The linear scaling of the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs and MWNTs) with the specific surface area is investigated at ambient temperature (298 K) and technically relevant pressures (0.9-1.6 MPa). All samples are found to adsorb hydrogen reversibly and their adsorption exhibits type-II BET isotherms according to the IUPAC classification. While there is strong sample-dependency on their pressure-composition isotherms, all of them follow the Henry's Law in the pressure range under consideration. A comparison of the observed slope of specific surface area versus gravimetric storage capacity with that of a theoretically predicted one using a hypothetical condensation model and that of chemically modified carbon nanotubes revealed that the hydrogen storage capacity depends on the accessibility of internal surfaces of nanostructured carbon. The linear scaling of hydrogen storage capacity with the respective specific surface area suggests that the hydrogen adsorption in carbon nanotubes depends on the specific surface area and is irrespective of the type of the nanotubes that is used. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.