growth, driven by regulatory pressures, corporate net-zero commitments, and rising demand for high-integrity offsets. This article explores the latest carbon credit prices, key market trends, and what businesses need to know before buying in the voluntary carbon market.
Who is this for? This guide is for sustainability, finance and procurement leads at EU mid-market companies who are buying carbon credits, not just reading about them. If you are budgeting an offset line for 2027, defending a price to a CFO, or building a portfolio that has to survive a CSRD audit, the ranges and quality signals below are what your team needs before signing anything.
What Are Carbon Credits and Why Do Prices Matter?
Carbon credits represent one metric ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases that have been reduced, removed, or avoided. These credits are traded in two main markets: compliance (mandatory systems like the EU Emissions Trading System) and voluntary (where companies and individuals purchase credits to offset emissions beyond regulatory requirements).
Price transparency is crucial because it directly impacts the cost of compliance for businesses and the viability of carbon reduction projects. For companies aiming to meet sustainability goals, understanding price dynamics helps in budgeting, risk management, and strategic decision-making.
Current Carbon Credit Prices (2026)
Voluntary Carbon Market
Nature-based credits (e.g., afforestation, reforestation): Prices range from €7 to €24 per ton, with premium projects reaching up to €60 per ton.
Technology-based removals (e.g., direct air capture): Prices can exceed €500 per ton due to higher costs and limited supply.
Average prices: The voluntary market saw a record 95 million credits retired in the first half of 2025, with high-rated credits trading at more than 300% above lower-rated ones.
Compliance Carbon Market
EU Carbon Permits: Trading in the €80-86 range as of August 2026 (about €84 per ton), after the European Commission's July 2026 ETS reform proposals.
Global average: Compliance markets cover about 28% of global emissions, with average prices around €16 per ton.
Carbon Credit Prices by Project Type (2026)
Project type | Price range (2026) | Typical certification | Permanence | Offtake availability | Reporting fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avoidance (REDD+, cookstoves) | €5-10 | Verra, Gold Standard | Low (reversal risk) | High | Contribution claims |
Reforestation / ARR | €7-35 | Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo | Medium | Medium | CSRD, SBTi BVCM |
Blue carbon / mangrove | €15-40+ | Verra, ICVCM CCP-approved | Medium-High | Low to Medium | CSRD, co-benefits |
Biochar | €100-200 | Puro.earth, Isometric | High (100+ yrs) | Medium | SBTi-aligned removals |
DAC / durable tech | €150-500+ | Isometric, Puro.earth | Very high (centuries) | Low (long offtake) | Net-zero residual removals |
Ranges reflect August 2026 market observation and vary by project, vintage and volume. Regreener prices to project quality, not to type averages.
Key Factors Influencing Carbon Credit Prices
Several factors shape carbon credit pricing in 2026:
Market Supply and Demand: Increased corporate sustainability budgets and regulatory mandates are driving demand, while supply remains constrained for high-quality credits.
Project Type and Quality: Nature-based projects dominate (46% of demand), but technology-based removals command premium prices due to their permanence and scalability.
Certification Standards: Credits from recognized standards (e.g., Verra, Gold Standard) are priced higher due to perceived reliability. As of 2026, programs covering roughly 98% of market volume are ICVCM CCP-eligible and around 40 methodologies carry CCP approval, so the label is becoming a baseline rather than a differentiator.
Project Scale: Larger projects benefit from economies of scale, lowering per-credit costs, while smaller community-based projects often command premiums due to scarcity and stronger impact narratives.
Co-benefits: Projects delivering measurable SDG contributions such as biodiversity, livelihoods, gender equity and water security attract a premium, especially from buyers with CSRD, ESRS E1-7, or SBTi BVCM reporting needs.
Vintage: Recent vintages price higher; pre-2020 credits are increasingly discounted as buyers, ICVCM CCP rules, and SBTi guidance favour credits issued within the last 3–5 years.
Project Location: Geography affects price through country risk (stability, governance, safeguards), policy exposure (Article 6 corresponding adjustments, export taxes), and buyer preference for low-risk OECD jurisdictions over fragile or sanctioned states.
Historical Trends and Price Charts
Price Evolution (2020–2025)
2020–2022: Steady price increases as corporate net-zero pledges surged.
2023–2024: Prices dipped due to concerns over credit quality and transparency.
2025: Rebound driven by stricter regulations and a focus on high-integrity projects.
