Diode-pumped all-solid-state mode-locked Yb lasers can generate femtosecond lasers with high average power and narrow pulse width in 1 μm region. The lasers have important applications in such fields as ultrafast nonlinear frequency conversion, femtosecond optical frequency comb, and ultrafast spectroscopy. Using passive mode-locking and Kerr-lens mode-locking technologies, the femtosecond laser operation is realized in a series of novel Yb-doped laser mediums. In this paper, the progress of diode-pumped all-solid-state mode-locked femtosecond Yb lasers is reviewed. The technical approaches and development prospects of power scaling and pulse shortening are proposed as well.