Proposed is a new method to determine the characteristic lengths for the failure analysis of composite joint without experiments. New method uses the result that the stress distribution in the characteristic length specimens is linearly proportional to the applied load. The compressive characteristic lengths calculated by the present method are exactly same as the lengths obtained by the conventional method based on experiment. The new tensile characteristic length is defined using the strength of the notched laminate, while previous methods use the strength of the sound laminate. That change allows calculating the tensile characteristic length numerically without experiment like the compressive characteristic length. Finite element analyses are conducted by MSC/NASTRAN. The interface between the fastener and laminate is modeled by the contact surface element. The finite element results based on the new characteristic lengths show the excellent agreement with experimental results for the Graphite/Epoxy composite .joints.