In this paper we have studied the adsorption of two nonionic surfactants, Triton X-100 and Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate) onto latexes with different interfacial properties. Four different samples of polystyrene beads were used in this study. A hydrophobic sample was prepared by conventional emulsion polymerization of styrene. Hydrophilic polymer colloids were prepared by the emulsifier-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate in different proportions and acrylic acid. In all cases potassium persulfate was used as initiator. In order to consider the mechanism of the adsorption at the different liquid-solid interfaces, adsorption isotherms under different pH and ionic strength conditions were performed. Electrokinetic characterization and colloidal stability of bare hydrophobic and hydrophilic latexes and the surfactant-latex complexes were compared to understand the effect of the nonionic surfactant on the electric double layer structure. The results showed that Tween 20 and Triton X-100 are adsorbed in the same way on surfaces with different polarity but in different amounts. Hydrophobic interaction is the main driving force in the adsorption. The effect of the adsorption on the electrokinetic properties and stability of the latexes was found to be different for hydrophobic and hydrophilic latexes as a consequence of the dissimilar interfacial properties of these two latex samples.