Sandpaper Grit Progression Calculator

How It Works

Never skip more than one grit step — each grit removes the scratches from the previous one. For paint, 150 grit is sufficient. For stain, stop at 180 (finer grits close the pores and reduce stain absorption). For clear finishes, sand to 220. Random-orbit sanders produce the most even results. Always sand with the grain on the final pass.