P180 sandpaper
82 µm grain
P180 (FEPA) · about 180 grit (CAMI) · 0.082 mm average particle
What P180 is for
The last grit where P and CAMI still mean nearly the same thing. Beyond here the two scales separate and the numbers stop being comparable.
The two scales
| FEPA (European) | P180 |
| CAMI (American) | about 180 |
| Average grain | 82 µm |
| Scales agree here? | Yes, near enough to substitute |
Nearby grits
| FEPA | CAMI | Grain | Typically |
|---|---|---|---|
| P100 | 100 | 162 µm | General sanding on softwood, and the point at which the surface starts to look intentional rather than attacked |
| P120 | 120 | 125 µm | The workhorse grit for wood before finishing |
| P150 | 150 | 100 µm | Between the shaping grits and the finishing ones |
| P180 | 180 | 82 µm | The last grit where P and CAMI still mean nearly the same thing |
| P220 | 220 | 68 µm | The last grit most woodwork needs before paint or stain, and the point where the two scales still agree closely enough to substitute one for the other without noticing |
| P240 | 220 | 58.5 µm | The first grit of the finishing range rather than the preparation range, and the first where the two scales visibly part company: P240 falls between CAMI 220 and 240 and matches neither |
| P280 | 240 | 52.2 µm | Fine finishing on hardwood, and between coats of varnish |
| P320 | 280 | 46.2 µm | De-nibbing between coats |
Frequently asked questions
Is P180 the same as 180 grit?
Close enough to treat as the same. Below about P180 the European and American scales agree; the divergence starts above it.
What grain size is P180?
An average grain of 82 µm — 0.082 mm. That figure is what the P number is defined by, which is why it is the reliable way to compare across scales.
What is P180 used for?
The last grit where P and CAMI still mean nearly the same thing. Beyond here the two scales separate and the numbers stop being comparable.
What comes before and after P180?
Coming up from coarse, P150 (100 µm) and then this; the next step finer is P220 at 68 µm. Skipping more than one step leaves scratches the finer paper cannot remove — the usual cause of a surface that looks fine dry and terrible once finish goes on.