Based on the strain energy considering the effect of dead loads, the general form static equilibrium differential equations were formulated by means of the potential energy principle. The approximate solutions of live load or later load displacement including the effect of dead loads for the clamped rectangular plate and the simply supported rectangular plate were generated by the Galerkin method. These formulas are simple and clear, and their physical concepts are explicit. The correctness of these formulas was verified by the finite element method. The dead loads and other factors that influence the effect of dead loads are shown by these formulas. The effect of dead loads on the two different boundary condition rectangular plate were analyzed by these approximate solutions. The effect of dead loads improves the bending stiffness of plate and minimizes the displacement of live loads or later loads. The key physical factors governing the effects of dead loads on plates are the dead load, the ration of span to thickness and boundary condition etc. This effect of dead loads is not negligible, especial in thinner plates or plates with smaller stiffness, more attention should be paid to the effect of dead load in the calculation and analysis for plates.