The objective of this study was to estimate cardinal temperatures for germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativar L.) using bilinear, parabolic, and beta distribution functions. Seeds of lettuce were germinated in a growth chamber at 7 constant temperatures: 10, 14, 16, 20, 24, 28, and $32^{\circ}C$. Four replicates of 100 seeds were placed on two layers of filter paper in a 9 cm petri-dish. Radicle emergence of 1 mm was scored as germination. The time course of germination was modeled using a logistic function. These minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures were estimated by regression of the inverse of time to 50% germination rate against the temperature gradient. In bilinear function, minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures were $7.9^{\circ}C$, $23.3^{\circ}C$, and $28.0^{\circ}C$, respectively. In parabolic function, minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures were $9.7^{\circ}C$, $19.5^{\circ}C$, and $29.4^{\circ}C$, respectively. In beta distribution function, minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures were $3.7^{\circ}C$, $20.7^{\circ}C$ and $32.0^{\circ}C$, respectively. Minimum, optimum, and maximum ranges of temperatures were $3.7{\sim}9.7^{\circ}C$, $19.5{\sim}23.3^{\circ}C$, and $28.0{\sim}32.0^{\circ}C$, respectively.