To discuss the effects of the polymerizing soft and hard monomer ratio on the waterborne varnish properties of acrylate. Waterborne acrylate varnish was prepared by semi-continuous radical emulsion polymerization using butyl acrylate (BA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the soft and hard monomers, and ammonium persulfate as the initiator. By changing the mass ratio of soft monomer and hard monomer in the formula, the effects of monomer ratio on the properties of waterborne acrylate were analyzed, including film-forming property, water absorption and the glass transition temperature as well as its transparency, smoothness, wear resistance and water resistance after coating. The film-forming property, transparency, smoothness and wear resistance of the waterborne varnish were optimal when the soft and hard monomer ratio was 17∶13~2∶3 (close to 1∶1) due to the interactions between hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. The environment friendly waterborne vanish synthesized by the experiment had excellent film-forming property and transparency, which could meet the comprehensive performance requirements for coating of print and paper packaging materials.