A variational solution is obtained for scattering of horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves from cracks in plates. The solution permits a trial function for the displacement jump across the crack in the form of a series with arbitrary coefficients to be inserted in the variational expression for the scattering coefficients. This multiple term variational solution is preferable to one‐term solutions when increased accuracy is desired or when the form of the displacement jump across the crack is not apparent. Numerical results are presented for scattering from edge cracks in plates.