Tubular carbon cones (TCCs) with nanometer-sized tips and micrometer-sized roots, having a herringbone hollow interior surrounded by helical sheets of graphite coiling around, were grown on Au wires by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). These TCCs exhibit excellent field emission properties with a very low threshold field of 0.27V∕μm and a corresponding current density of about 1μA∕cm2; and a stable emitting current density of 1.9mA∕cm2 can be obtained at only 0.6V∕μm. Their low effective work function of ∼0.0056eV and their conical bases—which effectively reduce the screening effect due to sufficient distance between adjacent tubular cones—are both favorable to field emission enhancement.