The absorption, emission and potential laser properties of silicate glasses doped with Yb 3 + ions are investigated in detail. The emission cross-sections (σ e m i ) are calculated on the basis of reciprocity method according to the measured absorption spectra. The potential laser properties for Yb 3 + -doped glasses are evaluated by the minimum fraction of Yb 3 + (β m i n ), the pump saturation intensity (I s a t ), the minimum pump intensity (I m i n ), and the product of emission cross-section (σ e m i ) and fluorescence lifetime (τ f ). The σ e m i near 1020 nm and τ f of Yb 3 + in 61SiO 2 -25PbO-6Na 2 O-8K 2 O glass are 0.49 pm 2 and 2.00 ms, respectively, which are comparable to those in phosphate glasses. Systematical factor of laser properties (SFL) is introduced to evaluate the potential laser properties of Yb 3 + -doped glasses, the results indicate that Yb 3 + -doped silicate glasses are potential materials for double cladding ytterbium fiber laser application.