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Considering all of the various steps to working on drywall, there will be plenty of different sandpaper grits and types required to correctly complete the multiple tasks.
The article below will give you all the necessary information.
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best sandpapers for drywall:
Comparison Chart of the Best Sandpapers for Drywall
Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
Lanhu 120 Grit  | ||
Dura-Gold Premium 120 Grit  | ||
PoliWell High Performance 150 Grit  | ||
Fandeli Assorted Grits  | ||
Liyafy 6pcs  |
What Sandpaper Should I Use On Drywall?
There are many times when working on drywall; you'll require various sandpaper types that all have different qualities. In the following section, we'll go through the other sandpaper attributes needed depending on the situation.
What Grit Sandpaper For Drywall?
Most experts recommend that you go safe and use between 80 and 120-grit sandpaper if you're ever in doubt. The 80-grit will remove material effectively, and the 120-grit sandpaper will provide a smooth finish.
What Grit Sandpaper For Drywall Mud?
You're going to want to use 100-grit sandpaper as this is an equal measure between coarse and fine. You'll remove enough material but not too much and be able to smooth it out finely.
What Grit Sandpaper For Drywall Repair?
When fixing a hole in drywall, you'd typically use some drywall mud and a patch. Once you apply the mud over the patch and it's dry, go over the dry mud with 80-grit sandpaper. You would then add a second layer, go over when it's dry with 120-grit sandpaper.
What Grit Sandpaper To Finish Drywall?
120-grit sandpaper will be suitable for the first few minutes until the surface seems to have evened out. Switch to a 150-grit to give you an extra smooth finish.
What Size Sandpaper For Drywall?
There isn't a set size. So long as it fits in the palm of your hand or sanding tool, you'll be fine. If they're sanding by hand, most people will wrap the sandpaper around a sanding block to ensure it stays flat.
Review of the Best Sandpaper For Drywall
The most important part of this article is the review section. If you ever struggle with your research, take a look at our favorite sandpapers for drywall.
Best Overall
Lanhu 120 Grit
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The 120-grit sandpaper will provide you with decent material removal while offering a smooth finish on any workpiece. This sandpaper can be used on many materials, including wood and metal.
You'll receive 25-sheets of sandpaper made of silicon carbide, which will prolong the lifespan of the paper. The sandpaper can be either wet or dry, which is always a great benefit to those requiring extra flexibility and options.
The sheets come in sizes 9 x 3.6-inches, meaning you can cut them to suit the task. The only issue is that they're most suited to hand sanding as they don't have a hook and loop adhesive, although they could be clamped.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The versatility speaks volumes when it comes to sandpaper. You want to be using the same sandpaper that you use on wood to be used on metal or other materials, wet or dry. Thankfully, that's possible with this particular brand of sandpaper.
Runner-up
Dura-Gold Premium 120 Grit
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Certainly, a unique sandpaper product as it comes as a 20-yard roll of 120-grit sandpaper. The way it works is that you roll a piece out like sticky tape and attach it to a sanding block and start sanding.
The adhesive backing back is easy to apply and switch over, making it a quick substitute if you've run out of sandpaper for your electric sanding tool.
The only issue with the adhesive is that it wears off quickly when heated. However, it does provide a clean finish and will work with most sanding tasks.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The fact it's in roll form is what makes this product different from the competition. You'd be able to carry this around with you like a roll of duct tape in your bag. This would be great for tradespeople that only carry out the occasional drywall sanding task.
Best for the Money
PoliWell High Performance 150 Grit
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The large 150-grit, 9 x 11-inch sheets provide plenty of width and length to be cut into suitable smaller sizes. They can then be clamped on to your electric sander or held around a sanding block. The material itself is made from silicon carbide, which will prolong the lifespan of your paper.
Not only can it be used on wood and drywall, but it can also be used on metal and many other materials out there.
It's also important to highlight that it's waterproof, which can be used as either wet or dry paper. The only issue is that it doesn't have an easy attachment adhesive backing.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The difference between these sheets of paper and other sheets mentioned is the size. 9 x 11-inches is long and wide enough to be cut into smaller pieces and clamped into an electric sander. You want to provide enough area to get the job done fast and effectively, which this sandpaper does.
Best Sandpaper Set for Drywall
Fandeli Assorted Grits
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The Fandeli assorted grit sandpaper is a kit of 80, 120, and 220-grit sandpaper with dimensions of 9 x 11-inches, meaning you'll be able to cut the sandpaper to suit the task.
The sandpaper's width and length are important depending on the task and sanding tool as you'll want to cover as much area as possible. The versatile multi-grit kit can be used on various surfaces.
The sandpaper is made from aluminum oxide, which enhances the lifespan by 2.5x the average. The only issue with this sandpaper is that it needs to be clamped or wrapped around a sanding block as it has no adhesive backing.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Aluminum oxide can be considered the best material to use for sandpaper to prolong the lifespan of your paper. When you purchase sandpaper, you want it to last long enough; you get the best value.
This would be a smart purchase for someone that uses sandpaper quite regularly and doesn't want to keep wasting money on cheap and easily worn sheets.
Best Sanding Sponge for Drywall
Liyafy 6pcs
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Sanding sponges are an excellent tool for wet sanding. As you're sanding drywall, the water from inside the sponge will clean the wall from any dust particles, as it holds more water than using your typical sandpaper.
With each purchase, you'll receive six 120-grit sponges that can be easily stored or folded away without damaging the sponge.
