Polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) derived activated carbons were prepared by the acid catalysed polymerization of furfuryl alcohol, followed by potassium hydroxide activation. Activated carbons with apparent BET surface areas ranging from 1070 to 2600m2 g−1, and corresponding average micropore sizes between 0.6 and 1.6nm were obtained. The porosity of these carbons can be carefully controlled during activation and their performance as electrode materials in electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) in a non-aqueous electrolyte (1M Et4NBF4/ACN) is investigated. Carbon materials with a low average pore size (<∼0.6nm) exhibited electrolyte accessibility issues and an associated decrease in capacitance at high charging rates. PFA carbons with larger average pore sizes exhibited greatly improved performance, with specific electrode capacitances of 150Fg−1 at an operating voltage window of 0–2.5V; which corresponds to 32Whkg−1 and 38kWkg−1 on an active material basis. These carbons also displayed an outstanding performance at high current densities delivering up to 100Fg−1 at current densities as high as 250Ag−1. The exceptionally high capacitance and power of this electrode material is attributed to its good electronic conductivity and a highly effective combination of micro- and fine mesoporosity.