In automotive industry, because of the consideration of fuel economy, lightweight alloys have been adopted and are expected to be extensively used in the future. Magnesium alloys are among the promising materials, due to their lightweight and good mechanical properties. This study is related to the laser weldability of AZ31B magnesium alloy, an all-purpose wrought alloy with good strength and ductility. A 4kW Nd:YAG laser was used to join AZ31B sheet, and the effects of welding parameter on the quality of lap-welded joints were investigated. As a result of this study, the optimal condition was obtained, and the effect of gap distance was also revealed on the porosity control.