The high efficiency continuous wave and wavelength tuning properties of a diode-pumped domestic Yb∶YAG ceramic laser is studied. The laser performances of ceramics with different atomic fractions (1%、2%、5%、 10%、15%) and thickness (3、6 mm) are compared. The highest output power of 2.4 W is obtained from a 3 mm 15 % doping ceramic, pumped by an absorbed pump power of 6.3 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 47% . Wavelength tuning is realized by inserting a prism in the laser cavity, and the broadest tuning range is from 1017 to 1095 nm. The experimental results indicate the high-quality Yb∶YAG ceramic is a promising candidate in highpower all-solid-state ultrashort pulse generation and amplification.