[Objective] The carbon storage effect and the driving factors in the transformation of productive-living-ecological space in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area were analyzed in order to provide scientific reference for the high-quality development of the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area under new circumstances. [Methods] Spatial analysis, InVEST, and GeoDetector were comprehensively utilized to reveal the transformation characteristics of the productive-living-ecological space, carbon storage effect, and main influencing factors in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area. [Results] ① From 2000 to 2020, the living space in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area continued to expand, while the production and ecological spaces continued to shrink. The transformation of the production-living-ecological space primarily manifested in the shift from agricultural production, woodland ecological, and grassland ecological spaces to industrial production and urban living spaces. ② Over the past 20 years, carbon storage in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area decreased by 1.57×10⁷ t. The shift of forest ecological space to industrial production (34.75%) and grassland ecological (16.73%) spaces, as well as the shift of agricultural production space to industrial production (12.92%) and urban living (7.63%) spaces, were significant reasons for the decrease in carbon storage. The spatial distribution of carbon storage exhibited a decreasing trend from the hilly mountains in the west to the coastal plains in the east. ③ The natural environment and social economy emerged as the primary factors influencing regional carbon storage, with location conditions exerting minimal influence. Notably, the gross output value of the secondary and tertiary industries, along with slope consistently played significant roles in carbon storage in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area. Moreover, the interaction among all factors significantly amplified their impact on carbon storage. [Conclusion] Future efforts should prioritize the protection of ecological space and promote the region’s role as a leading economic growth pole to achieve the coordinated progress of carbon emission reduction and economic development in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Quanzhou metropolitan area.