Binder is an important ingredient in pigment coating as it is used to impart adhesion, gloss and flexibility to the dried film as well as binding the pigment particles together. The aim of this work was to synthesize polymeric binders via radical copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) with maleic anhydride (MA) and with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). The chemical structures of the prepared binders were characterized by FTIR and ¹HNMR analysis. The rheology of the prepared binders was also investigated. The prepared binders were applied in paper coating suspensions and their effects on optical, mechanical, and physical properties in addition to printability of the coated paper were studied. The results showed that acrylic maleic anhydride copolymers increased the adhesion, gave good film forming properties and good surface activity which increased print quality of paper coating. It was also found that MA/AA (50:50) and the blend between MA/AA (50:50) with AMPS:AA (30:70) have more suitable coating film properties and have highest pick resistance which is resemble to the commercial binder.