298
Lookup 1 — What does this grit do?
Enter a CAMI grit number — get its micron size, P-grade, and best use.
REFERENCE TABLE · CONSTRUCTION · PRINTABLE
Sandpaper Grit Chart
The number on the back of the paper is backwards from what you’d expect: the higher the grit number, the finer the abrasive. 40-grit is gravel; 2000-grit is powder. The chart below lists every common grit with its micron particle size (the true measure), the FEPA P-grade (the “P” numbers on European paper), and what each grit is actually for — plus three live lookups so you never have to guess. The table prints cleanly: take it to the shop.
299
Lookup 2 — Which grits for my job?
Pick the job — get the full grit progression, coarse to fine.
300
Lookup 3 — Match a micron size
Know the scratch size you need? Find the nearest grit.
The chart
Grit numbers are a ranking, not a measurement — microns are the real ruler. The FEPA column shows the European P-grade nearest each CAMI number (the two systems are close, not identical). Printing? Use your browser’s print command — the table below is formatted for paper.
| CAMI grit | FEPA ≈ | Microns | Grade | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | P40 | ~428 | Extra coarse | Stripping paint & varnish, rough shaping |
| 60 | P60 | ~268 | Coarse | Removing old finish, leveling filler |
| 80 | P80 | ~192 | Coarse | First sanding of bare wood |
| 100 | P100 | ~141 | Medium | Smoothing lumber, plaster patches |
| 120 | P120 | ~116 | Medium | General prep before primer or paint |
| 150 | P150 | ~93 | Fine | Final prep of hardwood before finish |
| 180 | P180 | ~78 | Fine | Sanding between coats of paint or varnish |
| 220 | P220 | ~66 | Very fine | Final sanding before the finish goes on |
| 320 | P320 | ~46 | Very fine | Sanding between finish coats, wet sanding |
| 400 | P400 | ~35 | Extra fine | Polishing, fine wet sanding |
| 600 | P600 | ~26 | Extra fine | Metal & plastic polishing |
| 800 | P800 | ~22 | Super fine | Final polish, high-gloss prep |
| 1000 | P1000 | ~18 | Super fine | High-gloss finishing |
| 1500 | P1500 | ~12 | Ultra fine | Automotive clear-coat finishing |
| 2000 | P2000 | ~10 | Ultra fine | Mirror finishes |
Worked example: refinishing a tabletop
Say you’re refinishing a scarred oak tabletop. The progression from Lookup 2: 80 → 120 → 180. 80-grit (192 microns) flattens the mill marks and old scratches; 120 (116 microns) erases the 80-grit scratches; 180 (78 microns) leaves the surface stain-ready. Notice each step is about 1.5× finer than the last — that’s the rule of thumb: jump further (80 straight to 220) and the deep 80-grit scratches survive under the finish, visible forever in raking light. Total time is less with three grits than with two, because each grit only has to erase the previous one’s marks.
CAMI vs FEPA: what the “P” means
American paper uses CAMI numbers (plain: 120). European and premium paper (Mirka, Festool) uses FEPA P-grades (P120). They measure the same thing — average particle size — but FEPA holds tighter tolerances: a cheap 120 can hide 80-grit chunks that carve swirl marks, while P120 is far more consistent. When crossing systems, match on microns, not on numbers: CAMI 120 ≈ P120 ≈ 116–125 microns, close enough to swap freely. Above ~P240 the two systems diverge more, so the micron column is your bridge.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Grit specs | table lookup by CAMI number | 120 → 116µ, P120, Medium — general prep before primer or paint. |
| Task progression | job → coarse → fine, ~1.5× steps | Bare wood → 80 → 120 → 180 — each grit erases the last. |
| Nearest grit | min |microns − target| | 70µ → 220-grit (66µ) — the closest match. |
Who uses this
- DIY furniture refinishers: picking the progression before touching the sander — the most common beginner mistake is starting too fine.
- Painters: choosing the between-coats grit (220–320) that scuffs without cutting through.
- Auto detailers: mapping P-grades to clear-coat correction — 1500+ is where the mirror lives.
- Students & shop teachers: the micron scale makes abrasive science concrete — cite it with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
Micron figures are nominal averages from the standard grading scales; individual sheets vary, and cheap paper varies most. CAMI–FEPA pairings are nearest equivalents, not identities. Application bands are guidance for common materials — exotic woods, composites, and coated metals have their own rules. Always test on scrap first. Not professional advice.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “Sandpaper Grit Chart: Every Grit & Use.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.
Bright Side Kit. "Sandpaper Grit Chart: Every Grit & Use." https://brightoolbox.com/sandpaper-grit-chart/ Accessed October 23, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of polyurethane?
220 to 320 — and go light. You’re scuffing dust nibs so the next coat bonds, not removing finish. A worn 320 or a feather touch with 220 is the sweet spot; press hard with 150 and you’ll cut straight through to bare wood. Wipe the dust off before recoating.
Can I skip from 80-grit straight to 220-grit?
Don’t. Each grit’s job is to erase the previous grit’s scratches, and 220 can’t reach the bottom of 80-grit canyons — those scratches survive under the finish, visible forever in raking light. Keep steps around 1.4–1.6× finer (80 → 120 → 180 → 220). Three quick grits beats two slow ones.
What does the “P” in P120 mean?
It’s the FEPA (European) grading system. P-graded paper holds tighter particle-size tolerances than CAMI-graded paper, so P120 is more consistent sheet-to-sheet than a bargain-bin 120. Match across systems by microns, not by number.
What grit removes paint fastest?
40 to 60 — extra-coarse/coarse. 40-grit strips paint and varnish aggressively, but it gouges: always follow with 80, then 120, to erase the damage before priming. On lead paint (pre-1978 homes), sanding isn’t a DIY job at all — test first, follow EPA RRP rules.
Should I wet-sand or dry-sand?
Dry for shaping and prep (40–220); wet for finishing (320+). Wet-sanding floats the dust away so the paper doesn’t clog, which is why every polishing progression runs wet. Never wet-sand bare wood you plan to stain soon — raised grain needs re-sanding.
Does a higher grit number always mean smoother?
Yes — the scale is inverse: bigger number, smaller particles, finer scratch. 40-grit particles average ~428 microns; 2000-grit averages ~10. If the numbers confuse you, read the micron column instead — it’s a straight measurement.