The laminar flame velocity of a synthetic gas is calculated numerically with PREMIX and is compared to methane laminar flame velocity. The calculations are performed at different equivalence ratios, initial mixture temperatures and pressures. For each fuel, a correlation for the laminar flame velocity is presented in the form S(L) - S(L)(0) (T(u)/T(0))(alpha)(P(u)/P(0))(beta). The low heating value syngas yields a slower laminar flame velocity than methane, especially around stoichiometry. The laminar flame velocities of methane and wood residue syngas react similarly to the effect of pressure, while numerical results suggest that the laminar flame velocity of syngas is more sensitive to the increase of mixture initial temperature. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.