Dissimilar　joining　of　6　mm　thick　steel/Al　butt　joints　was　carried　out　using　a　novel　laser　offset　welding　process.　The　effect　of　the　different　locations　at　the　interface　on　the　intermetallic　compound　(IMC)　layers　of　the　joints　produced　by　two　different　laser　powers　was　investigated.　Microstructure　inhomogeneity　of　the　IMC　layers　was　investigated　in　terms　of　phase　morphology,　thickness,　grain　size,　main　component　and　phase　compositions.　As　a　result,　the　IMC　layer　at　the　interface　has　the　same　phase　types　consisting　of　eta-Fe2Al5　and　theta-Fe4Al13　phase　for　the　three　locations　produced　by　two　laser　powers.　However,　the　morphology　of　the　theta-Fe4Al13　phases,　the　grain　size　and　the　thickness　of　the　eta-Fe2Al5　layers,　and　the　predominant　component　in　the　IMC　layers　is　strongly　affected　by　the　laser　powers　and　the　locations　at　the　interface.　The　highest　UTS　of　85.5　MPa　is　obtained　at　the　middle　location　due　to　the　formation　of　the　thinner　eta-Fe2Al5　layers　and　the　minimum　amount　of　theta-Fe4Al13　phases.　Decreasing　laser　energy　inputs　effectively　improves　the　IMC　layer　uniformity,　and　the　influence　of　locations　at　the　interface　on　the　IMC　layer　thickness　will　be　weakened　with　further　decreasing　the　energy　inputs.　The　heating　temperature　at　the　interface　has　a　very　important　impact　on　the　thickness　of　the　eta-Fe2Al5　layer　attributed　to　the　ferrite　or　austenite　phases　appeared　in　the　steel　substrate　affecting　the　growth　rate　of　the　eta-Fe2Al5　layers.