7 Differences Between Biochar and Charcoal

Biochar and charcoal look similar and are produced through related thermal processes, oftentimes causing confusion on the difference between the two.

At first glance, they appear to be the same black, carbon-rich substance. However, when you examine their purpose, production processes, and impact on the environment, soil, and human use, the differences become clear and highly significant.

This article will explain the differences between biochar and charcoal in various aspects. Let’s go over them.

1. Purpose and Typical Applications

The most fundamental difference between biochar and charcoal lies in why they are made and how they are intended to be used.

Biochar is produced specifically as a soil amendment and environmental material. Its primary purpose is to improve soil, enhance soil health, support plant growth, and lock carbon into a stable form for long-term carbon sequestration.

Biochar is not meant to be burned. Instead, it is designed to interact with soil, roots, microbes, water, and nutrients over long periods of time. Typical applications include:

• agriculture, 

• horticulture, 

• land restoration, 

• compost blending, and 

• environmental management.

In these settings, biochar helps retain nutrients, improve water-holding capacity, stabilize organic matter, and increase overall soil resilience.

Charcoal, by contrast, is produced primarily as a fuel. Its purpose is to be burned to generate heat. This includes traditional lump charcoal as well as widely used charcoal briquettes for cooking and grilling. Charcoal is optimized for ignition, burn consistency, and energy output rather than long-term interaction with soil or ecosystems.

While charcoal does see limited non-fuel use, its typical applications remain focused on cooking, heating, and industrial thermal processes—not soil improvement or environmental remediation.

2. Production Process

Both biochar and charcoal are made by heating biomass in limited or absence of oxygen, a condition that prevents complete combustion and converts organic material into a carbon-rich solid. However, the production processes differ significantly in control, intent, and outcome.

Biochar production is carefully managed to optimize stability and structure. Parameters such as temperature, heating rate, and residence time are selected to create a highly porous, durable form of carbon. The goal is to preserve carbon in a stable state while developing a structure that performs well in soil.

WasteX biochar equipment, optimized for high-quality biochar production

Charcoal production focuses on efficiency and fuel performance. The process prioritizes yield and burn quality rather than surface chemistry or long-term stability. Many charcoal products are produced with minimal concern for how the material behaves outside of combustion.

These differences in production directly influence how biochar and charcoal perform in soil, in the environment, and as carbon based materials.

3. Feedstock and Raw Materials

Both materials originate from biomass, but feedstock selection plays a more critical role in biochar quality than in charcoal production.

Biochar can be produced from a wide range of organic matter, including agricultural residues, forestry waste, and other plant-based materials. Feedstock choice affects nutrient content, ash composition, surface area, and compatibility with different soil types. 

Moreover, since biochar is intended for soil use, feedstocks are selected to minimize contaminants and maximize agronomic benefit.

Charcoal feedstocks are typically chosen for availability and fuel performance. While often wood-based, charcoal feedstock selection is less focused on downstream environmental effects and more focused on combustion behavior.

4. Physical and Chemical Properties

Although both materials are carbon based, their physical and chemical properties differ in ways that strongly affect their function.

Biochar is engineered to have a high surface area and extensive pore structure. These pores allow biochar to retain water, nutrients, and microorganisms. Chemically, biochar is relatively stable, resisting breakdown and remaining in soils for decades or longer.

Charcoal generally has a lower and less functional surface area for soil interaction. Its structure is suitable for burning but not optimized for nutrient exchange or microbial habitat. As a result, charcoal does not perform reliably as a soil amendment.

These differences explain why biochar improves soil while charcoal does not deliver consistent agronomic benefits.

5. Interactions with Soil and Plants

Biochar is designed to actively interact with soil systems. When properly produced and applied, it improves aggregation, enhances aeration, and supports microbial communities that drive nutrient cycling. Over time, this contributes to improved soil health and more resilient plant growth.

Biochar works best when applied with compost or other organic amendments. When unconditioned, fresh biochar can temporarily adsorb nutrients, but once charged with nutrients and microbes, it helps retain them and reduces losses through leaching—making it particularly valuable in degraded or nutrient-poor soils.

Charcoal, especially commercial briquettes, is not designed for soil application and may contain binders or additives. In some cases, it can immobilize nutrients or introduce unwanted residues, which is why it is generally not recommended as a soil amendment.

6. Carbon Sequestration and Environmental Impact

One of the most important distinctions between biochar and charcoal is their role in the carbon cycle.

Biochar enables carbon sequestration by converting biomass into a stable form of carbon and placing it into soil, where it can remain for long periods. This process removes carbon from the active carbon cycle while simultaneously improving soil function, making biochar a rare example of a material that delivers both climate and agricultural benefits.

Charcoal does the opposite. When used as intended, it is burned, releasing its carbon content back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. As a fuel, charcoal does not provide long-term carbon storage or climate mitigation benefits.

7. Safety, Additives, and Quality Control

Another critical difference lies in purity and additives.

High-quality biochar products are produced with strict control over contaminants and are intended for environmental use. They typically contain no binders or ignition agents and are tested for safety in soil applications.

Many charcoal products, especially charcoal briquettes, contain binders, fillers, and chemical additives to improve burning characteristics. These substances can be harmful to soil organisms and are one reason charcoal is unsuitable for agricultural use.

Summary: Key Differences at a Glance

The difference between biochar and charcoal is foundational. Biochar is a soil-focused, carbon based material designed to improve soil health, support plant growth, and enable carbon sequestration. Charcoal is a fuel designed to be burned for energy.

Although both are produced from organic matter in the absence of oxygen, their production processes, properties, applications, and environmental impacts diverge sharply. Understanding these differences ensures that each material is used appropriately and effectively, whether for agriculture, sustainability, or energy use.