This paper analyzes the fatigue-life of welded joints using the notch stress approach. In the notch stress approach, the notch effects are usually approximated by introducing weld-bead parameters for the local detailed weld joints. The actual bead shape is complex and 3-dimensional. It may also greatly influence the fatigue strength. In this study, the welded shape was modeled using a 3D-scanner. The critical distance method was adopted in the evaluation of the fatigue effective notch stress for the weldments. Fatigue life tests were performed to verify the present method of fatigue life estimation for two types of welded plates with longitudinal attachments. The estimated results of the present methods were applied to the results of the experiment. The results of the analysis showed that the scatter of fatigue-life for the experimental data expressed in the nominal stress was significantly reduced by applying the effective fatigue stress of the present study.