A transversal surface acoustic wave filter includes an input-side interdigital electrode, an output-side interdigital electrode, and a shield electrode, which are provided on a surface wave substrate. The distance between an excitation point of the input-side interdigital electrode, which is closest to the shield electrode, and an intermediate point between the shield electrode-side end of the input-side interdigital electrode and the input-side interdigital electrode-side end of the shield electrode is in the range of about 0.8.lamda. to about 0.975.lamda., wherein .lamda. is the wavelength of a surface wave.