A new three matrix mixed vanadate crystal Nd:Lu 0.33 Y 0.36 Gd 0.3 VO 4 (Nd:LuYGdVO 4 ) crystal was grown by the Czochralski method. Room temperature absorption and fluorescence spectra of the Nd:LuYGdVO 4 crystals were measured and the spectroscopic parameters were calculated by the Judd-Ofelt theory. The intensity parameters of the Nd:LuYGdVO 4 crystal were Ω 2 = 9.736 × 10 -20 cm 2 , Ω 4 = 4.179 × 10 ⎯20 cm 2 , Ω 6 = 8.020 × 10 -20 cm 2 and the stimulate emission cross section was 5.3 × 10 -19 cm 2 . Diode pumped actively Q switched and passively Q switched Nd:LuYGdVO 4 and Nd:Lu 0.14 Y 0.86 VO 4 lasers at 1.06 μm were demonstrated. The results indicate that, for both actively and passively Q switched lasers, the Nd:LuYGdVO 4 lasers can generate shorter pulse width with higher peak power than the Nd:Lu 0.14 Y 0.86 VO 4 lasers at the same cavity conditions.