Starting with two dimensional, scalar wave equation, a variational equation was established for the fundamental TE and TM modes guided in Ti : LiNbO 3 waveguides on the basis of assuming a symmetric Gaussian mode field function in the width direction and two-half Gaussian trial functions in the depth direction. The controllable waveguide fabrication parameters, including channel width, diffusion temperature, initial Ti-strip thickness and diffusion time, dependent of fundamental mode size, effective pump area, coupling efficiency between pump and laser modes, and the coupling loss between a Ti : LiNbO 3 waveguide and a fiber were numerically calculated for Z-cut Er : Ti : LiNbO 3 channel waveguide lasers at three possible emission wavelengths 1532,1563 and 1576 nm and two possible pump wavelengths 1480 and 980 nm . The calculated results were compared with those of Gaussian/Hermite–Gaussian mode field distribution in detail.