How to Choose the Right Sandpaper Grit for Your DIY Project

Selecting the proper sandpaper grit can make or break your DIY sanding project. In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

• Understanding Grit Ranges: Learn the difference between coarse, medium, fine, and super-fine grits and when to use each.
• Matching Grit to Material: Tips for choosing the right grit for wood, metal, plastic, and drywall.
• Step-by-Step Sanding Process: A workflow from start to finish to achieve a smooth, professional result.

1. Grit Basics

Sandpaper grits are numbered—lower numbers mean coarser abrasive. For heavy material removal on wood or metal, start with 80–120 grit. For smoothing surfaces, move to 150–240 grit. For final polishing, finish with 280–400+ grit.

2. Material-Specific Recommendations

• Wood: Begin with 120 grit for rough boards, then 220 grit for finishing.
• Metal: Use 80 grit for paint removal, 180 grit for smoothing, and 320+ grit for polishing.
• Drywall: Stick to 120–150 grit to avoid gouging the paper surface.

3. Sanding Workflow

1. Start with a coarse grit to remove high spots or old finishes.
2. Progressively work through finer grits in even, overlapping strokes.
3. Clean the surface between grit changes to avoid contamination.
4. Finish with a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove all dust.

Watch & Learn

By choosing the right grit and following a structured sanding process, you’ll achieve smoother finishes in less time—and make every DIY project a success.