Effects of pH and ionic strength (I) on copper (Cu) adsorption and the driving force of the reaction in variable charge soils were evaluated from batch studies. Experimental results of Cu adsorption fitted Langmuir model. According to adsorption isotherms, Cu affinity (K L) was greater in the subsoil (0.061-0.468 L kg-1) than in the topsoil samples (0.169-0.359 L kg-1). Maximum adsorption (Ads max) ranged from 1114-2422 mg kg-1 (topsoil) to 1002-1334 mg kg-1 (subsoil). Strong dependence of Cu adsorption on the pH was observed in subsoil samples. Adsorption edges showed sharply increase of Cu adsorption (20-90%) in the 4.0-5.0 pH range. Copper adsorption changed with increase in I and indicated different metal retention mechanisms (outer- and inner-spheres). Adsorption reaction was favorable and spontaneous, as indicated by negative values of the free energy variation (ΔG) and the separation factor K R < 1. Soil-solution interface and Cu adsorption were also thermodynamically described by a theoretical approach.