The effect of specimen thickness on fatigue crack growth behavior has been carried out by compact tension specimens of thickness of 3mm, 10mm and 25mm for maraging steel and Al 7075-T6. The closure points were determined during the test by means of a clip-gage situated at the notch mouth. Specimen thickness have no apparent influence on the fatigue crack growth rate of maraging steel, but the crack growth rate of 25mm thickness specimen for Al 7075-T6 is faster than that of 3 and 10mm specimens. The difference of crack growth rates can be successfully explained by considering the different stress state of plane strain and plain stress due to the variation of specimen thickness. Also the crack opening ratio of 25mm specimen is greater than those of 3 and 10mm specimens. When a side groove is introduced in a 10mm specimen, the crack growth rate is approximately similar to that of 25mm specimen. The effective thickness expression of $B_e=B_o-(B_o-B_N)^2B_o$ is the most appropriate to evaluate the crack growth rate of side-grooved specimen. Fatigue crack growth rates can be well described by $Delta K_{eff}$ of the crack closure points in regardless of all thickness and side-grooved specimens.