LDPE pyrolysis experiments were conducted using acid activated or Al-pillared domestic bentonites as catalysts. The effects of the characteristics of upgraded bentonites on the rate of production and boiling point distribution of the pyrolysis oil were investigated. With acid activation using HCl or NH4Cl, the BET specific surface area and pore volume of bentonites increased and cationic ion exchange also occurred. The increase of BET specific surface area and pore volume was more pronounced with HCl rather than with NH4Cl. With the acid activated bentonites as catalysts, the rate of production and boiling point distribution of pyrolysis oil was greatly improved. This improvement was more pronounced with HCl and may be attributed to the increased acidity of bentonites due to the cationic ion exchange on the one hand and the increase of BET specific surface area and pore volume with strong acid activation on the other hand. The increase of BET specific surface area of bentonite with Al pillaring was not sufficient for the improvement of the catalytic activity of bentonite. Al pillaring and acid activation should have followed each other. The effect of Al pillaring of bentonites on the rate of production and boiling point distribution of pyrolysis oil was the most significant with HCl activated bentonite probably because the acid activation was more effective with HCl than with NH4Cl.