A surface acoustic wave filter element has

• a piezoelectric substrate; and
• a plurality of inter-digital transducer (IDT) electrodes formed on the piezoelectric substrate,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of IDT electrodes is connected to a balanced type terminal and other IDT electrodes are connected to balanced type terminals or unbalanced type terminals, and
• first wiring electrode means which is connected or to be connected to the at least one IDT electrode and second wiring electrode means which is connected or to be connected to the other IDT electrodes are disposed on planes different from each other.