Operational and thermal characteristics of a thin disk Yb:YAG crystal with a thickness of 0.8 mm were studied using as a pumping source a fiber-coupled 930 nm laser diode. The heat generated in the crystal was dissipated by placing both surfaces in contact with copper plates with central hole, and the dependence of the temperature change in the illuminated spot on hole size was investigated by measuring the spectral change of the lasing peaks. The slope efficiency and optical-to-optical efficiency with respect to the LD pump power were as high as 42.2% and 34.8%, respectively. The temperature at the illuminated spot increased with diode current and with increasing hole size of the copper plate. When the hole size considerably exceeded the crystal thickness, the temperature rise deviated from the linear increase at high pump power.