Abstract-In this paper, we propose a novel compact switchable monopole CPW-fed antenna which has the ability to be used for narrowband as well as UWB applications. A single element antenna to be used for wireless local area network (WLAN) applications is first proposed in this article having overall dimensions of 24 × 30.5 mm 2 . The corresponding antenna has been transformed to UWB frequency range just by utilizing two variable capacitors within the designed structure. The proposed small size, variable, low cost as well as low weight antenna with good propagation characteristics performs well in the WLAN as well as in the UWB frequency band. The proposed antenna is simulated using Ansoft HFSS, and results are validated in CST Microwave Studio suite. The proposed antenna has also been fabricated, and the measured response is correlated with the simulated ones.