Electromechanical systems dilation mode resonator (DMR) structures are disclosed. The DMR includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer formed of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric layer has dimensions including a lateral distance (D), in a plane of an X axis and a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis, and a thickness (T), along a Z axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. A numerical ratio of the thickness and the lateral distance, T/D, is configured to provide a mode of vibration of the piezoelectric layer with displacement along the Z axis and along the plane of the X axis and the Y axis responsive to a signal provided to one or more of the electrodes. Ladder filter circuits can be constructed with DMRs as series and/or shunt elements, and the resonators can have spiral configurations.