The aim of this master thesis is to provide a basic concept for straightening of sheet metal by means of laser radiation. Therefore, the process of laser bending must be analysed precisely to determine and understand the effect of the relevant parameters. These findings can be used subsequently to achieve the elimination of undesirable residual stresses or bumps. At the beginning of this work the physical principles that influence the delay of the flat metal sheets are discussed. Subsequently, the straightening process is described generally for clarifying the demands on the sheet straightening by means of electromagnetic radiation. In the following chapter, the theory of laser radiation is described. Since a CO2-laser is used for the test series, this type of laser is circumstantiated in the same chapter. Afterwards the relationship between the heat input and the forming by laser radiation is treated. Particular attention is given to the absorption of radiation and the heat conduction. In the next section of this paper an analytical model based on the various parameters is mentioned. This model is for the calculation of the impact caused by laser radiation and is valid for the temperature-gradient-mechanism. In the following chapter this analytical model is validated by a test series, which is produced by the CO2-laser provided by the Lehrstuhl für Umformtechnik der MU Leoben. Finally, the acquired knowledge is interpreted, analyzed and, with respect to the question if the presented analytical model can be used for the development of control software for the straightening process, discussed. In the last section of this master thesis moreover future prospects of the application of laser radiation for sheet straightening or shaping in general are given.