The effect of temperature on laser wavelength from a dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) is studied. It is found that the laser wavelength is red shifted with the temperature rise. For a thin dye-doped CLC sample, the laser wavelength abruptly jumps at a certain temperature and then slightly decreases with the temperature rise within a certain temperature range. When the sample is thick enough, i.e. the sample thickness is more than 25 μm, the laser wavelength almost increases linearly with the temperature rise. The physical mechanism of this phenomenon is analyzed, theoretical simulation is performed, and the simulation result is consistent with the experimental result. The property that the laser wavelength increases linearly with the temperature rise can be used for temperature sensors.