Enter the number of pages of paper used and the recycled fraction (recycling rate) into the calculator to estimate the number of trees’ worth of paper avoided. This calculator can also solve for any of the three variables shown when the other two are known.
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Paper To Tree Formula
The following formula estimates the equivalent number of trees’ worth of paper avoided when a portion of the pages used are replaced with recycled paper.
T = (P * R) / S
Variables:
- T is the number of trees saved (estimated)
- P is the number of pages of paper used
- R is the recycled fraction / recycling rate (decimal from 0 to 1)
- S is the number of pages a single tree can produce (often estimated around 8,333 pages for standard copy paper, but it can vary widely)
To calculate the number of trees saved, multiply the number of pages of paper used by the recycled fraction. Then divide the result by the number of pages a single tree can produce.
| Pages Used | Trees Saved |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.001 |
| 25 | 0.002 |
| 50 | 0.003 |
| 75 | 0.005 |
| 100 | 0.006 |
| 125 | 0.008 |
| 150 | 0.009 |
| 200 | 0.012 |
| 250 | 0.015 |
| 300 | 0.018 |
| 350 | 0.021 |
| 400 | 0.024 |
| 450 | 0.027 |
| 500 | 0.030 |
| 600 | 0.036 |
| 750 | 0.045 |
| 1,000 | 0.060 |
| 1,500 | 0.090 |
| 2,000 | 0.120 |
| 5,000 | 0.300 |
| * Rounded to 3 decimals. Assumes recycling rate r = 0.50 (50%) and S ≈ 8,333 pages/tree. Formula: Trees Saved = (Pages × r) / 8,333. At r = 0.50, about 16,666 pages ≈ 1 tree saved. | |
How to Calculate Paper To Tree?
The following steps outline how to calculate the number of trees saved using the Paper To Tree formula.
- First, determine the number of pages of paper used (P).
- Next, determine the recycled fraction / recycling rate (R) as a decimal from 0 to 1.
- Next, determine the number of pages a single tree can produce (S).
- Next, gather the formula from above = T = (P * R) / S.
- Finally, calculate the number of trees saved (T).
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
number of pages of paper used (P) = 250
rate of recycling (R) = 0.75
number of pages a single tree can produce (S) ≈ 8,333 (varies). Using this estimate, T = (250 × 0.75) / 8,333 ≈ 0.0225 trees.
