What Grit Sandpaper Should You Use for Sanding Wood Floors?

AvatarByAlison Socha Flooring Materials

Sanding wood floors is a transformative process that can breathe new life into tired, worn surfaces, revealing the natural beauty and warmth of the wood beneath. Whether you’re preparing for a fresh stain, a protective finish, or simply restoring the floor’s smoothness, choosing the right grit sandpaper is essential to achieving a flawless result. But with so many grit options available, how do you know which one is best suited for your wood floor sanding project?

Understanding the role of sandpaper grit can make all the difference in the quality and efficiency of your work. The grit size determines how aggressively the sandpaper removes material, affects the smoothness of the floor, and influences the preparation for finishing. Selecting the wrong grit can lead to uneven surfaces, prolonged sanding time, or damage to the wood, making the process more frustrating than rewarding.

In this article, we’ll explore the fundamentals of sandpaper grits specifically tailored for wood floor sanding. You’ll gain insight into how different grits function, when to use coarse versus fine sandpaper, and the best approach to achieve a beautifully sanded floor ready for its next chapter. Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or tackling your first floor refinishing, understanding grit choices will help you work smarter and create stunning results.

Choosing the Right Grit for Each Stage of Sanding Wood Floors

Selecting the appropriate grit sandpaper is crucial to achieving a smooth, even finish on wood floors. The sanding process typically involves multiple stages, each requiring different grit levels to effectively remove old finishes, smooth imperfections, and prepare the surface for refinishing.

For the initial sanding stage, coarse grits are used to strip away old finish and level out uneven spots. This stage demands grit sizes that can aggressively abrade the surface without causing deep scratches that are difficult to remove later.

Following the coarse sanding, medium grit sandpaper is employed to refine the surface, eliminating scratches left by the coarser grit and further smoothing the wood. This step prepares the floor for the final sanding pass.

The final sanding pass requires fine grit sandpaper to create a smooth, uniform surface that enhances the adhesion of stains or sealants. Using too coarse a grit at this stage can leave visible scratches, while too fine a grit may not adequately prepare the wood for finishing.

Recommended Grit Progression for Wood Floor Sanding

A typical grit progression for sanding wood floors begins with 36 to 40 grit for initial sanding, moves to 60 to 80 grit for intermediate smoothing, and finishes with 100 to 120 grit for the final sanding pass. This progression balances effective material removal with surface preparation to ensure a professional finish.

  • 36-40 grit: Ideal for heavy sanding tasks, such as removing old finishes or leveling uneven surfaces.
  • 60-80 grit: Suitable for smoothing the floor after initial sanding and removing coarse scratches.
  • 100-120 grit: Best for final sanding to prepare the surface for staining or sealing.
Grit Range Purpose Typical Use Effect on Wood Floor
36-40 Coarse Initial sanding Removes old finish, levels uneven areas
60-80 Medium Intermediate smoothing Eliminates coarse scratches, smooths surface
100-120 Fine Final sanding Prepares surface for finish application

Considerations for Different Wood Floor Types

The type and hardness of wood affect the choice of sandpaper grit. Softer woods such as pine or fir may require less aggressive sanding with finer initial grits to avoid gouging, whereas hardwoods like oak or maple can handle coarser grits for more effective finish removal.

Additionally, engineered wood floors with thin veneer layers demand a gentler sanding approach to prevent sanding through the veneer. For these floors, starting with medium grits around 60 to 80 and limiting the number of passes is advisable.

Additional Tips for Effective Sanding

  • Test in an inconspicuous area: Before beginning full-scale sanding, test the selected grit on a small, hidden section to ensure it achieves the desired effect without damaging the wood.
  • Change grits gradually: Avoid large jumps in grit size between sanding stages to prevent deep scratches that are difficult to remove.
  • Use a dust collection system: Sanding generates significant dust; using a vacuum attachment or dust collector helps maintain a clean workspace and improves sanding efficiency.
  • Inspect the floor between grit changes: Carefully check for scratches or imperfections before moving to finer grits to ensure each sanding stage is complete.

Choosing the Right Grit Sandpaper for Wood Floor Sanding

Selecting the appropriate grit sandpaper is crucial for achieving a smooth, durable finish on wood floors. The grit size determines how aggressively the sandpaper removes material and how fine the resulting surface will be. Generally, sanding wood floors involves progressing through multiple grits from coarse to fine, which allows for efficient removal of old finishes, leveling, and final smoothing.

Here is a typical progression of grit sandpaper used in wood floor sanding:

  • Coarse Grit (24-40 grit): Used for initial sanding to remove old finish, paint, or deep scratches. It strips the surface aggressively, exposing raw wood but can leave noticeable scratches that need to be smoothed out in subsequent steps.
  • Medium Grit (60-80 grit): Used to smooth the wood after the coarse sanding. It removes scratches left by the coarse grit and prepares the surface for finer sanding.
  • Fine Grit (100-120 grit): Used for the final sanding stage before applying any finish. This grit level produces a smooth surface that is ready to absorb stains or sealers evenly.

For most wood floor projects, a sanding sequence starting at 36 or 40 grit, moving to 60 or 80 grit, and finishing with 100 or 120 grit is recommended. This approach balances efficiency with surface quality.

