AsimulationmethodforthethermalanalysisofInAlAs/InGaAs/InPmid--infraredquantumcascadelasers(QCLs)basedonfinite--elementmethod(FEM)ispresented.ThethermaldistributionoftheQCLsonsubstrate--sideorepilayer--sidemountingformsissimulatedandtheresultsarecompared.Resultsshowthattheepilayer--sidemountingformhasmuchbetterheatdissipationcapabilitythanthesubstrate--sidemounting.