high performance and compact size low pass filters with narrow stopband and sharp cutoff characteristics are highly required in numerous wireless communication systems for noise and interference suppression. In this paper, a compact microstrip LPF with sharp cutoff characteristics is introduced. Defected ground structure (DGS) and defected microstrip structure (DMS) have been used to obtain wide stopband. The proposed filter is composed of two arc-shaped DGS units in the ground plane and a shaped microstrip line where stub and inset feed matching techniques is attached to enhance the pass band characteristics. This structure allows sharp cutoff frequency response and high harmonics suppression. Furthermore, it provides compact filter size without the need for cascading periodic DGS structures. The stop band attenuation is controlled by adjusting the depth of the inset feed and the length of the stub sections. It has a 3 dB cutoff frequency at 1.3725 GHz and it is as small as 20 mm × 19 mm.