As an important area of ecological protection and economic development, Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone plays a key role in the sustainable development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Based on the data of land use and energy consumption, the carbon income and expenditure of county land use in the economic zone from 2005 to 2020 were calculated. Based on the carbon balance analysis and evaluation system, the counties in the economic zone were divided into four types of carbon balance functional zones. The results show that the carbon emission of land use in Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone showed a significant growth trend.The carbon emission of land use in the economic zone shows the distribution characteristics of high in the east and low in the west, and the carbon absorption is high in the west and low in the east. Its distribution pattern is closely related to the land use level and energy consumption structure.