We examined various ball-milling parameters which affect the structural and morphological modification of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. In particular, the effect of milling mode and the use of different milling agents were examined. Friction milling mode induced more structural changes than impact milling mode except the use of dry ice as a milling agent. Wet milling was helpful for reducing more effectively the agglomeration of nanotubes than dry milling. The use of hard solid particles such as silica and alumina as milling agents resulted in an effective shortening of nanotubes, but often susceptible to the amorphization and the destruction of crystallinity.