【Objective】Little or no research has been done on the carbon footprint and economic benefits of different rice planting patterns at the provincial level. Thus, a systematic analysis of the carbon footprint and economic benefits of different rice planting patterns is of great significance for carbon emission reduction of rice production and the development of low-carbon agriculture.【Method】Based on the survey data of rice farming in Jiangsu Province, the carbon footprint and economic benefits of different rice planting patterns in Jiangsu Province were quantitatively analyzed by using the life cycle assessment method.【Result】The results showed that from 2016 to 2020, the carbon footprint per unit area, the carbon footprint per unit yield, and the carbon footprint per unit value were 11.28-14.39 t·hm^–2,, 1.30-1.52 kg·kg^–1 and 0.49-0.58 kg·yuan^–1, respectively. The carbon footprint per unit area, per unit yield and per unit output value of different rice production and planting patterns were in order of broadcasted seeding rice or manual transplanting rice, mechanical transplanting rice, direct seeding rice. The carbon footprint per unit area of mechanical transplanting rice and manual transplanting rice production showed a decreased trend with the increase of years. Also, the carbon footprint per unit yield of mechanical transplanting rice, manual transplanting rice, and direct seeding rice production showed a decreased trend with the increase of years. Methane emissions from rice fields accounted for the largest proportion, followed by carbon footprints caused by nitrogen fertilization, nitrous oxide emissions from rice fields and carbon footprints caused by irrigation electricity. Nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation electricity were the main driving factors affecting the regional differences in the carbon footprint of different rice planting patterns. The total income of different rice planting patterns was between 2.51×10³- 2.75×10³ yuan·hm^–2, the resource input cost was 1.88×10³- 1.99×10³ yuan·hm^–2, the carbon emission cost was 0.20×10³- 0.25×10³ yuan·hm^–2, and the net income (NI_-CO2) considering carbon emissions was 0.39×10³- 0.64×10³ yuan·hm^–2. The NI_-CO2 of mechanical transplanting rice was lower than that of manual transplanting rice, broadcasted seeding rice and direct seeding rice. This was mainly caused by the higher total income and the lower resource input cost and carbon emission cost of mechanical transplanting rice.【Conclusion】In conclusion, direct seeding rice was the lowest carbon emission rice planting pattern. Considering the carbon emission and economic benefits, machinal transplanting rice was superior to manual transplanting rice, direct seeding rice and broadcasted seeding rice.