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Grit profile

80grit sandpaper

Coarse

The first real pass on hardwood. Where most projects begin.

80 grit in other scales

If the pack says 80 (CAMI, most US paper)

~190 µmAbout the same as P80.

If it says P80 (FEPA, Festool, Mirka, Norton 3X)

~201 µmAbout the same as CAMI 80.P80, converted →

Sizes are average particle diameters from the published CAMI and FEPA tables. Full ladder in the grit chart; any grade on any scale in the grit converter.

What 80 grit is for

80-grit is the first real working grit on most projects. Cabinet shops start here on hardwood. Auto-body shops start here on filler. It cuts hard but leaves a pattern smooth enough that 120 or 150 erases it cleanly.

Projects at 80 grit

  • · First pass on hardwood furniture
  • · Sanding auto-body filler (Bondo)
  • · Removing brush marks from old paint
  • · Smoothing edge banding
  • · Initial pass on a deck or fence before staining

Abrasive materials

  • · aluminum oxide (most common)
  • · ceramic (premium)
  • · zirconia (belts)
  • · silicon carbide (wet/dry)

Common mistake

Don’t skip ahead more than two grits from 80. 80 → 220 leaves swirl marks that telegraph through stain.

← 60 grit (the step before)100 grit (the step after) →

Norton at 80 grit

Norton offers two different 80-grit sheets here: 3X heat-treated aluminum oxide for rough wood, old paint, and aggressive shaping; and open-coat ProSand aluminum oxide for rough drywall passes, mud leveling, and high-spot removal.

Norton 3X Sheet Sandpaper, 80 Grit (20-pack)

Aluminum oxide · Best for rough wood and old paint

Check price

Norton ProSand Drywall Sanding Sheets, 80 Grit (20-pack)

Aluminum oxide · Best for rough drywall pass and mud leveling

Check price

Top pick at 80

3M Pro Grade Precision Assorted Pack

Five grits. One box. Everything you need to finish what you started.

Check priceReview

Catalog fit

106

Current SKU matches in this grit lane.

Common forms

5

Forms represented here, led by discs.

Head to head

4

Comparison pages currently touching this stage of the sanding climb.

Use this grit when

The surface still needs this stage.

  • · The first real pass on hardwood. Where most projects begin.
  • · This is a cutting stage, not a finish stage. Use it to remove material, not to fake smoothness.
  • · On this site, 80 grit shows up most around paint prep, 3×21 belt sanders, metal finishing, and 6-inch orbital sanders.

Skip this grit when

The job is earlier or later than this.

  • · Skip this grit for between-coat work, final finish prep, or anything already close to smooth.
  • · Skip the urge to jump straight here from a very coarse grit; the scratch pattern underneath will usually survive the shortcut.

Recommended at this grit.

Head to head

Comparisons in this lane.

Norton 3X Sheet Sandpaper, 220 Grit (20-pack) vs. 3M Pro Grade Precision Assorted Pack

One grit done right, or five grits done well.

Read the breakdown →

Mirka Gold 5-inch Hook & Loop Disc Assortment vs. Diablo 5-inch ROS Discs, 120 Grit (50-pack)

Finnish precision or American volume.

Read the breakdown →

3M 9×11 40-Grit Sandpaper (5-pack) vs. Norton 3X Sheet Sandpaper, 80 Grit (20-pack)

How rough is the surface, and how much do you want left of it.

Read the breakdown →

3M Pro Grade Precision Assorted Pack vs. Gator Finishing Multi-Grit 9x11 Sandpaper Pack

Both cover the range. One holds up longer.

Read the breakdown →

Questions people ask

The practical part.

What is 80 grit actually for?

80 grit is for the first real pass on hardwood. where most projects begin. This is a cutting stage, not a finish stage. Use it to remove material, not to fake smoothness.

What should come before and after 80 grit?

The safe lane is usually 60 -> 80 -> 100. You can stretch that a little on easy material, but large jumps usually leave scratches behind.

Which forms make the most sense at 80 grit?

On UltraRough, this grit shows up most in discs, belts, and sheets. That reflects where shoppers usually need this cut level in the real world.

Keep moving

Follow the climb.

60 gritThe step before 80 grit.100 gritThe next step after 80 grit.DiscsSee discs that commonly show up in this lane.BeltsSee belts that commonly show up in this lane.SheetsSee sheets that commonly show up in this lane.Use the grit selectorStart from the project instead of the number.Sandpaper grit chart: coarse to fineThe full range mapped to projects — every grit from 40 to 3000.Find the right grit for your projectTell us the job; we'll tell you where to start and where to stop.
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