Here new periodic structures are proposed for distributed lasers, utilizing the thickness variation introduced in a multilayer thin‐film optical waveguide. Wave propagation in such structures is analyzed. Expressions are derived for the amount of distributed feedback and possible scattering losses. From the coupled‐wave equations, the laser‐oscillation conditions are set up. Computational results for the GaAs&sngbnd;GaxAl1−xAs and dye lasers are presented. The applicability of the proposed scheme for distributed feedback to semiconductor, dye, and solid‐state lasers is discussed.