Source: ClimateSeed Comparison of Carbon Credits
Compliance vs. Voluntary Markets
Compliance markets are larger and more stable, with prices tied to regulatory caps.
Voluntary markets are more volatile but offer flexibility and innovation in project types.
Voluntary vs. Compliance Carbon Markets
Feature | Voluntary Market | Compliance Market |
|---|---|---|
Participation | Voluntary, open to all | Mandatory for regulated industries |
Price Drivers | Corporate sustainability goals, brand value | Regulatory caps, penalties |
Project Types | Diverse (nature-based, tech-based) | Focused on regulated sectors |
Standards | Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo | Government-led (e.g., EU ETS, CORSIA) |
Price Range (2026) | €7–€500 per ton | €16–€89 per ton |
If you'd like to deepen your knowledge on the difference between Voluntary and Compliance market, we can recommend Regreener’s guide on voluntary and compliance markets. For deepening your knowledge on the Voluntary Carbon Market specifically, we are happy to provide your with further background.
Forecast for 2026 and Beyond
Short-Term (2026–2030)
Price trends: Average carbon prices are expected to rise to €30 per ton by 2040, with nature-based credits leading the growth.
Market size: The voluntary carbon market is projected to grow at a 20.59% CAGR, reaching €15 billion by 2035.
Supply outlook: BloombergNEF forecasts supply to surge 20- to 35-fold by 2050, driven by nature-based and technology-based solutions.
Long-Term (2030–2050)
Technology-based removals will play a larger role as costs decrease and scalability improves.
Regulatory integration: Compliance markets may increasingly accept high-quality voluntary credits, boosting demand.
Source: BloombergNEF Long-Term Carbon Credit Supply Outlook
The Size and Growth of the Voluntary Carbon Market
The voluntary carbon market has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, reflecting the increasing urgency of global climate action and the rising number of corporate net-zero commitments. As of 2026, the voluntary market is valued at roughly €3 billion, with projections pointing to around €15 billion by 2035 (a CAGR near 20%). Estimates vary widely by source, so treat these figures as directional rather than precise.
This expansion is driven by stronger ESG reporting requirements, heightened climate accountability, and a growing preference for nature-based projects, which currently account for nearly half of all voluntary carbon credit demand. As more companies integrate carbon credits into their decarbonization plans, whether to offset residual emissions, strengthen brand reputation, or meet stakeholder expectations, the market is set to become a cornerstone of corporate sustainability strategies.
With over 58% of carbon credit buyers prioritizing projects that deliver ecological co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and community upliftment, the voluntary market is not only growing in size but also evolving in scope, offering diverse solutions to address the climate crisis.
"We see a significant uptake in the market. Companies that are committed to fighting climate change come to realize that the only effective tool to take responsibility for your residual emissions, is to support high quality projects. Our clients increasingly spend more euro's per tonne, to fund measurable climate impact and to eliminate greenwashing risks.
Bernard de Wit - Founder Regreener
Securing supply before prices rise? Offtake agreements let you pre-finance high-integrity projects and lock quality credits for future vintages. See how Regreener structures offtake agreements.
How to Approach Carbon Credit Procurement
Best Practices for Procurement
Prioritize high-integrity credits: Focus on projects with robust additionality, permanence, and co-benefits.
Diversify portfolios: Balance nature-based and technology-based credits to manage risk and cost.
Stay informed: Monitor regulatory changes and market trends to anticipate price movements.
Avoid greenwashing: Ensure credits align with science-based targets and avoid double-counting.
Our client BDO is funding multiple projects to offset residual emissions. The company keeps a diversified portfolio and prioritises high-integrity to ensure maximum impact.
Increased volumes in the market
Increasingly, we see companies choosing offtake transactions for high quality projects. Companies help pre-financing projects and thereby secure a steady supply of high quality credits towards the future.
Source: Allied Offsets - Voluntary Carbon Market 2025 Review
Conclusion
In 2026 the market rewards buyers who can tell a high-integrity credit from a cheap one, and it penalises those who cannot. The price gap between the two is the clearest signal of where quality sits, and it widens every time ICVCM Core Carbon Principles and SBTi guidance tighten what qualifies. Buyers who build that judgement into procurement now will not be repricing their portfolios under pressure later.
Budgeting a high-integrity carbon portfolio? Talk to Regreener’s team for a quality-first price on credits matched to your reporting needs. Get started.
For tailored advice on carbon credit procurement, we are happy to provide you with advice. You can also explore our carbon credit services further online. Interested in budgeting high quality carbon projects? Try our calculation tool below.
