What is Sandpaper Grit? (Complete Guide 2026)

Introduction

When people talk about sanding, most of the frustration they experience doesn’t come from the tool — it comes from choosing the wrong sandpaper. Understanding sandpaper grit is the single most important factor in achieving a smooth, clean, professional finish. Whether you’re restoring old furniture, preparing metal for paint, or simply working on a home DIY project, selecting the correct grit will save time, reduce material waste, and dramatically improve the final result.

Sandpaper grit refers to the size of the abrasive particles bonded to the surface of the paper or cloth backing. These particles are responsible for removing material. The grit number tells you how aggressive or how fine the sanding action will be.

Lower grit numbers such as P40 or P60 contain large abrasive particles that remove material quickly. Higher numbers like P600 or P1000 contain extremely fine particles designed for smoothing and polishing rather than shaping.

Why Grit Choice Affects Everything

Every sanding scratch created by a coarse grit must later be removed by finer grits. Starting too fine wastes time. Starting too coarse and skipping steps leaves deep scratches that show through paint or stain. Following a proper grit progression produces consistent, professional-level results with less effort.

Complete Sandpaper Grit Chart (2026 Reference)