This study presents the preparation of activated carbon from durian shell (DShAC) and durian seed (DSeAC) based by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an activating agent under the nitrogen flow. In order to find the optimum physical characteristics, variation in concentration of KOH, carbonization temperature and duration time was employed. The result shows that activated carbon from durian waste is a promising activated carbon as the highest yield was obtained from the carbonization process that occurs at 400°C for four hours with the KOH concentration is 0.6 M. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.