[Objective] The characteristics of carbon emissions from cultivated land use and their decoupling relationship with grain yield were investigated to provide a scientific basis for coordinating the reduction of carbon emissions from cultivated land use and grain security in the North China Plain. [Methods] Based on data from 45 cities in Shandong, Hebei, and Henan provinces in the North China Plain from 2001 to 2021, the spatial and temporal evolution and influencing factors of carbon emissions from cultivated land use and the decoupling relationship between these emissions and grain yield were analyzed using the carbon emission coefficient method, spatial autocorrelation analysis, spatial Durbin model, and Tapio decoupling model. [Results] ① From 2001 to 2021, the total carbon emissions from cultivated land use in the three provinces of the North China Plain exhibited an inverted U-shaped pattern, with fertilizer as the main carbon source, accounting for 51.67% of the total emissions. The total carbon emissions from cultivated land use in Shandong and Henan provinces were higher than those in Hebei Province, and the carbon emission structure differed among the three provinces. ② Spatially, the carbon emissions from cultivated land use in the three provinces of the North China Plain generally shifted from a high-carbon stage to a low-carbon stage, with notable differences in carbon emission levels among different cities. ③ The carbon emissions from cultivated land use generally showed positive spatial agglomeration characteristics, and the degree of agglomeration tended to strengthen, with spatial coherence expanding in high-high type clustering areas, while low-low type clustering areas were more dispersed. ④ The agricultural economic level, rural electricity consumption, and fertilizer application intensity had positive effects on carbon emissions from cultivated land use, while the urbanization level had negative effects. The urbanization level and rural electricity consumption had positive spatial spillover effects, while the agricultural economic level had negative spatial spillover effects. ⑤ The decoupling state between carbon emissions from cultivated land use and grain yield shifted from mainly weak decoupling with expansive negative decoupling to mainly strong decoupling with recessive decoupling. [Conclusion] Organic fertilizers and precise fertilization techniques should be encouraged to use; emission reduction measures should be formulated according to the different carbon emission structures of each province; the adaptability of grain varieties should be enhanced, and inter-regional coordination and interaction should be strengthened.