What Grit Sandpaper Should I Use? A Complete Guide to Sandpaper Grades

Choosing the right sandpaper grit is essential for achieving a professional finish on any project, whether you're sanding wood, prepping walls for paint, or restoring furniture. Many people make the mistake of thinking sandpaper is one-size-fits-all, but using the wrong grit can lead to poor results, unnecessary effort, or even damage to the surface you're working on.

In simple terms, "grit" refers to the size of the abrasive particles on the sandpaper. The lower the number, the coarser the sandpaper — ideal for aggressive material removal. Higher numbers indicate finer grits, which are better suited for smoothing and finishing. Knowing which grit to use and when can make your job faster, cleaner, and far more effective.

For heavy sanding and stripping tasks, such as removing old paint or shaping rough timber, coarse grits in the 40 to 60 range are best. These grits cut quickly and are great for initial passes on uneven or rough surfaces. For general-purpose sanding on wood or walls before painting, medium grits such as 80 to 120 strike the right balance between smoothing and surface preparation. These are often used for removing tool marks, evening out filler, or gently roughing up a painted surface for recoating.

When you're approaching the final stages of a project, you'll want to use finer grits between 150 and 220. These help smooth out minor imperfections, create a more uniform surface, and ensure that paint or varnish adheres cleanly. For delicate finishing tasks — such as sanding between coats of paint or varnish, or polishing finished surfaces — very fine to ultra-fine grits in the 320 range and beyond are most appropriate.

Different materials also require different approaches. For drywall and interior walls, medium to fine grits between 80 and 180 work well, starting with a coarser grit to remove rough areas and finishing with a finer one to prepare for paint. On wood, it’s common to begin with 60 or 80 grit for shaping, move to 120 or 150 for smoothing, and finish with 220 for a clean, ready-to-finish surface. Metal surfaces often require a more refined approach, starting with 80 to 150 grit for roughing and progressing to finer grits over 320 for polishing.

A good rule of thumb is to always start with a coarser grit and gradually work your way up to finer grades. Skipping too many grit levels can leave swirl marks or uneven finishes, so it's best to step up gradually. For most home improvement or furniture restoration tasks, a combination of coarse, medium, and fine sandpaper will cover all stages of the process.

LowMux sandpaper products are designed to give you flexibility and performance at every grit level. Our multi-packs include a balanced selection of coarse, medium, and fine options — perfect for tackling any project from start to finish with reliable results.

If you're unsure where to start, choose a mixed-grit pack and test each on a sample area. With the right grit progression, you'll get a smoother surface, better paint adhesion, and a more professional result overall.