A practical, jobsite-focused guide to the three most useful skid steer grading attachments: the land leveler or land plane, the box blade, and the 6 way dozer blade. We will break down what each tool actually does, where it wins, which specs matter, and how laser or 3D control changes your day. If you grade driveways, prep pads, reshape yards, or push material on uneven ground, this guide gives you the playbook to choose the right attachment and run it well.

What Each Skid Steer Grading Attachment Does

Land leveler or land plane

A land leveler is a flat, heavy frame with two cutting bars and a grate or bar deck that lets fines pass while trapping clods. It floats on its own long skids so the tool averages highs and lows and leaves a uniform surface. Think of it as a self-straightening screed for compacted base, gravel drives, and large pads. Because it carries rather than pushes, it is extremely forgiving and fast in finish work.

Where it shines: driveway smoothing and crowning, finish grading of stone base, topsoil grooming before seed, quick pad prep where accuracy matters more than deep cut.

Box blade

A skid steer box blade is a box with side plates, a forward and rear cutting edge, and often ripper teeth. It pulls material into the box, meters it forward, and spreads evenly as you move. Because it holds material, the box blade can fill lows while shaving highs in one pass. Add rippers and you break hardpan, then flip them up and finish grade.

Where it shines: moving and placing base or topsoil, building or repairing gravel roads, cutting shallow swales, cutting pads to a line without losing material off the sides.

6 way dozer blade

A 6 way (tilt, angle, raise/lower) blade turns your skid steer or CTL into a nimble dozer for short runs. It cuts, angles windrows, tilts for cross slope, and excels on rough or hilly ground. The blade does not carry material like a box; it pushes and casts it. On broken terrain the ability to tilt and angle is king.

Where it shines: rough grading on slopes, building or repairing crowns on long runs, ditch maintenance, plowing and casting material where you need a windrow off either side.

These tools overlap. Many crews keep a land plane for quick finish, a box blade for moving and metering material, and a six way blade for slopes and windrows. If you must pick one, choose the tool that matches your ground and tolerance for error.

When to Use a Land Plane or Leveler

Do you need a uniform surface with minimal drama? Are you correcting washboard, ruts, or minor high/low spots in compacted gravel? Do you want a tool that new operators can run well on day one? A land plane is built for this. It does three jobs at once: it slices high spots with the leading edge, carries fines across the deck, and backfills lows through the trailing edge. Because the skids are long, the tool averages the surface much like a screed board averages concrete.

Typical jobs

Residential and ranch driveways where washboard and potholes return after every storm.
Final base before pavers or slabs where the spec calls for tight flatness and a slight crown.
Topsoil prep for seed where the goal is smooth and firm, not deep excavation.
Large pad touch-ups between lifts where the roller did the heavy work and you want a consistent plane.

Strengths and tradeoffs

Pros

Fast, forgiving, and leaves a pro finish with minimal practice.
Self-averaging skids reduce operator corrections and arm jiggle.
Lets fines pass and breaks clods into the box rather than pushing them forward.

Cons

Limited cut depth per pass, not a subgrade tool.
Cannot cast material to a windrow like a blade.
Won’t hold a large volume to fill big lows in one go like a box blade.

Surface quality and crown control

Want a crowned driveway that drains? Angle the land plane slightly and bias your passes so the center gets one more light pass than the edges. Because the tool carries fines evenly, you get a subtle crown without waves. If you need sharper crown, a sixway blade will shape it faster, then the land plane can smooth the final texture.

Box Blade Uses for Grading and Spreading

When you need to move and meter material, the box blade is your friend. Side plates keep your payload inside the tool. Twin cutting edges let you cut and carry, then backdrag to finish. Add rippers and you can scarify hard ground before you grade. Because the box blade holds material, it is ideal for building pads and roads where you want to fill as you go instead of leaving windrows to chase later.

Common tasks

Spread and trim stone base to thickness across pads and lanes.
Repair gravel roads by pulling material from shoulders and filling ruts without wasting stone.
Create shallow swales and drainage transitions without a separate dozer mobilization.
Shape building pads to a benchmark, then backdrag for finish texture.

With and without rippers

Rippers make a huge difference in compacted clay or recycled base. Drop them for the first pass to break surface tension and bring aggregate up. Flip them when you start metering. If you rarely fight hardpan, a ripperless box blade saves weight and keeps the center of gravity close to the coupler for better feel.

Metering material like a pro

Carry a modest pile in the box and keep a consistent ground speed so the front edge shaves and the rear edge leaves a uniform thickness.
Turn off aggressive curl corrections and let the skids and side plates do the averaging. Tiny tilt tweaks are better than constant curl motion.
On pads, cross-hatch your last two passes at 45 degrees for a flat surface that checks tight on a laser rod.

If you find yourself dumping piles ahead of the box blade and then struggling to smooth them, pull material from a stockpile into the box and meter as you travel. The tool works best when it is carrying, not chasing mounds.

