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7 Best Sandpapers for Wood (And How to Choose the Right Grit)

David

January 16, 2026

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Key Takeaways

• The right sandpaper depends on your wood type, project stage, and finish goals.
• Grit numbers matter: low grits remove material fast, higher grits smooth wood and prep it for finish.
• Choosing the right abrasive (garnet, aluminum oxide, ceramic, etc.) can make sanding easier and improve results.
• A proper grit progression creates a smooth, swirl-free finish without over-sanding or damaging the wood.

Use coarse sandpaper (40–60 grit) for heavy wood removal, medium grit (80–120) for smoothing and shaping, fine grit (150–220) for finish prep, and extra-fine grit (320–400+) for final touch-ups between coats. For most woodworking projects, a 3-step progression—80 grit → 120 grit → 220 grit—is the ideal starting point.

Introduction: Which Sandpaper to Use for Wood (The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need)

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the sandpaper aisle at Home Depot staring at numbers like 60, 120, 220, 400, wondering if you accidentally walked into a math exam—you’re not alone.

I’ve been woodworking long enough to admit that, early on, I picked sandpaper based on one thing: whatever was on sale.
Spoiler alert—that method works about as well as using a butter knife as a chisel.

Choosing the right sandpaper is one of the fastest ways to improve the look and feel of any project. Whether you’re building a farmhouse table, refinishing cabinets, or sanding down a rough 2×4 that looks like it fought a bear, the right grit makes the job easier and the results smoother.

Let’s break it down the way I wish someone had explained it to me years ago—simple, practical, and based on real shop experience.

Understanding Sandpaper Basics Before You Start

What Sandpaper Grit Numbers Actually Mean

Grit = how coarse or fine the sandpaper is.

Here’s the breakdown:

Lower number = rougher = removes material faster.
Higher number = finer = creates a smoother surface.

Different Abrasive Materials and Their Purpose

Garnet

• Great for hand-sanding wood
• Creates smooth finish
• Wears out quickly

Aluminum Oxide

• Most common
• Long-lasting
• Great for power sanding

Silicon Carbide

• Very sharp
• Best for sanding finishes, not raw wood

Ceramic & Zirconia

• Industrial-grade
• Removes stock fast
• Great for belt sanders

Sandpaper Backing Types Explained

• Paper – flexible, great for hand sanding
• Cloth – durable, perfect for power tools
• Film – consistent finish, used for fine sanding
• Sponge – contours, curves, tricky edges

Choosing the Right Sandpaper for Wood

Rough Sanding — Heavy Material Removal (40–60 Grit)

If your board looks like it was cut by a lumberjack with a hangover, this is where you start.

Use rough grit for:

• Removing saw marks
• Shaping edges
• Leveling uneven boards

Not for finish work—this stuff leaves scratches.

Medium Sanding — Smoothing the Surface (80–120 Grit)

This is the “workhorse” grit range.

Perfect for:

• Cleaning up after rough sanding
• Preparing wood for stain
• Removing small imperfections

Most projects start or pass through this range.

Fine Sanding — Finish Prep (150–220 Grit)

This is where wood starts feeling silky.

Use this grit range for:

• Pre-stain sanding
• Pre-paint sanding
• Removing swirl marks from the previous grit

For most woodworking, 220 grit is the sweet spot.

Extra-Fine Sanding — Final Touch-ups (320–400+ Grit)

Mostly used between finish coats:

• Light sanding between polyurethane coats
• Smoothing raised grain after staining
• Polishing finishes (not raw wood)

Going too fine on raw wood can actually hurt stain penetration.

Matching Sandpaper to Common Woodworking Tasks

For Raw Lumber and Rough Boards

Recommended: 60 → 100 → 150 → 220 grit

For Furniture Making & Cabinetry

Use a clean progression for smooth finishes:

1. 80 grit
2. 120 grit
3. 180–220 grit

For Softwoods (Pine, Fir, Cedar)

Softwoods bruise easily.

Best grits:

• Start at 80
• Then 120
• Finish at 180 or 220

For Hardwoods (Oak, Maple, Walnut)

Hardwoods can handle more aggressive sanding.

Best grits:

• Start at 60 or 80
• Move to 120
• End at 180–220

For Removing Paint or Old Finish

Use:

• 40 or 60 grit (with caution)
• Aluminum oxide or ceramic abrasives

For Sanding Between Coats of Finish

Best choices:

• 320–400 grit paper
• Very light pressure
• Sand only to remove dust nibs

Different Sandpaper Formats and When to Use Each

Sheets (Hand Sanding)

Good for:

• Flat surfaces
• Light work
• Delicate projects

Sanding Sponges

Best for:

• Curves
• Round edges
• Trim & molding

Orbital Sander Discs

Great for:

• Large surfaces
• Rapid material removal
• Even scratch patterns

Belt Sander Belts

Use on:

• Thick stock removal
• Leveling
• Hardwood preparation

Detail Sander Paper

Ideal for:

• Inside corners
• Tight spaces
• Decorative trim

How to Sand Wood Properly

Grit Progression Explained

Skipping grits leads to swirl marks—trust me, I learned the hard way.

Use smooth transitions:
80 → 120 → 220

Avoid These Common Sanding Mistakes

• Sanding against the grain
• Over-sanding edges
• Using worn-out sandpaper
• Jumping from low grit to high grit

Tips for Getting a Glass-Smooth Finish

• Make your final sanding pass with the grain
• Remove dust between grits
• Use a tack cloth before finishing

Sandpaper Recommendations Based on Real Use

Best Sandpaper for Hand Sanding

• Garnet for smooth finish
• Aluminum oxide for durability

Best for Power Sanders

• Film-backed
• Ceramic coated
• Hook-and-loop discs

Best for Finish Work

• Silicon carbide
• Fine-grit aluminum oxide

Most Durable for Heavy Removal

• Zirconia and ceramic abrasives

When to Replace Sandpaper

Signs it’s time to toss it:

• It feels smooth instead of gritty
• It leaves burn marks
• It gums up quickly
• It stops cutting efficiently

Worn sandpaper wastes time and overheats wood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Choosing the right sandpaper transforms your woodworking results. Start rough, move to medium, finish with fine—just like every pro in the shop does. Use the right abrasive, follow a simple grit progression, and your wood projects will look smoother, cleaner, and more professional every time.