We propose a set of guidelines for the practical design of lensed fiber for the optical coupling of semiconductor lasers in butterfly packages using laser welding. These guidelines have optimized the tradeoff between coupling efficiency and alignment tolerance. Moreover, a radius of curvature of 11 m is shown to be optimal for semiconductor lasers whose divergence angles range from 5 to 30. To experimentally evaluate the design, lensed fibers were assembled by a Nd:YAG laser welding technique in conventional butterfly packages and their coupling efficiencies were 28%–72% without horizontal misalignment compensation.