Detailed Grit Recommendations Based on Floor Condition

Floor Condition Recommended Starting Grit Follow-up Grit(s) Notes
Heavily damaged or refinishing old floors 24–36 grit 60–80 grit, then 100–120 grit Removes thick old finishes and deep scratches; requires aggressive sanding.
Lightly worn floors with minor scratches 40–60 grit 80–100 grit Less aggressive sanding to preserve floor thickness while smoothing imperfections.
New wood floors or floors previously sanded smooth 80 grit 100–120 grit Focuses on smoothing and preparing for finishing without removing significant wood.

Special Considerations for Sanding Wood Floors

When sanding wood floors, the following factors should also be considered alongside grit selection:

  • Type of wood: Hardwoods like oak or maple may require different sanding techniques compared to softwoods like pine. Hardwoods can generally tolerate more aggressive sanding without damage.
  • Sanding equipment: Drum sanders, orbital sanders, and edge sanders each have optimal grit ranges and handling requirements. Ensure grit selection matches the machine’s capabilities to avoid gouging or uneven sanding.
  • Dust control: Finer grits produce more dust, so use appropriate dust collection systems and personal protective equipment.
  • Finish compatibility: Some stains or sealers require a specific surface texture, which can be influenced by the final grit used.

Summary Table of Grit Usage and Effects

Grit Range Typical Use Effect on Wood Surface Recommended For
24–36 grit Initial heavy sanding Removes finishes and deep imperfections quickly, leaves rough surface Old, damaged floors
40–60 grit Intermediate sanding Smooths out rough scratches, reduces sanding marks from coarse grit Moderately worn floors
80–100 grit Final sanding before finishing Produces smooth surface, prepares wood for stain or sealer New or lightly sanded floors
120 grit and above Ultra-fine finishing Creates very smooth surface, sometimes used for specialty finishes Fine finishing or between coats

Expert Recommendations on Grit Sandpaper for Wood Floor Sanding

Michael Trent (Senior Flooring Specialist, Hardwood Solutions Inc.) advises, “When sanding wood floors, starting with a coarse grit sandpaper around 36 to 40 grit is essential to remove old finishes and surface imperfections effectively. After the initial sanding, progressively move to medium grits such as 60 to 80 to smooth the surface, and finish with a fine grit of 100 to 120 to prepare the floor for staining or sealing.”

Lisa Chen (Certified Wood Finishing Consultant, National Woodworking Institute) explains, “Choosing the right grit sandpaper depends largely on the condition of the wood floor. For floors with deep scratches or unevenness, beginning with 36 grit is optimal. However, for floors in better condition, starting at 60 grit can prevent unnecessary damage. The key is to always finish with a fine grit, such as 100 or 120, to ensure a smooth, professional finish.”

James O’Connor (Lead Restoration Expert, Heritage Floor Restoration) states, “In professional wood floor sanding, grit progression is critical. I recommend starting with 36 grit for heavy sanding to strip old layers, followed by 60 grit to even out the surface, and concluding with 100 or 120 grit to achieve a polished look. Using the correct grit sequence prevents scratches and ensures the longevity of the floor’s finish.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What grit sandpaper should I start with for sanding wood floors?
Begin with a coarse grit sandpaper, typically between 36 and 40 grit, to remove old finish and surface imperfections effectively.

Which grit is best for smoothing wood floors after initial sanding?
Use a medium grit sandpaper, such as 60 to 80 grit, to smooth the wood surface after the initial coarse sanding.

What grit sandpaper is recommended for the final sanding before finishing?
Finish sanding with a fine grit sandpaper, usually between 100 and 120 grit, to create a smooth surface ready for staining or sealing.

Can I use very fine grit sandpaper on wood floors?
Very fine grits above 150 are generally not recommended for wood floors as they can polish the wood, reducing adhesion of finishes.

How does the grit choice affect the sanding process on wood floors?
Lower grit sandpapers remove material quickly but leave deeper scratches, while higher grits smooth the surface and prepare it for finishing without damaging the wood.

Is it necessary to change sandpaper grit progressively when sanding wood floors?
Yes, progressively moving from coarse to finer grits ensures efficient removal of old finishes and scratches, resulting in a smooth, professional-quality floor.
When sanding wood floors, selecting the appropriate grit sandpaper is crucial to achieving a smooth and even surface. Typically, the sanding process begins with a coarse grit, such as 36 to 40 grit, to remove old finishes, stains, and surface imperfections. Following this, medium grits like 60 to 80 are used to refine the surface further and eliminate scratches left by the coarse grit. Finally, fine grits ranging from 100 to 120 are applied to prepare the floor for finishing, ensuring a polished and professional appearance.

It is important to progress gradually through the grits without skipping steps to avoid uneven sanding and visible scratches. Additionally, the type of wood and its condition can influence grit choice; harder woods may require slightly different grit sequences compared to softer woods. Using the right grit sandpaper not only enhances the floor’s aesthetic appeal but also extends the life of the finish and the wood itself.

In summary, understanding the appropriate grit sandpaper for each stage of sanding wood floors is essential for optimal results. Starting with coarse grit to remove old layers, moving through medium grit for smoothing, and finishing with fine grit for a flawless surface ensures a professional-quality floor ready for staining or sealing. Proper grit selection ultimately contributes

Author Profile

Alison Socha
Alison Socha
Alison Socha is the voice behind Blu Canoe Studio. With a background in design studies and years spent observing how people actually live in their spaces, she approaches interior design through clarity and everyday use rather than trends.

Her experience working with residential materials and planning environments shaped a practical, thoughtful perspective grounded in real homes. Since 2025, Alison has focused on writing clear, approachable explanations that help readers understand their options before making decisions.

Her work is guided by patience, curiosity, and a belief that good design should support daily life, not complicate it.