AbstractA compact, lightweight, and low‐cost planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) for wireless LAN communication in the 5‐GHz band is designed. The antenna is designed with the use of the IE3D, a simulation tool by Zeland, Inc. The rectangular planar element of the standard type PIFA is modified as a L‐shape element to increase the spatial efficiency. The characteristics of the implemented antenna are measured and analyzed. The antenna is resonated at 5.25 GHz, and its bandwidth is about 580 MHz under the condition of VSWR ≤ 1.5. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 469–475, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10498