Evaluation of the results of a carbonization process is usually carried out by means of indicators such as mass yield, energy yield, or balanced mass yield. However these indicators have some limits or drawbacks. A new indicator, the reference mass yield is defined, based on the results of a well-controlled laboratory experimentation. This reference mass yield combines the mass yield and the fixed carbon content of the charcoal. It is a constant independent of the fixed carbon content, hence of the carbonization temperature. Some carbonization results from the literature are evaluated by means of the reference mass yield.