A study on the adsorption of fluoride was conducted using Zr-treated laterite soil as adsorbent. X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the treated laterite soil as adsorbent. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effect of different operating parameters namely, adsorbent dose, initial concentrations of fluoride and contact time on the uptake of fluoride from aqueous solution. A two level three factor (23) central composite design (CCD) was used for determining the optimum experimental conditions and interactions of process variables. The optimum adsorbent dose, initial concentrations of fluoride and contact time were found to be 2.93 g/L, 40 mg/L and 88.5 min respectively. Fluoride removal was 96.32% at the optimum combination of process parameters. This adsorbent can hence be suggested as an appropriate material for the removal of fluoride.