Block diagonalization (BD) is an efficient precoding technique that eliminates inter-user interference in downlink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. User selection strategies applied to multiuser MIMO systems with BD are investigated in this article. To enhance the capacity of multiuser MIMO systems, an equivalent capacity maximum (ECM) user selection strategy is proposed with low computational complexity. Considering both the factors of channel correlations and channel conditions, the proposed strategy can select a group of users to serve for maximizing the total throughput. Simulation results indicate that, for various channel conditions, proposed ECM strategy gains a better performance compared with traditional user selection strategies, and achieves a near optimal throughput as the exhaustive search. Block diagonalization (BD) is an efficient precoding technique that eliminates inter-user interference in downlink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. User selection strategies applied to multiuser MIMO systems with BD are investigated in this article. To enhance the capacity of multiuser MIMO systems, an equivalent capacity maximum (ECM) user selection strategy is proposed with low computational complexity. Considering both the factors of channel correlations and channel conditions, the proposed strategy can select a group of users to serve for maximizing the total throughput. Simulation results indicate that, for various channel conditions, proposed ECM strategy gains a better performance compared with traditional user selection strategies, and achieves a near optimal throughput as the exhaustive search.