This study was carried out to investigate the adsorption characteristics of cationic starches onto BKP, BCTMP and talc. Concentration of the unadsorbed cationic starch contained in the supernatant of the pulp or talc slurries was determined using a spectoscopy method and the adsorption isotherm of cationc starch was constructed. When the equilibrium concentration of the cationic starch was low, almost complete adsorption of the starch onto BKP and BCTMP was observed. This indicates that electrostatic attraction is the main driving force for the adsorption of cationc starches onto pulps. BCTMP adsorbed greater amount of cationic starches than BKP since it contained more anionc functional groups on its surface. The adsorption amount of the cationic starch increased as the cationicity of the starches decreased. Surface charge density of the pulp and starch adsorption increased as the pH of the pulp slurry increased. Adsorption amount of the cationic starch onto talc was lower than that onto the pulp due to its low charge density and hydrophobic surface property.