Every grit chart is sorted by number. But you are not holding a number — you are holding a job. Pick the job below. You get the grit to start with, and the full order to work through.
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The whole range, at a glance
Tap a job. The answer shows the starting grit first, then each grit after it, in order. Work through them one at a time — do not jump ahead.
About the ranges: published charts do not all agree. Where they disagree, this page prints a range — charts vary, and any grit inside the range does the job.
Your sequence
Sand each step until the surface looks even, then move to the next grit. Wipe or brush off the dust between grits so loose grains do not scratch the next pass.
The one rule
Never skip more than one grit.
Each grit's job is to erase the scratches the last one left. Jump from 80 straight to 220 and the fine paper just polishes over deep scratches — they show through the finish.
This rule comes from professional floor-sanding guidance, aligned with the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association).
The grit number is about the size of the sand grains stuck to the paper. That is all it is.
That is why you work in order: coarse first to do the heavy work, then finer and finer to erase the scratches.
Some sandpaper is marked with a letter P, like P120. Plain paper just says 120. They are two grading systems:
FEPA grading — the European system. The “P” stands for this grading.
CAMI grading — the North American system. No letter, just the number.
The two are close at the same number, but not identical. For home projects, treat them as the same — buy what the store has and follow the sequence.
Wear a dust mask when sanding. Sanding dust is not good to breathe, whatever the material.
If the paint might be old — STOP. Paint in homes built before 1978 can contain lead, and sanding it spreads lead dust through the house. The U.S. EPA's lead safety guidance says: have it tested, and let a certified pro handle it (the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule).
Let the paper do the work. Pressing hard just clogs the paper and leaves swirl marks. A light, even touch lasts longer and finishes better. And on wood, always sand with the grain — the same direction as the wood's lines — not across it.
Sources: abrasive manufacturers' published grit charts (the CAMI and FEPA grading systems); NWFA-aligned professional floor-sanding grit guidance; U.S. EPA lead paint safety guidance.
Checked November 2026.