6-Way Dozer Blade for Rough Terrain Work

Dozer blades on skid steers are all about control on slopes and broken ground. Angle to cast material to a windrow. Tilt to hold a cross slope. Raise or lower as you climb or drop so the cut stays on grade. A good 6-way blade turns a nimble CTL into a tiny dozer for short runs, shoulder repairs, ditch cleaning, and site shaping where space is tight.

Why six motions matter

Up/down sets depth of cut and carry.
Angle casts material left or right without swinging the machine.
Tilt holds cross slope or cuts a bevel along a shoulder.

Use cases

Building or restoring crowns on long driveways.
Cutting shallow ditches and shaping transitions to culverts.
Knocking down spoils piles and shaping pads on rolling terrain.
Pre-cutting slopes that the land plane or box blade will later smooth.

A six-way blade does not hold material like a box blade. If you need to fill large lows in one pass, use the box to move stone and the blade to shape and cast edges cleanly.

Key Specs: Width, Weight, and Cutting Edges

Match width to the machine and the job

As a starting rule, match the attachment width to or slightly wider than your track or tire width so your passes clean up your own marks.
On tight sites, a narrower tool is easier to thread through gates and around obstacles. You can make overlapping passes to cover width.
For long straight runs and road work, a wider tool saves passes, but only if the carrier has the power and hydraulic stability to keep it steady.

Weight and frame stiffness

More weight helps the tool cut and stay planted. Stiff frames keep edges square so you do not scallop. A light, flexible frame will washboard on hard base, and you will chase the error with more passes. Choose the heaviest construction grade tool your carrier can manage without overwhelming the ROC or transport limits.

Cutting edges, teeth, and wear parts

Land plane edges

Often reversible, with one smooth and one serrated edge. Smooth edges finish cleaner on base and topsoil. Serrations bite in hard crust and break clods. Many land planes use two edges in sequence so the first cuts and the second meters.

Box blade edges and rippers

Front edge shaves and loads the box. Rear edge backdrags to finish or spreads in reverse. Rippers should have adjustable depth with sturdy shanks. Replaceable teeth and corner wear plates extend life when you run in abrasive aggregate.

Dozer blade edges

Trip edges protect the carrier if you strike a fixed obstacle. Reversible straight edges are standard. Optional serrated or toothed sections help with crust but can roughen finish if you use them on final passes. Side wings increase carry on small blades but add weight and width.

Spec ranges at a glance

Attachment	Typical width	Weight class	Best paired with	Notes
Land leveler / land plane	72 to 96 in	800 to 1400 lb	Mid to large CTL for finish, small frames for yards	Choose dual edges and long skids for averaging. Add bolt-on side plates if offered.
Box blade (with rippers)	72 to 96 in	900 to 1800 lb	Mid to large CTL for roadwork and pads	Deep box carries more but needs power. Confirm ripper storage and quick flip.
6-way dozer blade	78 to 96 in	900 to 1700 lb	Large CTL for slopes and casting windrows	Look for strong tilt/angle cylinders, guarded hoses, and trip edge options.

Laser and 3D Grading Technology Explained

Machine control is no longer just for big dozers. Skid steer grading attachments can run 2D laser or full 3D GNSS guidance with surprising accuracy. Should you use it? What level makes sense for your work?

2D laser basics

A rotating laser sets a constant plane. Your receiver reads height and tells the valve to raise or lower the blade or land plane to stay on grade.
Single receiver systems control elevation at the centerline. Dual receiver systems control elevation and cross slope simultaneously so crowns and falls stay locked.
2D excels on pads, parking lots, and long straight runs where one plane or simple slopes define the job.

3D GNSS and total station guidance

GNSS with a base station or network provides 3D position. The system compares blade position to the digital model and adjusts continuously.
Total station setups track a prism for high precision in dense sites or under canopy where GNSS struggles.
3D shines on complex pads, variable slopes, or where the design is in CAD and the owner wants as-built proofs.

What about land planes with control

Land planes can run 2D control when fitted with control valves and sensors. Because the tool averages by design, even simple laser receivers make a big difference on large pads. When you need tight tolerance, laser-guided land planes save passes and keep operators from chasing dips they cannot see from the cab.

If your crew is new to machine control, start with 2D laser on a box blade or land plane. Once you see the time savings and fewer rework calls, step into 3D on projects where the math pays back the rental or purchase.

How to Choose the Best Tool for Your Project

Decision matrix

Primary condition	Pick	Why it fits	Setup notes
Compact gravel driveway with washboard	Land plane	Self-averages and reuses fines to fill lows	Run serrated first, smooth second. Light crown with angled passes.
New house pad, import ¾-minus base	Box blade with rippers	Moves and meters base while shaving highs	Rip first lift, cross-hatch, then land plane for final texture if needed.
Road shoulder shaping with drainage	6-way dozer blade	Angle and tilt hold slope and cast material	Cut bevels in long runs, then a light land plane pass to smooth.
Parking lot prep to tight flatness	Land plane with 2D laser	Fast, accurate, repeatable over large area	Dual receiver for cross slope; check elevations every grid panel.
Ranch road rebuild after storms	Box blade	Pulls gravel back from shoulders, fills ruts	Multiple light lifts beat one deep bite. Compact between lifts.

