A novel UWB antenna with a new design approach within a very compact size is presented and its characteristics are investigated. The Minkowski like fractal structure at the edges of octagonal structure helps to obtain the compact dimensions of 13.5 3 16.5 mm 2 . The application of Minkowski like fractal geometry increases the effective length and miniaturizes the antenna size drastically. Further modification in the ground plane by introducing multiple notches generates additional resonance at lower operating frequency and disperses surface current due to the generation of new path, which helps to obtain the desired UWB frequency band 3.1-10.6 GHz. This design approach provides a solution for wideband compact antenna. This miniaturization reduces the fabrication cost, and thus offering an appropriate choice for its applications in wireless devices, body area network, and so forth.