P2000 sandpaper
10.3 µm grain
P2000 (FEPA) · about 1200 grit (CAMI) · 0.010 mm average particle
What P2000 is for
Refining a polished surface. At ten micrometres the abrasive is finer than most dust in the air, which is why cleanliness starts to matter more than technique.
The two scales
| FEPA (European) | P2000 |
| CAMI (American) | about 1200 |
| Average grain | 10.3 µm |
| Scales agree here? | No — P2000 is about 67% coarser than a CAMI 2000 |
A packet marked 2000 in the United States is finer than one marked P2000 in Europe. The P prefix is the tell, and it is easy to miss on a label — which is why a finishing schedule copied from an American source and followed with European paper comes out coarser than intended at every step.
Nearby grits
| FEPA | CAMI | Grain | Typically |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1000 | 600 | 18.3 µm | Wet sanding clear coat before compounding |
| P1200 | 800 | 15.3 µm | Removing orange peel from paint |
| P1500 | 1000 | 12.6 µm | Final wet sanding before machine polishing on automotive paint |
| P2000 | 1200 | 10.3 µm | Refining a polished surface |
| P2500 | 1500 | 8.4 µm | The fine end of what is generally sold |
Frequently asked questions
Is P2000 the same as 2000 grit?
No. P2000 is roughly CAMI 1200 — the American 2000 grit is finer than the European P2000. The two scales agree up to about 180 and separate above it, so at this end a packet marked 2000 and a packet marked P2000 are genuinely different papers.
What grain size is P2000?
An average grain of 10.3 µm — 0.010 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 P2000 used for?
Refining a polished surface. At ten micrometres the abrasive is finer than most dust in the air, which is why cleanliness starts to matter more than technique.
What comes before and after P2000?
Coming up from coarse, P1500 (12.6 µm) and then this; the next step finer is P2500 at 8.4 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.