Sandpaper Grits
Paint & Surface Prep · 8 specs
Direct Answer
Coated abrasive sandpapers standardize abrasive particle sizes under CAMI (US) and FEPA 'P' (ISO 6344) scales: Extra Coarse (24–36 grit for heavy stripping), Medium (80–120 for wood prep), Fine (150–180 for finish sanding), and Ultra-Fine (320–600 for wet intercoat sanding).
Source: ISO 6344 (Coated Abrasives–Grain Size) / Coated Abrasives Manufacturers Institute (CAMI) · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Governing Standards | ISO 6344 (FEPA P-Grade) / ANSI B74.18 (CAMI Standards) |
| Extra Coarse (24–36 Grit) | 530–710 µm | Rapid material removal, heavy paint stripping, floor sanding |
| Coarse (40–60 Grit) | 250–425 µm | Rough wood shaping, deep scratch removal |
| Medium (80–120 Grit) | 125–200 µm | Leveling bare wood, initial drywall sanding (Benchmark) |
| Fine (150–180 Grit) | 82–100 µm | Final bare wood sanding before stain or primer |
| Very Fine (220–240 Grit) | 53–68 µm | Light sanding between coats of paint/polyurethane |
| Ultra Fine (320–600 Grit) | 26–46 µm | Wet sanding, lacquer smoothing, metal polishing |
| Micro Fine (1000–3000 Grit) | 6–18 µm | Automotive clearcoat wetsanding and mirror finish buffing |
Sandpaper Grit Grade, Micron Size & Application Matrix
| Grit Grade (CAMI / FEPA) | Average Particle Size (Microns) | Primary Surface Action | Typical Woodworking / Auto Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 – 36 Grit (P24–P36) | 530 – 710 µm | Aggressive gouging / stripping | Heavy paint removal, rough hardwood floor drum sanding |
| 40 – 60 Grit (P40–P60) | 250 – 425 µm | Fast wood dimensioning | Planing saw marks, shaping curves, rusty metal prep |
| 80 – 120 Grit (P80–P120) | 125 – 200 µm | General leveling & smoothing | Bare wood surface prep, smoothing joint compound |
| 150 – 180 Grit (P150–P180) | 82 – 100 µm | Final surface preparation | Final sanding on bare wood prior to stain/finish |
| 220 – 240 Grit (P220–P240) | 53 – 68 µm | Intercoat scuffing | De-nibbing raised wood grain between lacquer/paint coats |
| 320 – 400 Grit (P400–P800) | 35 – 46 µm | Ultra-fine finish smoothing | Wet sanding clear coats, smoothing fine furniture finishes |
| 600 – 1000 Grit (P1200+) | 18 – 26 µm | Pre-polish smoothing | Metal finishing, plastics, wet rubbing auto primer |
| 1500 – 3000 Grit | 6 – 12 µm | Mirror polishing | Wet color sanding automotive clearcoat before compound buff |