In polymer precursor based activated carbon, the structure of starting material is likely to have profound effect on the surface properties of end product. To investigate this aspect phenolic resins of different types were prepared using phenol, mcresol and formaldehyde as reactants and Et3N and NH4OH as catalyst. Out of these resins two resol resins PFR1 and CFR1 (prepared in excess of formaldehyde using Et3N as catalyst in the basic pH range) were used as raw materials for the preparation of activated carbons by both chemical and physical activation methods. In chemical activation process both the resins gave activated carbons with high surface areas i.e. 2384 and 2895 m2/g, but pore size distribution in PFR1 resin calculated from Horvath-Kawazoe method, contributes mainly in micropore range i.e. 84.1~88.7 volume percent of pores was covered by micropores. Whereas CFR1 resin when activated with KOH for 2h time, a considerable amount (32.8%) of mesopores was introduced in activated carbon prepared. Physical activation with CO2 leads to the formation of activated carbon with a wide range of surface area (503~1119 m2/g) with both of these resins. The maximum pore volume percentage was obtained in 3-20 a region by physical activation method.