But if you want a little more flexibility, here is a fuller picture of the sandpaper grits and their uses. 24-26 Grit Fine grit sandpaper of the 100-120 grit variety is best for sanding bare wood in preparation for finishing. It’s not suitable for removing varnish or paint from wood though. 150-220 Grit

Grit describes the sandpaper's abrasiveness and whether it is fine or coarse. A larger grit number indicates finer sandpaper, which is ideal for producing a smooth surface. Sandpaper with a lower grit number is coarser and rougher, so if you merely need to swiftly scrape dirt, and other things off of a flat surface, a scrubbing pad with a coarse grit is your best bet. While it’s theoretically possible to manufacture sandpaper grits in tiny progressions, it would be impractical and confuse customers. Consequently, grit numbers increase by standard intervals. The higher the number, the finer the grit. Coarse grits progress from 24 to 30 to 36, while fine ones rise from 600 to 800 to 1,000 and beyond. Medium (80-grit): This is often the first grade chosen when going through the grits to prepare wood for finishing. Use it to hand sand, or with a belt or orbital sander. It’s also good for removing rust and corrosion from metal. When choosing sandpaper, it’s important to select the right grade for the job. A paper that’s too coarse will leave the surface scratched and damaged, while one that’s too fine won’t do the job. Extra-coarse and ultra-fine grades are generally reserved for rough sanding and polishing. A medium or fine grade works best for most projects around the house. Sandpaper Grits and Their Uses The most commonly used sandpaper grits are 80, 120 and 220. In fact, you can likely get away with having only those three grits of sandpaper on hand for typical do-it-yourself projects. You could use 120 as a medium, do all the things sandpaper, 80 grit if you want to really rough up a finish or do a little shaping and 220 grit for final sanding between coats of paint or poly.

In this post: Have you ever begun a DIY project, only to wonder which sandpaper you should start with or which one to use between coats of paint or poly? Here are the most common sandpaper grits and their uses as a handy reference!

The Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) and the Federation of European Producers of Abrasives (FEPA) regulate sandpaper grit standards. They refer to the size and number of holes in the screens that filter the abrasive particles. The 24-piece HSYMQ Silicon Carbide sandpaper set comes in a resealable bag of twelve grits to cover an array of sanding projects. As one of the many happy customers commented, “This is a great assortment of sand paper that ranges from low grit that could sand down the toughest of spots to the highest grit that could make your table top smooth as butter.” Super fine grit sandpaper is 400-600 grit. It’s perfect for the final sanding of finishes and the final sanding of wood. 800-1000 Grit grit sandpaper is extra coarse. It works well for very fast removal of material,hardwood flooringinitial sanding. 40-50 Grit Specifically made for bare wood, rough wood, and natural wood, these 3M Garnet sandpaper sheets have garnet abrasive particles for a smooth finish when hand sanding. The manufacturer suggests that it's better to go with the grain when sanding wood, progressively using finer grits until the surface is smooth.

Because coarse and fine sandpaper grits are used differently, manufacturers established grades — each consisting of one or more grit numbers — to help consumers decide which type fits a particular purpose. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. The finest grade (i.e. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. Aluminum oxide sandpaper: Synthetic in nature, this type is great for manual and orbital sander use and offers an extended lifespan as its edges wrinkle just enough to expose new abrasive material. grit sandpaper is very fine. It’s used for sanding of bare wood and some sanding between coats. 240 Grit The abrasive grains used in sandpaper, nowadays—contrary to common belief—are not actually sand. Natural abrasive materials, like garnet, and synthetic abrasives like aluminum oxide have mostly replaced sand, and they provide a superior performance offering a variety of sandpaper grit options. Sandpaper ConsiderationsExtra-fine (320- and 360-grit): The first of the micro-abrasives, this is primarily for sanding finishes before polishing. Coarse grits are good for bare wood, removing paint and deep scratches. However, do keep in mind that this specific paper is to be used only manually or with a finishing sander.

Medium or 60-80 grit sandpaper is good for sanding bare wood in preparation for finishing and for the gentle removal of varnish. 100-120 Grit Fine (100- and 120-grit): The best utility sandpaper. Fine grades smooth scratches left by coarser grades and rough up painted surfaces before accepting new paint. They’re also good for sanding drywall. When you just need some for hand-sanding, or to use with an orbital sander, this is the grade you’ll most likely use. Silicon carbide sandpaper: This is another synthetic option that can be used for wet sanding surfaces. It can also self-sharpen when used against especially rough edges. If you are in the market for sandpaper for wood, wallpaper, or metal, the 3M 9017 coarse-grit sandpaper is a great option for rough sanding. One of the many happy customers explained that it “works so much better than generic brands.”Extra-coarse (24-, 30- and 36-grit): Generally used for preliminary hardwood floor sanding, this usually comes in belts that fit on a drum sander, or disks that fit an edger. It comes with a company guarantee that it will not discolor any surfaces you are using it on. One of the many satisfied customers commented that it “works well, doesn't clog much, lasts forever compared to budget papers. So worth the extra money, as it goes 20 times longer than the cheap stuff.” Super-fine (400-, 500- and 600-grit): Use this for polishing finishes on wood and metal, and to polish bare metal. It comes on waterproof sheets to allow for wet-sanding.

Very-fine (150-, 180- and 220-grit): This produces ultra-smooth surfaces on wood. People often use it to scuff-sand lacquer, polyurethane and other finishes before applying another coat.Sandpaper is an inexpensive, versatile piece of equipment with a long shelf life, so keeping one—or a set—in your toolbox is a must. The right sandpaper can come in handy for when you need a smooth finish, to remove paint, or for sanding wood. Even though they all may all appear to be the same, different sandpaper grit grades and materials should be used for different sanding projects.