In　this　paper,　a　systematic　approach　on　how　to　predict　kinematic　errors　based　on　tolerance　of　machine　tools＇　guideways　is　introduced.　Firstly,　the　truncated　Fourier　series　function　is　applied　to　fit　curve　of　guideways　surface.　Since　geometric　profile　errors　are　regarded　as　a　bridge　between　tolerance　and　kinematic　errors　of　machine　tools＇　guideways,　the　mapping　relationship　between　tolerance　and　geometric　profile　errors　of　machine　tools＇　guideways　is　formulated,　and　the　mapping　relationship　between　geometric　profile　errors　and　kinematic　errors　of　guideways　is　established.　Then,　kinematic　errors　prediction　model　based　on　tolerance　of　guideways　is　subsequently　proposed.　Finally,　simulation　verification　is　conducted　with　this　method.　Simulation　results　show　the　range　of　the　predicted　kinematic　errors　(positioning　error,　y　direction　and　z　direction　straightness　error,　roll　error,　pitch　error,　and　yaw　error)　is　17.12　mu　m,　56.57　mu　m,　70.71　mu　m,　28.28　grad,　141.42　mu　rad,　and　113.14　mu　rad,　respectively.　In　order　to　verify　the　feasibility　and　effectiveness　of　the　presented　method,　a　measuring　experiment　is　carried　out　on　guideways　of　a　gantry-type　five-axis　milling　machine　tools　by　using　a　dual-frequency　laser　interferometer.　The　measured　and　identified　discrete　data　can　be　fitted　precisely　by　Fourier　curve　fitting　method.　The　fitting　results　show　the　range　of　the　measured　kinematic　errors　is　16.96　mu　m,　59.43　mu　m,　68.63　mu　m,　28.65　mu　rad,　135.40　mu　rad,　and　111.58　mu　rad,　respectively.　The　maximum　residual　errors　between　the　predicted　and　measured　values　of　kinematic　errors　are　1.67　mu　m,　5.19　mu　m,　5.50　mu　m,　1.87　mu　rad,　9.81　mu　rad,　and　7.07　mu　rad,　respectively.　Comparing　with　the　measured　results　of　kinematic　errors,　residual　errors　are　considerably　small　and　can　be　neglected.　Therefore,　there　is　no　doubt　that　this　method　is　effective　enough　for　predicting　kinematic　errors　and　can　be　used　to　replace　the　measurement　of　kinematic　errors.　In　the　design　stage　of　machine　tools,　this　approach　is　convenient　for　engineers　to　derive　the　distribution　of　kinematic　errors.　And　its　basic　idea　can　be　applied　to　other　type　of　machine　tools＇　guideways.