This study investigates the characteristics of biochar by slow pyrolysis at 500oC for various biomass residues. Six biomass materials were tested: Tree bark, Tree stem, bagasse, cocopeat, paddy straw and palm kernel shell. In the biochar yield, the effect of ash in the raw biomass was significant for paddy straw. Excluding the ash content, the timber bark, bagasse and paddy straw had a similar biochar yield of 26-29 wt.%. Tree stem and bagasse had well developed pores in a wide size range and large surface area over 200 m2/g. ocopeat and PKS has significantly higher biochar yield due to the increased content of lignin, but the development of intra-particle pores and microscopic surface area was very poor. The elemental composition, pH and other properties of the biochar samples were also compared.