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Carbon fiber and carbon fiber disc microelectrodes are widely used for electrochemical detection of biochemicals released from cells. However, fabricating these types of microelectrodes is difficult and time-consuming. Here, we report an easy-to-fabricate, carbon powder-filled microelectrode consisting of a pulled glass capillary backfilled with carbon powder. Carbon tip size and responsiveness can be controlled by adjusting the settings of the puller. Carbon powder-filled microelectrodes with tip opening diameters of 7–24 μm detected sub-micromolar to sub-millimolar levels of dopamine and catecholamines released from PC-12 cells. This simple microelectrode should promote further work on cellular and tissue electrochemistry. [Display omitted] • Carbon fiber microelectrodes are standard tools for cellular electrochemistry. • However, fabrication of such a microelectrode is difficult and time-consuming. • We devised an easy-to-fabricate carbon powder-filled microelectrode. • This electrode could be used for detecting biochemical release from a living cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]