There are quite a few different grades of sandpaper. The most popular are P40, P60, P80, P100, P120, P180, P240, and P400. Honestly, when I do woodworking, I only use three types. I use 80 grit, 120 grit, and 240 grit. P240 is going to be handy for when you’re painting. After you’ve given to your project an undercoat and then you’re given out a topcoat give it a rub down with some P240 and that’s going to give you a super smooth finish. The Grit grades below are a guide to the commonly found sandpapers available and thier uses. Manufacturers differ on the scale but this is the average.

Despite the identical name to the abrasive paper category listed above, very fine micro grits are distinct and are used for sanding finishes in between consecutive coats on either wood or drywall. FEPA classifications are P240, P280, P320, or P360 while CAMI classifications are denoted as 240. The diameter size is between 40.5 to 58.5 micrometers. Extra Fine Coarseprovides moderate material removal, smooths rough surfaces, and removes moderate rust, gouges, and deep scratches. Coarse grade grits range from 40 to 60. Macro grit sandpapers range across the following sub-types. The one thing they all have in common is that abrasive papers in this family all have fewer grains, but the grains they have are large. Extra Coarse Grit Levels P40 & P60– Most projects won’t need these sandpaper grades. They’re only required for cleaning up rough lumber, evening out large bumps in the wood, & removing stubborn old paints. Essentially, you’ll use these to soften anything that’s too rough for your hands to handle. Also, they can remove almost anything so don’t hesitate to jump up to the next grit.This kind of grit is used to sand bare wood to prepare it for varnish removal or final finishing. The FEPA standards denote such types of sandpaper grit by P60, or P80, and CAMI standards denote it as 80. The diameter of the particles ranges between 190 to 265 micrometers. Fine

P220 Sandpaper– For novice woodworkers, it’s time that we tell you that you have to sand with multiple grits. And P220 is generally the go-to 2nd & 3rd level abrasive for prepping wood for oil finishes. But in the case that you’re applying a wood stain, your destination does stop here. Finishing Sandpaper GritsP120 that’s also going to help to do similar to what the P80 grit does, but it is going to give you a smoother finish. I probably wouldn’t recommend this for stripping paint. But if you’re going to be rubbing down between coats where you just want to smooth down some paint before painting it again P120 is good. Also good for your rough woodworking. P80 Sandpaper– This is the starting grit for most hardwoods and is a staple for every wood worker. P80 grit is the best option for removing saw blade burns and deeper surface scratches. In the case that you’re working with a hardwood like Poplar, you can probably jump the line to P120. Medium Sanding Grades

P80 grit sandpaper is really good for smoothing off any edges that aren’t quite flush. P80 and P120 great are good for rounding over. If my project should look quite rough, maybe quite rustic, I might make use of an 80 grit. If I want a smooth surface that I paint, I’ll use P120 sandpaper.So for a regular wood project, I would only finish it off with P120 sandpaper. Just ensuring that there are no sharp edges on there at all. However, if I was going to paint a surface after I finished it off with a 120 paper then painted it I would then rub it down with P240 sandpaper. Once this panel has had an undercoat and then you rub it down with a bit of P240 that’s going to give it a super smooth finish ready for a topcoat. Final Thoughts It is also the common choice when sanding painted walls, smoothing out plaster and rubbing down filler to blend in with the surface it's on. P80 sandpaper is gonna rub down any flaky paintwork. It’s gonna help to rub down would get you some smooth edges. In the event that you don’t have every sheet listed on our sandpaper grit chart, that’s not the end of the world. You can substitute a similar grit level depending on the application. Just be sure to do further research to make sure that you don’t select the wrong one. That is, some substitutions are less intuitive than others. For instance, a craftsman looking to stain a wood piece might view P240 as a suitable replacement for P220. However, the better option is actually P180 as it gives the wood grain a stronger appearance. Also, it’s worth mentioning that P240 is a bit too fine for wood stain and will hinder it ability to soak into the wood. Applications for Each Grit Level

These types of sandpaper grit classes ensure rapid material removal. As per FEPA standards, these are classified as P40 or P50 and are denoted as 40, 50, or 60 by CAMI standards. The typical diameter of the sandpaper grit ranges between 336 to 425 micrometers. This sandpaper allows you to clear away a layer of finish or debris with little effort. However, it may not leave behind the smoothest surface texture. Medium P120 Sandpaper– Any wood that was too soft for P80 will start the latter at P120. We generally use this grit when first smoothing pine, redwood, & cedar. Lastly, enamel paints and polyurethane don’t require the wood to be sanded beyond P120. The only exception would be a clear satin finish, in which case you may want to eliminate any scratches left on the wood with P150 or P180. This ranges from120 to 220 grit and is one of the most commonly used grades in home DIY projects. Painting projects often use 120-180 grit for sanding down previously painted surfaces. It gets rid of any minor imperfections and roughs up the surface to provide good adhesion for a new coat of paint. It is also used on bare wood to smooth out ready for the first coat of paint or varnish.Grits above 320 such as 400 to 600 are typically used to get a really fine finish on wood ready for waxing or polishing. It can also be used to smooth out a top coat and fine wet sanding. Sandpaper for power sanding is sold in sheets, belts and discs. Regardless of which route your application requires you to take—hand-sanding or power-sanding—knowing the differences between the sandpaper grades is key to completing a sanding application. Choose accordingly with our sandpaper grit chart and by following the nuances in grades and material. What Does the Grit Number on Sandpaper Mean?