Compact Microstrip band pass filter (BPF) with nearly 4 GHz bandwidth based on defected ground structures (DGS) is proposed in this paper. Novelty of the design lies in the method of coupling and the defects used. Stepped Impedance Resonator (SIR) DGS and an L-shaped defect are introduced in the design. The width of the SIR-DGS is used to vary the coupling. The key advantage of this configuration is the bandwidth and resonant frequency of the filter can be varied by varying the dimensions of the defect and the horizontal extension on the top layer while the overall component size remains the same. The design has 0.8-1 dB of insertion loss and reflection loss better than 24 dB around the resonant frequency. The total size of the filter is 15 mm × 18.4 mm. © 2016 IEEE.