---
title: "Sandpaper grit — which one for which job"
description: "9 answers on choosing the right sandpaper grit for the material, with the reason behind each and what fails."
url: https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Sandpaper grit

9 materials and what works on each.

| For | Use | First alternative |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bare wood | 80 to 120 to 150 on softwood, finishing at 180 or 220 on hardwood — and stop there, because over-sanding ruins stain. | 120-150 grit |
| Stripping paint | 40 to 80 grit open-coat aluminium oxide or ceramic — but test for lead paint before sanding anything painted before the 1990s. | 80 grit |
| Rusty metal | 60 to 80 grit to strip scale, 120 to 180 to blend — then prime the same day, because bare steel flash rusts within hours. | 120-180 grit |
| Between coats | 220 to 320 grit with almost no pressure — you are knocking off dust nibs, not removing the coat. | Stearated (non-loading) paper |
| Plasterboard filler | 120 to 150 grit to level joint compound and 220 for the final pass, ideally on a mesh with a vacuum attached. | 220 grit |
| Plastic | Start at 320-600 wet for scratches, work up to 2000, then finish with a plastic polish — and keep it cool. | 800-2000 wet |
| Car body filler | 80 grit to shape, 180 to refine, 320 before primer and 400-600 on the primer before paint. | 180 grit |
| Final finish | 400 to 600 dry, or 800 to 2000 wet on a fully cured film, followed by a polishing compound. | 800-2000 wet with silicon carbide |
| Wet sanding | Silicon carbide wet-or-dry paper, water with a drop of detergent, a rigid block, and 800 grit upwards. | Aluminium oxide paper |

- [Which sandpaper grit for bare wood before finishing?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-bare-wood/) — 80 to 120 to 150 on softwood, finishing at 180 or 220 on hardwood — and stop there, because over-sanding ruins stain.
- [Which sandpaper grit removes paint?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-stripping-paint/) — 40 to 80 grit open-coat aluminium oxide or ceramic — but test for lead paint before sanding anything painted before the 1990s.
- [Which sandpaper grit removes rust?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-metal-rust/) — 60 to 80 grit to strip scale, 120 to 180 to blend — then prime the same day, because bare steel flash rusts within hours.
- [Which sandpaper grit between coats of paint or varnish?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-between-coats/) — 220 to 320 grit with almost no pressure — you are knocking off dust nibs, not removing the coat.
- [Which sandpaper grit for plasterboard and filler?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-drywall/) — 120 to 150 grit to level joint compound and 220 for the final pass, ideally on a mesh with a vacuum attached.
- [Which sandpaper grit for plastic?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-plastic/) — Start at 320-600 wet for scratches, work up to 2000, then finish with a plastic polish — and keep it cool.
- [Which sandpaper grit for car body filler?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-body-filler/) — 80 grit to shape, 180 to refine, 320 before primer and 400-600 on the primer before paint.
- [Which sandpaper grit for a final finish?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-final-finish/) — 400 to 600 dry, or 800 to 2000 wet on a fully cured film, followed by a polishing compound.
- [Which sandpaper should I use for wet sanding?](https://atoneplace.net/which/sandpaper-wet-sanding/) — Silicon carbide wet-or-dry paper, water with a drop of detergent, a rigid block, and 800 grit upwards.