Updated June 19,
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When it comes to medium and large-scale earthmoving projects, dozers are the perfect machines. But how do you pick the right size and model for your job site? Fortunately, we've put together this guide of dozer size charts for every dozer brand, as well as a list of the most important specs to consider and why. Click the links in the table of contents below to navigate to each section.
How Much Does a Bulldozer Weigh?
Bulldozer Specs and Sizes by Brand
CASE
Caterpillar
Develon
Hyundai
John Deere
Komatsu
Liebherr
The Most Important Dozer Specs
Operating Weight
Horsepower
Blade Width
Blade Capacity
Ground Pressure
Renting a Bulldozer
The weight of a bulldozer will depend on its size, model, and intended use. For example, the smallest dozer, the CASE 650M, weighs 16,839 pounds and is used for light construction, landscaping, and residential projects. The biggest bulldozer in the world, the Komatsu D475A, weighs just over 254,000 pounds and is used for heavy-duty mining operations around the world.
A general rule of thumb when looking at dozers is anything under 30,000 pounds is considered a small dozer, between 30,000 to 100,000 pounds is medium-sized, and large dozers are anything over 100,000 pounds.
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Below, we've highlighted several current and past models from the biggest North American bulldozer brands including CASE, Caterpillar, John Deere, Liebherr, and Komatsu.
With operating weights between 16,000 and 85,000 pounds, CASE dozers are great for small and medium-sized earthmoving projects. While the odds of seeing a CASE dozer on a mine are slim, they are great for residential projects, small and large-scale roadwork tasks, and land-clearing for commercial projects.
All CASE models are available with either standard tracks or LGP, making them great for every terrain. However, their blade width and blade capacities are lower than their competitors. This makes them great for smaller earthmoving projects and construction sites where companies like John Deere, Caterpillar, and others might be too big.
With several models ranging from small to large to wheeled, CAT produces the most expansive list of bulldozers in the North American market. Their small dozers include popular models like the CAT D1, D2, and D3 dozers; their medium bulldozers are the CAT D4, D5, D6, D7, and D8; while the CAT D9, D10, and D11 models are all considered large bulldozers. The wheeled models are the CAT 814, 824, 834, 844, and 854.
All of the small and medium-sized CAT dozer models are available with either standard or LGP tracks while their large models only have standard tracks. The blade width is dependent on both the size of the machine and whether you're using an S-blade, U-blade, S-U-blade, or angle blade, as will be the case with many suppliers in this guide. The empty data in the charts is due to the lack of information provided on Caterpillar's website. The CAT D7 and D8 are two models commonly used in waste management which is why their max blade capacity is larger than other brands.
Develon has only two dozers currently in their product portfolio. With operating weights ranging from 23,589 to 31,774 pounds, engines ranging from 115.3 to 146 horsepower, and blade widths from 109" to 144", both the Develon DD100 and DD130 are on the smaller side of dozer sizes. Both models can be customized for lower ground pressure applications allowing them to work on any type of terrain.
As a sister company to Develon, the Hyundai HD100 dozer has the same specifications as the DD100. However, it is Hyundai's first and only dozer, limiting the amount of range the brand has against brands like Komatsu, John Deere, and Caterpillar.
Another popular dozer brand is John Deere. With several models being produced currently, all John Deere dozer sizes would be considered small and medium. With blade widths and capacities competing with the other brands in this guide, Deere crawlers are efficient and fill in the size gaps quite nicely if looking for a medium-sized dozer. The John Deere 650, 750, and 850 are some of their most popular sizes, especially for larger, more commercial earthmoving projects.
As a note, the primary difference between the "K" and "P-Tier" models is the name. While some minor upgrades were made, the 450K and 450 P-tier, for example, are going to be very similar in their performance.
While Komatsu dozer sizes include small, medium, and large dozer models, they also produce surface mining dozers like the D375A and D475A. They also have some models, like the D65, D85, and D155, available with waste handler capabilities.
For simplicity's sake, all Komatsu bulldozers listed above are written in their simplest form like "Komatsu D51". However, when navigating their products on their site, there is some important terminology to understand. For example, if a machine has "PX" in the name, it refers to the dozer being a low-ground-pressure model. If the machine has an "EX", that means the Komatsu dozer has standard ground pressure. Lastly, the "WH" in the model name refers to the type of job it's used for, which in this case would be "waste handler". So the Komatsu D85PX-18 WH dozer, for example, would be made for low-ground-pressure, waste-handling environments.
Similar to Caterpillar and Komatsu, Liebherr dozers are great options for small, medium, and large-scale earthmoving, mining, and clearing projects. With several dozers, their PR 716, 726, and 736 are designed for earthmoving and road construction, the PR 746 and 756 are for heavy-duty material handling, and the PR 766 and 776 are utilized in mining and big projects. Liebherr's crawlers come equipped with either standard or LGP options except for their biggest model, the Liebherr 776.
Now that we've covered all the brands and their models, it's time to break down why we've focused on operating weight, horsepower, blade with, blade capacity, and ground pressure as the specs. All of these factors should be top of mind for contractors when looking to rent or purchase a dozer.
Knowing the operating weight of a dozer is crucial because operating weight significantly affects transportation and logistics, as different weights require various types of trailers or transport permits, impacting overall costs and logistics planning. Additionally, the weight of the dozer determines its suitability for specific job sites; for instance, heavier dozers may not be ideal for soft or unstable ground, while lighter dozers might struggle with tough, rocky terrain.
Performance and productivity are also influenced by the operating weight, with heavier dozers typically offering more pushing power and the ability to handle larger loads, which is essential for certain tasks. Moreover, fuel efficiency is affected by the dozer's weight, as heavier machines generally consume more fuel, leading to higher operating costs over time'an important factor when estimating project budgets and timelines.
Knowing the horsepower of a dozer is essential for contractors as it directly affects the machine's performance and efficiency. Higher horsepower means more power for pushing heavy loads and completing tasks more quickly, which can significantly impact project timelines and productivity. It can also help in estimating fuel consumption and operational costs, which are critical for accurate budgeting and cost management.
Getting an idea of the blade's width is important because it determines the machine's capacity to move material and the efficiency of clearing or grading large areas. A wider blade can cover more ground in a single pass, improving productivity and reducing project time. Additionally, the blade width needs to match the job site's requirements and constraints, such as space limitations or specific task needs. Several different blade types can be equipped on dozers that will affect both the blade width and capacity, as well as the operating weight.
The blade capacity of a dozer indicates the volume of material the dozer can move in a single pass. A larger blade capacity allows for more efficient material handling, reducing the number of passes needed and increasing overall productivity. Understanding blade capacity helps match the dozer to the specific demands of the project, ensuring the machine can handle the required workload effectively. Additionally, this knowledge aids in planning and estimating project timelines and operational costs accurately.
The last spec we've highlighted is the dozer's ground pressure. This is important because it affects the machine's ability to operate on different types of terrain. Lower ground pressure is beneficial for soft or sensitive ground, as it reduces the risk of sinking or causing excessive ground disturbance. Conversely, higher ground pressure can provide better traction on firm or rocky surfaces. If you're working on a golf course or finished residential landscape, low-ground-pressure models will be ideal while high-ground-pressure models will work better on mines and rougher terrains.
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