The New John Deere 40 P-Tier: A Compact Excavator Sized for Landscaping

The John Deere 40 P-Tier is a new size in Deere's compact excavator line, and its numbers suit landscaping and hardscaping crews. It weighs 8,795 lb with the standard arm and cab, digs to 11 ft 0 in, and sends 18.5 gpm to the auxiliary circuit. John Deere describes it as under 10,000 lb for simplified transport, which matters to any crew that trailers a machine every day.

The short version: if your crew digs wall footings, drainage runs and planting holes, and the machine moves to a new address most days, the 40 P-Tier belongs on your list. Standard auxiliary hydraulics and quick-coupler capability let one machine switch between buckets, augers and hammers.

The top things to know about the John Deere 40 P-Tier:

1. It moves between jobs. Operating weight is 8,795 lb with the standard arm, or 9,190 lb with the long arm and extra counterweight. Check that weight, plus your attachments, against the rating of your own truck and trailer.
2. It runs attachments. Auxiliary hydraulics are standard at 18.5 gpm, and Deere lists quick-coupler capability for fast changes between buckets, augers and hammers. A diverter valve on the standard circuit keeps a thumb and a second attachment plumbed in together, and a second auxiliary circuit is optional.
3. It has depth to spare. The standard arm digs to 11 ft 0 in and reaches 18 ft 1 in. The long arm takes that to 11 ft 10 in of depth and 18 ft 10 in of reach.
4. It carries its weight on rubber. Deere lists ground pressure at 4.5 psi with the long arm, standard track and cab.

Where the 40 P-Tier fits on landscaping and hardscaping jobs

Retaining walls, patios and hardscape base. Wall footings and patio base are shallow digs in tight yards, so control and working room matter more than raw depth. The 40 P-Tier brings 8,340 lbf of bucket digging force, and John Deere pairs its compact size with precise hydraulic control. Deere lists a 14 in rear overhang, so know where the back of the machine is before you swing next to a house. John Deere says the conventional tail puts enough weight at the back to keep the machine balanced with a coupler, a thumb and a heavy attachment out front or a fence. When an old walk or slab has to come out first, a hammer on the auxiliary circuit handles it without a second machine.

Drainage and irrigation trenching. French drains, downspout lines and irrigation mains are well inside this machine's 11 ft 0 in digging depth. The boom swings up to 75 degrees to the left, which lets you trench alongside a foundation or a fence line with the tracks parallel to it. The straight blade up front backfills the trench when the pipe is in. John Deere also offers an angle blade and recommends it for crews that backfill with the excavator: you set up alongside the trench, angle the blade and push the spoil back in as you travel, with less repositioning. Blade float comes with either blade, so the blade follows the ground while you put the dirt back.

Planting and post holes. Tree planting, fence posts and deck footings are auger work. The auxiliary circuit supplies 18.5 gpm, so match your auger drive to that flow when you order it. Quick-coupler capability means the bucket goes back on for the next task without a long stop. If you run a thumb, the diverter valve on the standard circuit keeps the thumb and the auger plumbed in at the same time, and you switch between them with a wrench at the valve. With the optional second auxiliary circuit you control both from the seat.

Getting across a finished lawn. Often the only route to the backyard crosses turf the customer wants to keep. The 40 P-Tier runs on rubber tracks, and Deere lists ground pressure at 4.5 psi with the long arm, standard track and cab. Ground protection mats are still the right call on soft or wet ground.

John Deere 40 P-Tier Specs

Operating weights are with cab, straight blade, hydraulic coupler and rubber tracks; the long-arm figure includes the extra counterweight. Standard-arm dimensions are for the 1.4 m arm with canopy and standard counterweight. Long-arm dimensions are for the 1.65 m arm with cab and extra counterweight. Transport height and overall length are the standard-arm figures. Ground pressure is with the long arm, standard track and cab. Net power is rated to ISO 9249 at 2,600 rpm.

Service, technology and daily use

John Deere describes the 40 P-Tier as built to do more with less downtime: powerful, versatile, easy to service, and connected with JDLink™. The turbocharged Yanmar engine is rated at 40 hp, and auto-idle helps save fuel through the day. Deere lists easier service access to help reduce downtime, with a camera system among the technology options.

The machine is offered with a cab or a canopy. An LED boom light and a front left light are standard on both, and additional LED lights are available.

Controls, cab and service access

The details in this section come from John Deere's own walkaround of the 40 P-Tier, filmed with Construction Equipment magazine at Dubuque Works.

Swing is on the left joystick. John Deere removed the left foot pedal that used to control boom swing and put that function on the left joystick. When the machine has the second auxiliary circuit, one button switches the same control between swing and that circuit.

Attachment settings are saved on the display. The boom and arm are still pilot controlled, which is the feel experienced operators expect. The auxiliary hydraulics are electrohydraulic, and that is what lets Attachment Manager on the touchscreen display save the settings for each attachment and recall them the next time it goes on.

The boom light is tucked into the boom. The LED boom light sits in the crook of the boom, where it is protected from the trench wall. Because it is centered, it lights the work without casting shadows to either side.

The cab has heat and air conditioning. The front window is a new design: the lower panel slides up into the upper panel, and the whole window stores overhead for an open view of the work.

Service points are in two places. The engine and its filters are behind the rear door. A lockable compartment on the right side holds the fuel fill and the battery disconnect. John Deere says JDLink™ comes standard on every 40 P-Tier and feeds machine location and hours into John Deere Operations Center.

Oklahoma owners get parts and service from CL Boyd in Oklahoma City, Lawton and Ardmore.

Where it sits in the lineup

The 40 P-Tier sits between the 35 P-Tier and the 50 P-Tier in Deere's compact line. Our John Deere P-Tier excavator lineup covers the other sizes with the same kind of specification table, and the John Deere 35 P-Tier comparison guide shows how the next size down compares with its rivals. Crews that pair an excavator with a loader can start with the John Deere skid steer and compact track loader lineup. To see what is on our lot, browse our John Deere compact excavators.

The John Deere 333 P-Tier Compact Track Loader. Photo: John Deere.

John Deere financing through January 4, 2027

John Deere is offering 0% APR for 60 months on compact construction equipment bought from dealer inventory between October 1, 2026 and January 4, 2027. Call us to confirm the offer applies to the 40 P-Tier you have in mind.

Offer valid on qualifying purchases made 01 October 2026 through 04 January 2027 from participating dealer inventory. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial, for commercial use only. Down payment may be required. Average down payment is 10%. 0% APR for 60 months only. Taxes, freight, setup, insurance, fees, and delivery charges could increase monthly payment. Available at participating U.S. dealers. Prices and models may vary by dealer. Offer not available to customers receiving Governmental or Strategic Account discounts.

Frequently asked questions

Call us at 405-945-8503 or stop by any CL Boyd location to ask about the 40 P-Tier.