This paper presents the analysis and experimental validation of selective harmonic elimination in single-phase multilevel inverter using one of the most effective optimization algorithms known as particle swarm optimization. The presented inverter is one of the popular emerging topologies composed of a few switches compared to conventional topologies in order to produce a five-level output voltage. The optimization algorithm is applied to find the optimal commutation angles to implement the selective harmonic elimination by solving a system of transcendental non- linear equations. The results of the computational simulations are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. The method is simple compared with the analytical methods, effective for driving the inverters and inexpensive to apply in real-time using a low-price DSP–Delfino-C2000-TMS320F28379D Chip. The theoretical analysis is verified by simulation using MATLAB/ Simulink environment and an experimental prototype composed of efficient electronic components, respectively. The obtained results of simulations and experiments confirm the effectiveness of the presented modulation method.