A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate made of LiNbO3 having an electromechanical coupling coefficient k whose square is at least about 0.025, at least one electrode that is made of a metal whose density is greater than that of Al or an alloy primarily including the metal or that is composed of laminated films made of a metal whose density is greater than that of Al or an alloy primarily including the metal and another metal, the electrode being disposed on the piezoelectric substrate, a first insulating layer disposed in a region other than a region where the at least one electrode is disposed, the thickness of the first insulating layer being substantially equal to that of the electrode, and a second insulating layer covering the electrode and the first insulating layer. The density of the electrode is at least about 1.5 times greater than that of the first insulating layer.