The anode electrodes in electrolytic production of aluminum are composed of coke particles and binder pitch. A paste consisting of the particles and pitch is made and compacted to form the green anode. The influence of coke particle properties including shape factors and density on the particle packing, compaction behavior of the paste and the final density of green anode was studied. Five sponge cokes and one shot coke from different industrial sources were used in this study. The shape factors and apparent density for different size fractions of particles were measured and the volume fraction of open and closed pores within the particles was determined. The bulk density of the particle bed was measured with and without applying vibration. Inter-particle void fraction was then calculated to determine the packing behavior of the particles. The pastes were made and compacted to make laboratory-scale anodes. It has been revealed that particle shape is an important factor determining the packing properties and compacted density. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.