Models for estimation of structural properties of glued laminated timber (glulam) are generally based on the relationship between properties of the individual laminations and properties of the glulam. In this investigation, a recently presented machine strength grading method based on laser scanning of fibre direction fields was applied for determination of axial modulus of elasticity (MOE) profiles along glulam laminations. These profiles were then used to calculate edgewise bending MOE (EB) profiles of glulam beams. The objectives were to investigate the relationship between position of bending failure and position of lowest EB value along investigated beams, and the relationship between the mentioned EB value and bending strength of the beams. It was found that both relationships were rather weak, whereas local bending MOE determined in accordance with EN 408 was predicted with high accuracy on the basis of EB profiles.