Laser cutting tests were conducted to investigate the laser cutting characteristics of solid woods such as 25mm-thick white oak(Quercus acutissima) and maple(Acer mono), and wood-based panels such as 15mm-thick medium density fiberboard and particleboard. Test variables were laser power, cutting speed, grain direction, and moisture content. Specific cutting energy was measured and the qualities of cut surface were estimated in constant laser power. Specific cutting energy of white oak was larger than that of maple, and specific cutting energy of medium density fiberboard was smaller than that of particleboard. For both white oak and maple, specific cutting energy of green wood was smaller than that of air-dried wood because weight loss of moisture evaporation in green wood was larger than that in air-dried wood. In laser-cut surface, wood cells were not deformed and damaged, but in circular saw-cut surface fibers were pushed out and cut, and wood cells were deformed severely. However, mechanical surface roughness of saw-cut surface was smoother than that of laser-cut surface because of the existence of undeformed cell cavity in laser-cut surface.