Background: In this study, the use of inexpensive adsorbents, carbonised date seeds (CDS) and carbonised garden cress seeds (CGCS), for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] removal from aqueous solutions was explored. Adsorption experiments (batch) were conducted to investigate the effects of solution pH and the adsorbent dosage as well as contact time, initial chromium concentration and temperature. The results showed that removal efficiency was strongly pH dependent and the optimal pH for both adsorbents was pH 5. Decrease in removal efficiency was observed with increasing initial chromium concentration and temperature. In contrast, increased contact time and adsorbent dosage increased removal efficiency. Under the experimental conditions, maximum removal efficiencies by CDS and CGCS were 94% and 76.5%, respectively. Adsorption kinetics for both adsorbents was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption equilibrium was better described by the Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting the presence of heterogeneity in the adsorbent microscopic structure. According to the results of this study, the adsorption process was exothermic with enthalpy changes of -66.25 and -52.81 kJ mol-1 for CDS and CGCS, respectively, indicating that the adsorption was exothermic. The results indicated that carbonised date seeds had a greater adsorption efficiency compared to carbonised garden cress seeds. Therefore, carbonised date seeds may be an effective, low-cost, and eco-friendly option to remove Cr (VI) from contaminated water.