Abstract:　A　large　plate　like　structures　can　undergo　some　severe　ruptures　because　of　the　stress　created　by　the　mass　and　shape.　Ruptures　are　regularly　started　by　surface　cracks.　For　this　aim,　it　is　important　to　evaluate　brutality　of　the　noticeable　cracks,　by　constant　nondestructive　assessments.　In　this　work,　a　novel　method　for　surface　crack　depth　estimation　based　on　Rayleigh　waves　by　electromagnetic　acoustic　transducers　(EMATs)　is　introduced.　The　method　is　based　on　a　position-time　(P-T)　graph　for　direct　transmitted　Rayleigh　waves　between　fixed　transmitter　and　uniformly　movable　receiver　on　surface　of　the　specimen.　The　process　is　repeated　on　different　center　frequencies　both　in　the　experiment　as　well　as　in　two-dimensional　finite　element　method　simulation　on　steel　plates.　One　of　the　specimens　was　without　crack　while　the　other　one　holds　surface　cracks　with　the　depth　ranging　from　3–6　mm.　Results　obtained　from　simulation　and　experiment　were　significant　to　estimate　crack　depth　with　a　maximum　error　of　7.5%.　©　2020,　Pleiades　Publishing,　Ltd.