Abstract: In this paper, a universal method for construction of rectangular elements for thinthick plates is proposed. By using this method. two 12 DOF locking-free thick plate rectangular elements, ADS1 and ADS2, are constructed. The elements degenerate to thin plate elements automatically when the thickness of plates approaches to the limit of thin plate. As a result, shear locking is avoided. Numerical examples show that the elements are effective for a large range of thickness-span ratios, and have the advantages of high accuracy, good convergence and stability.