Sandpaper Grit Chart — Which Grit to Use for Wood, Metal, and Finishing
21 Mar 2026
Sandpaper is one of those tools that everyone uses but few truly understand. Picking the wrong grit wastes time and can ruin your workpiece — too coarse and you leave deep scratches, too fine and you'll be sanding all day with no visible progress.
What Grit Numbers Mean
The grit number refers to the number of abrasive particles per square inch of sandpaper. Lower number = fewer, larger particles = rougher cut. Higher number = more, finer particles = smoother finish.
Grit Range Guide
| Grit Range | Category | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| 40–60 | Extra Coarse | Heavy material removal, stripping paint, leveling rough surfaces |
| 80–100 | Coarse | Initial shaping, removing old finish, heavy rust removal |
| 120–150 | Medium | General sanding, removing scratches from coarse grit, preparing for primer |
| 180–220 | Fine | Final sanding before painting, smoothing wood, between coats |
| 240–320 | Very Fine | Sanding between paint coats, preparing for varnish/lacquer |
| 400–600 | Extra Fine | Wet sanding, automotive paint finishing, polishing prep |
| 800–1000 | Super Fine | Final finish on lacquer, removing orange peel from paint |
| 1200–2000 | Ultra Fine | Polishing, automotive clear coat, mirror finishes |
| 2500–5000 | Micro Fine | Final polish, headlight restoration, acrylic buffing |
What to Use for Common Jobs
Woodworking
| Step | Grit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial sanding | 80–100 | Remove mill marks, flatten surfaces |
| 2. Smoothing | 120–150 | Remove scratches from step 1 |
| 3. Pre-finish | 180–220 | Final sanding before stain/paint |
| 4. Between coats | 320–400 | Lightly scuff between finish coats |
Metal Work
| Step | Grit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Rust removal | 60–80 | Strip heavy rust and scale |
| Deburring | 100–150 | Smooth cut edges |
| Pre-paint prep | 180–240 | Create tooth for primer adhesion |
| Polishing | 400–2000 | Progressive polishing to mirror finish |
Automotive
| Step | Grit | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Filler shaping | 80–120 | Shape body filler |
| Primer sanding | 320–400 | Smooth primer before base coat |
| Clear coat sanding | 1000–1500 | Remove orange peel (wet sand) |
| Final polish | 2000–3000 | Pre-buffing compound stage |
The Progressive Sanding Rule
Never skip more than one grit level. Each grit removes the scratches left by the previous one. If you jump from 80 to 400, the fine paper has to work much harder to remove the deep 80-grit scratches.
Good progression: 80 → 120 → 180 → 240 → 320 → 400
Wet vs Dry Sanding
- Dry sanding: Standard method. Generates dust. Use for wood, filler, and initial stages.
- Wet sanding: Use water as lubricant (special waterproof sandpaper). Produces a finer finish, prevents clogging, and reduces dust. Use for paint, lacquer, and automotive finishing (400 grit and above).
Abrasive Material Types
| Material | Color | Best For | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium Oxide | Brown/tan | Wood, metal, general purpose | Good |
| Silicon Carbide | Black/grey | Wet sanding, glass, stone, paint | Very good |
| Ceramic | Blue/purple | Heavy stock removal, stainless steel | Excellent |
| Zirconia | Blue/green | Metal grinding, weld removal | Excellent |
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