This data set contains total organic carbon (TOC) contents and stable carbon isotope ratios of bulk carbonate and organic carbon in Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Albian) sediments at Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) sites 249, 327, 361, and 511 and Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) Site 693. TOC was measured using a DIMATOC 100 carbon analyzer (Dimatec Corp., Germany). Carbon isotope analyses were performed using a Flash Elemental Analyzer 1112 (Thermoquest) coupled to an MAT 253 gas source mass spectrometer via a continuous flow inlet. Age estimates for individual samples are based on biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy and are calibrated to the GTS2012 time scale of Gradstein et al. (2012).