A new substrate integrated waveguide resonator in the form of a square‐ or cross‐shaped pedestal is proposed. The structure is developed from T‐shaped ridge waveguides, and utilises the mode separation characteristics of this type of guide to achieve wider spacing between the first two resonances, as well as miniaturisation of the resonator. Two fourth‐order X‐band filters, one with cross‐coupling, are designed using, respectively, square‐ and cross‐shaped pedestal resonators, and validated by simulation and measurement.