In order to reduce the size of dual-mode microstrip filters by keeping excellent performance, novel filter geometry is proposed. The novel filter includes a dual-mode resonator based on a meander structure. The effect of input/output feed lines located along a straight line on filter response is investigated for the dual-mode filter. The coupling between degenerate modes of the proposed dual-mode microstrip resonator is discussed depending on the perturbation size. The two dual-mode microstrip bandpass filters with real axis and imaginary axis transmission zeros (TZs) are designed, fabricated, and measured to document the validity of the description of the positive and negative coupling coefficient