The work aims to improve the adhesion strength of acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive and optimize the formula for the acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive in the response surface method. With the mass ratio of hard monomer to soft monomer and the mass fractions of emulsifier, initiator and acrylic acid as the investigation factors, and the peel strength of acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive on the PE plate as the dependent variable, multiple fittings of two independent variables were conducted with the software Design-Expert. The corresponding mathematical model and 3D surface were established to obtain the optimal formula for the acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive. Finally, the formula was verified by the experiment. The binomial expression was the best model to describe the dependent variables and independent variables. When the mass ratio of hard monomer to soft monomer was 2.09, and the mass fractions of emulsifier, initiator and acrylic acid were respectively 1.56%, 0.54% and 6.16%, the maximum peel strength could be obtained. When the peel strength was 5.36 kN/m, the peel strength of the blended acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive on the PE plate was the optimal, namely the optimal formula for the acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive. In conclusion, the response surface experiment design method applied to the formula for the acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive can reduce the number of experiments and it can better predict the peel strength of acrylate copolymer emulsion adhesive on the PE plate.