Sandpaper Grit Guide
Select a sandpaper grit number (P40–P2000) to see the recommended use case and application.
How to use this tool
- Enter grit (fepa) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your recommended use and the full breakdown beneath it.
Choose the right sandpaper grit for every stage of your woodworking or finishing project.
Formula
This tool is a reference lookup: FEPA grit number → recommended application. No arithmetic formula applies.
FEPA (European) P-grades range from P40 (very coarse, ~400 µm particle size) to P2000 (ultra-fine, ~10 µm particle size), roughly following: finer grits have smaller abrasive particles.
How it works
Sandpaper grit ratings under the FEPA (Fédération Européenne des Fabricants de Produits Abrasifs) system, denoted by a P prefix, describe the average particle size of the abrasive: lower numbers mean larger, coarser particles that remove material quickly, while higher numbers mean finer particles that leave smoother surfaces. The recommended use case for each grit is determined by woodworking and finishing convention, moving from rough shaping at P40 through to final polishing at P2000. A common mistake is skipping grit levels — jumping from P80 directly to P240, for example, leaves deep scratches that the finer paper cannot efficiently remove; progressing through intermediate grits (P120, P180) produces a consistently smooth result with less overall effort.
Worked example
Identifying the correct use case for P120 grit sandpaper
- Selected grit: P120.
- P120 is a medium-coarseness abrasive, between the coarse P80 and the fine P180.
- Look up P120 in the FEPA grit table.
Recommended Use: Medium - general sanding, smoothing
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping grit steps when sanding -- jumping from P80 directly to P220 leaves deep scratches that the finer grit cannot remove efficiently; the standard practice is to advance no more than one or two grit grades at a time.
- Using FEPA (P-grade) and CAMI (US) grit numbers interchangeably at fine grits -- P400 and 400 grit are similar but not identical; CAMI 400 is slightly coarser than FEPA P400 above P220.
- Applying the same grit progression to bare wood as to painted surfaces -- bare wood typically starts at P80-P120, while scuff-sanding paint between coats uses P320-P400; starting too coarse on a finish causes deep scratches.
Key terms
- FEPA grit (P-grade)
- The European sandpaper grading standard (prefix P) specifying the average abrasive particle size; it is the most common system on sandpaper sold in Europe, Australia, and increasingly worldwide.
- Grit number
- The number after the P prefix; it corresponds inversely to particle size — a higher grit number means finer abrasive particles and a smoother surface finish.
- Wet sanding
- A technique using very fine sandpapers (P400 and above) with water or a lubricant to reduce friction and heat, used for automotive finishing, lacquer polishing, and final surface preparation.
- Between-coat sanding
- A finishing step using extra-fine grits (typically P320) to lightly abrade a dried coat of paint, primer, or varnish before applying the next coat, improving adhesion and removing surface imperfections.
Frequently asked questions
- What grit sandpaper should I use for finishing?
- Use P180–P240 for pre-finishing, P320 between coats, P400 for final wet sanding, and P600+ for polishing.