One of this sponge's greatest assets is that they can easily access corners of the drywall as they're so flexible. The only issue is that they're not that firm, so they won't remove a lot of material.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The unique selling point for this product is the fact it's a sponge; if you're looking to provide that last finish on your drywall but using the wet sanding method, this product should be your go too. The sponge holds much more water than sandpaper and will effectively clean the wall of dust as you sand.
How to Sand Drywall
Sanding drywall can be a complicated task because there's so much to learn. Below are a few simple explanations of some of the most common tasks to do while sanding drywall.
How To Wet Sand Drywall
Wet sanding drywall is pretty straightforward; all you need is your sandpaper, which can be between 80 and 150-grit and a bucket of water.
Dampen the sandpaper and begin sanding; this will remove the issue of getting dust everywhere. Take a dry cloth and wipe down the drywall until clean; after a few hours, when it dries out, it'll look brand new.
How To Sand Drywall Without Dust
Wet sanding is an excellent option to limit the mess dust makes. But, you can also get a dustless drywall sander that will vacuum any dust as it's created.
How To Clean Dust Off Walls After Sanding
Open the windows, set the fan to face towards the window; this will naturally keep dust from sanding on the walls and remove some from the walls in the process.
Sweep the floors and then finally take a damp cloth and wipe down the drywall and keep doing this until you're happy with the outcome.
How To Sand Drywall Corners
The best way to find inconsistencies is by using a light; this will highlight all of the bumps and dips. To get into those corners, you could operate a sander with an oval-shaped pad or even utilize a finger attachment.
How To Sand Drywall Ceiling
You could make life easy for yourself and get an extendable drywall sander, which is excellent for reaching the ceiling or high walls without straining yourself on a ladder.
They also cover a wide area and features like LED lights to help you find small bumps and dips in the drywall.
How To Sand Painted Drywall
You should start by understanding if your paint is lead-based, as most homes before 1978 had utilized lead-based paint. A novice cannot do this as lead is dangerous if not removed properly.
If the paint isn't lead-based, you should start the process with a paint stripper; once it's set, you can easily peel it off.
You should then remove the remaining paint by sanding it off using 80-grit sandpaper. However, if the paint is quite rough and thick, it'd be recommended to use 40-grit sandpaper.
How To Sand Texture Drywall
100-grit sandpaper would be suitable for this task. You'd be best attaching the 100-grit sandpaper to a sander with comprehensive coverage, possibly a wide belt sander with a variable speed.
An extendable drywall sander would also be a useful tool as textured drywall tends to be on the ceiling rather than walls.
Drywall Sanding Tips and Techniques for Success
Like with any craft, sanding has tips and techniques that you learn and pick up over years of experience. But, who's got time for that? Here are some of the best tips for success.
Keep the Room Ventilated
Many people overlook this critical piece of advice. Still, it's crucial to your time management and health to prioritize this step.
Start by keeping all the vent and doors closed in the room but open all the windows with fans pointing directly towards them. This will blow all of the dust out the windows while you're working.
Extendible Drywall Sanders
Suppose you're going to be working on various rooms within your home. In that case, it'd be best to invest in an extendable drywall sander, helping you reach the ceiling and high parts of the wall without using a ladder.
Protective Gear
You need to be wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris, especially if you're sanding the ceiling as particles will fall on your face.
The same goes for a dust mask; breathing in paint particles or dust can be extremely damaging to your health. Therefore you should wear the necessary safety equipment.
Comparison Overview
There are different aspects of drywall sanding to consider before you jump into it. Below are some common comparisons to make when sanding drywall.
Wet Sanding vs. Dry Sanding Drywall
Wet sanding saves you a lot of time having to sweep up dust, while dry sanding makes it feel you're in the middle of a sandstorm. However, wet sanding still requires you to clean the walls with a damp cloth.
The dust created during dry sanding can be reduced by having a sufficient dust vacuum and a well-ventilated room.
Drywall Sanding Screen vs. Paper
Drywall sanding screen is mainly used on larger projects; sandpaper tends to be more effective on smaller spots. The screen can be turned around, making it better value for money.
A lot of people recommend a drywall sanding screen as it's made specifically for drywall. However, many experts will stand by that sandpaper is the correct way.
Patching Plaster Vs. Joint Compound
A joint compound is commonly used with drywall and is also known as mud; the whole drying process will take several hours, which could delay your sanding by at least a day.
However, plaster is a durable and reliable alternative that dries relativebely fast. However, the issue with plaster is that it's harder to work with.
Conclusion
There are many considerations to make before your next drywall sanding project. Thankfully, the information above is more or less everything you'll need to know to be able to complete your drywall sanding successfully.
People Also Ask
Considering that there's so much information to take in, read it over a few times. Still, regardless there are bound to be a few questions left unanswered. This is why we've compiled and answered the most commonly asked questions regarding drywall sandpaper.
What Is A Pole Sander?
A pole sander is simply a pole with a section for you to attach sandpaper too. You rub the wall up and down like you would by hand. It's a straightforward manual version of a drywall sander.
How Long Should Spackle Dry Before Sanding?
You can get a fast-drying spackle that dries within minutes. However, standard spackle will take two hours to dry and another two hours on top of that before it's suitable for sanding.
Can You Apply Drywall Mud Over Painted Drywall?
Yes. But, you'll need to go over the paint with 280-grit sandpaper before you can apply the mud; once the paint feels rough, then you can apply the mud. If you don't carry out that preparation, the mud won't stick.
What Is Drywall Mud Made Of?
Drywall mud is made up of Calcium Carbonate, which is also known as ground limestone and Talcum.