Starch-based carbon was prepared by incomplete carbonation of starch and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, TGA-DSC, infrared spectroscopy and BET. The adsorptions of Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ on the starch-based carbon were investigated. The effects of adsorbent dosage, pH value, adsorption temperature and initial metal concentration on the adsorption capacity were investigated in detail. The removal percentages of heavy metal ions increased with adsorbent dosage increase. The optimum pH values were found to be 7.0 for Cu2+, 6.0 for Pb2+, 8.0 for Cd2+ and 8.0 for Zn2+, respectively. Higher temperature was in favor of adsorption. The adsorption behaviors were well fitted to the liner Langmuir isotherms equation.