A surface acoustic wave element 1 comprises a piezoelectric substrate 19, IDT electrodes 3, 4, 5 of an odd number not less than three formed along a propagation direction of surface acoustic waves that propagates on the piezoelectric substrate, wherein IDT electrodes 3, 5 of the odd number of IDT electrodes 3, 4, 5 disposed on both sides of an IDT electrode 4 that is located at the center are connected to first and second reference potential terminals 14, 15, respectively, and the first and second reference potential terminals 14 and 15 are formed asymmetrically with respect to a virtual central axis A that passes through the center of the IDT electrode 4 located at the center and provided in a direction perpendicular to the propagation direction.