Laser metal deposition (LMD) has become a popular choice for the fabrication of near-net shape complex parts. Plastic deformation and residual stresses are common phenomena that are generated from the intrinsic large thermal gradients and high cooling rates in the process. Finite element analysis (FEA) is often used to predict the transient thermal cycle and optimize processing parameters; however, the process of predicting the thermal history in the LMD process with the FEA method is usually time-consuming, especially for large-scale parts. Herein, multiple 3D FEA models with simple assumptions on the heat source and its loading methods are compared and validated with experimental thermocouple data.