Questions that lock the choice

Is the ground already close to grade or do you need to move volume?
Do you need a windrow off one side or a clean metered spread?
Are slopes and crossfalls the main challenge or is final smoothness the goal?
Will control tech pay for itself on this job or does a skilled operator meet spec without it?

Operator Technique That Saves Passes

Land plane rhythm

Set the loader to float so the skids do the averaging. Resist constant curl adjustments.
Make long overlapping passes. For crown, bias one or two extra light passes near center.
On potholes, start a pass before the hole and carry through it so the deck has time to fill the low evenly.

Box blade pattern

Load the box modestly and keep a steady ground speed. Too much load leads to surge and scallop.
Use rippers only long enough to break surface, then flip and meter. Over-ripping makes soup you cannot finish.
Cross-hatch final passes. Backdrag with the rear edge to erase minor chatter without digging.

6 way blade control

Angle for windrow, tilt to hold cross slope, and keep the nose light. Let the blade cut rather than the machine forcing it.
On long crowns, set a slight tilt and repeat passes in the same direction so the crown builds consistently.
For ditches, take multiple shallow cuts rather than one deep bite that slides the machine sideways.

Moisture makes or breaks finish. Slightly damp base trims crisp and compacts tight. Powder dry base chatters and ravel. Glossy wet clay smears and will not hold shape. If the surface is wrong, water or wait rather than forcing it.

Setup, Inspection, and Maintenance

Before the job

Check quick attach fit and latch pins. Slop becomes chatter and scallop you cannot tune out from the cab.
Inspect cutting edges. Flip reversible edges before they thin and curl. Replace broken or missing bolts to protect the base edge.
Verify hydraulic hoses, couplers, and cylinder pins on 6-way blades. Sleeve exposed hoses near the cutting edge.

During the day

Listen for chatter that signals scalloping. Slow the ground speed and reduce bite until the cut settles.
Check moisture and compaction. Add water or compact between lifts instead of stacking loose layers.
Clear debris that wedges between edge and side plates on box blades. A small rock trapped in the corner scrapes lines you will chase for an hour.

End of day

Wash fines off edges and under frames. Caked mud hardens overnight and changes the next day’s cut.
Grease pivots, tilt, and angle joints. Dry joints translate into sticky movements and jagged passes.
Log edge flips and ripper tooth wear so the next operator knows the tool’s state.

FAQ

Can I buy a land plane or a box blade first?

If most work is smoothing existing gravel, prepping base close to grade, and final touch-ups, buy the land plane first. If most work is moving and metering imported material or repairing roads with deep ruts, buy the box blade first. Many crews add the other within a season because they solve different problems.

Can a 6-way dozer blade replace a box blade?

No. A blade pushes and casts material; a box carries and meters it. On slopes and long crowns the 6-way wins. On pads and fills the box wins. They are complementary tools.

Will laser control help on a land plane?

Yes when accuracy over large areas matters. A dual-receiver 2D laser on a land plane or box blade cuts passes and reduces rework. For simple driveways and yards, a good operator can meet spec without electronics, but lasers pay off quickly on parking lots and pads.

How wide should my grading attachment be?

Match or slightly exceed the track/tire width so you clean your own marks. Go narrower for tight access and broader for long straight runs if the carrier can handle it. If your machine struggles to keep the tool steady, width is not helping you.

Do serrated edges leave a rough finish?

Serrations bite in crust and speed cut, but they can scratch finish if you push them into final passes. Use serrated for the first pass on hard ground, then flip to smooth or switch to a smooth trailing edge for the last pass.

Is a box blade with rippers worth the extra weight?

If you fight compacted clay or recycled base, yes. Rippers save you from polishing the surface while the box surfs on top. If your work is mostly fresh topsoil and stone lifts, you can skip rippers to keep weight and cost down.

Can a compact wheeled skid steer run a 96-inch land plane well

On flat sites with firm subgrade it can, but a large CTL is happier with the width and will hold a steadier line. If you feel the machine hunting for balance, step down in width or add weight to the tool.

What is the quickest way to build a driveway crown?

Use a six way blade to set the crown with angle and tilt, then follow with a land plane to smooth and lock texture. Trying to do both steps with only a box blade works, but it takes more passes and finesse.

Why do I get scallops in base even when I go slow?

Usually a flexible frame, worn edges, or the loader not in float. Confirm the attachment is tight to the plate, use fresh edges, and keep speed constant. If the subgrade is bouncy, compact between lifts and water lightly before finish passes.

Where does 3D GNSS make sense on a skid steer?

Complex pads, variable slopes, and jobs that require digital as-builts. If you only do simple planes and straight crowns, 2D laser gives most of the benefit without the cost and setup time of 3D.

Does it make sense to rent a skid steer dozer blade before deciding to buy one?

Renting for a few jobs is a smart way to see if the blade actually fits your work mix, which widths your machine is happy with and how much time it really saves over a standard bucket. If you find yourself re renting the same size blade every few weeks, that is usually your signal that owning that style of attachment will pencil out.