Abstract：Research purposes： With the promotion and application of shield construction technology in urban subway construction, shield equipment selection has become the key link of the shield construction process. In this paper, the problem of shield selection during the construction of earth pressure balance in anhydrous sand layer is discussed, the influence of shield selection on surface subsidence is studied and the rules of selection are summarized. Based on the data of the anhydrous sand layer shield construction of Shijiazhuang metro, the paper evaluates the shield selection of several sections and finds out the key influencing factors.  Research conclusions： (1) In the region, the surface sedimentation value caused by Komatsu shield machine with panel cutter and 40% aperture ratio is 11～14 mm. (2) In the region, the surface sedimentation value caused by Herrenknecht shield machine with composite cutter and 35% aperture rate is 7～10 mm. (3) During shields selection, the appropriate cutter type should be selected, and the small aperture ratio and the small cutter wheel torque shield model is given priority to, in order to improve the stability of excavation surface and reduce the adverse effects caused by shield excavation. (4) The research results can provide reference for the shield selection of tunnel engineering.