This paper deals with thermal characteristic analysis of induction motors for machine tool spindle for motion error prediction. Firstly, the inverse design of general induction motors for machine tool spindle has been performed by design principles. Characteristics considering VVVF inverter of induction motors were analyzed. Secondary, power loss and thermal characteristics of induction motors analyzed by equivalent thermal resistance model from Motor-CAD S/W. To develop a second-order fitted power-loss distribution model for the constant-torque operating range of the induction motor, we employed the design of experiment and response surface methodology techniques. Finally, the analysis results were experimentally verified, and the validity of the proposed analysis method was confirmed.