How to Choose the Right Sandpaper Grit for Every DIY Project: From Coarse to Ultra-Fine

Choosing the right sandpaper grit is key to achieving professional results in any DIY sanding project. Using too coarse a grit can damage your surface, while too fine a grit may take forever to smooth. This SEO-rich guide breaks down all grit ranges—from coarse to ultra-fine—and explains exactly when and how to use each for woodworking, metalworking, automotive, and more.

Understanding Sandpaper Grit Numbers

Sandpaper grit is a measure of the abrasive particles’ size. Lower numbers mean larger, coarser particles, which remove material faster but leave rougher surfaces. Higher numbers mean finer particles that smooth surfaces and prepare for finishing.

Grit Ranges and Best Uses

• Coarse Grit (40–80): Heavy material removal, stripping paint, shaping wood or metal.
• Medium Grit (100–180): General sanding, smoothing rough surfaces, prepping for finishing.
• Fine Grit (220–400): Final smoothing before finishing, sanding between coats.
• Ultra-Fine Grit (600+): Polishing, wet sanding, and achieving mirror finishes.

How to Select Grit for Your Project

• Start with the coarsest grit needed to remove imperfections or old finishes.
• Progressively move to finer grits to smooth and prep surfaces.
• Use wet sanding with ultra-fine grits for polishing metal, plastic, or automotive finishes.

Tips for Efficient Sanding

• Change sandpaper regularly to maintain cutting efficiency.
• Use sanding blocks or power tools to keep even pressure and avoid gouges.
• Always sand with the grain on wood for the best finish.

FAQs

• What grit do I use to remove paint? Start with 60–80 grit for heavy removal.
• Can I skip grits? No—skipping grits can cause scratches that are hard to remove.
• Is wet sanding better? For fine finishing and polishing, yes.

Watch & Learn

Shop all sandpaper grits at eQualle and explore more DIY sanding tips on our blog.