Methane emissions estimates from the coal sector are highly uncertain. Precise δ¹³C isotopic signatures of methane sources can be used in atmospheric models for a methane budget assessment. Emissions from both underground and opencast coal mines in the UK, Australia and Poland were sampled and isotopically characterised using high-precision measurements of δ¹³C values. Representative isotopic signatures were provided, taking into account specific ranks of coal and mine type.