This research was intended to evaluate the effect of carboxymethylcellulose(CMC) on the coating structure and surface strength of coated paper prepared with amphoteric latex based coating color. Printability and optical properties of coated papers were compared. The influence of the consolidation behavior of coating color on the coating structure and the surface strength of coated paper was investigated. Compared with the conventional anionic latex, amphoteric latex formed bulkyer, smoother and more porous coating layer, which in turn, restricted binder migration in the coating layers, and facilitated immobilization of coating colors. However, dry pick strength of coated paper was decreased. The addition of CMC to these systems had strongly influenced on. the consolidation behavior and porosity in the dry state, through forming the network structure of coating layers by the interaction with amphoteric latex particles. Thus, printability and optical properties of coated papers were improved. Results indicated that amphoteric latex could be practically applied to the paper coating to improve printability and optical properties of coated papers.