The laser quality transparent СаF 2 :Tm fluoride ceramics has been prepared by hot forming. Comparative study of absorption and emission spectra of СаF 2 :Tm (4mol.% TmF 3 ) ceramic and single crystal samples demonstrated that these materials possess almost identical spectroscopic properties. Laser oscillations of СаF 2 :Tm ceramics were obtained at 1898nm under diode pumping, with the slope efficiency of 5.5%. Also, the continuous-wave (CW) laser have been obtained for СаF 2 :Tm single crystal at 1890nm pumped by a diode laser was demonstrated.