🪵 Sandpaper Grit Chart
Grit numbers count abrasive particles per inch of mesh — higher numbers mean finer particles and a smoother result. The standard workflow moves through the grits in order, never skipping more than one step (80 → 120 → 180, not 80 → 220).
Check for the "P": European-graded paper (FEPA) is marked P80, P220, etc. Below 220 the scales roughly match, but above 220 they diverge sharply — P400 is closer to US 320 than to US 400.
Which Grit for Which Job
| Grit (CAMI) | Grade | Typical Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 24–36 | Extra coarse | Paint stripping, floor sanding first pass, shaping |
| 40–60 | Coarse | Heavy material removal, rounding edges, old finish removal |
| 80 | Medium-coarse | First pass on rough bare wood, leveling deep scratches |
| 100–120 | Medium | General wood smoothing, plywood prep |
| 150–180 | Fine | Final pass on bare wood before stain or paint |
| 220 | Very fine | Light sanding between primer/finish coats |
| 320–400 | Extra fine | Sanding between topcoats, smoothing drywall patches |
| 600–800 | Super fine | Initial metal polishing, lacquer wet sanding |
| 1000–2000 | Ultra fine | Automotive clear-coat wet sanding |
| 3000+ | Polishing | Final wet sand before buffing compounds |
CAMI (US) vs FEPA (P-Grade) Crosswalk
Approximate equivalents by average particle size. The scales agree closely up to ~220, then FEPA numbers climb faster.
| CAMI (US) | FEPA (Europe) | Avg. Particle Size |
|---|---|---|
| 120 | P120 | ≈115 µm |
| 180 | P180 | ≈80 µm |
| 220 | P220 | ≈68 µm |
| 240 | P280 | ≈52 µm |
| 320 | P400 | ≈35 µm |
| 400 | P800 | ≈22 µm |
| 600 | P1200 | ≈15 µm |
| 800 | P1500 | ≈12 µm |
| 1000 | P2000 | ≈10 µm |