How to Sand Cabinets: What Grit and Sander to Use

Understanding how to sand cabinets properly is crucial for a successful finish. Sanding achieves well-prepared surfaces and enhances the professionalism of your cabinets. While it’s a straightforward process, there are some tips you can leverage to get better results.

This step-by-step guide tells you everything you need to know to approach sanding confidently. Learn what grit sandpaper you need, the best sander for cabinets, and how to achieve a smooth, even finish. 

Why do you sand cabinets?

Sanding cabinets is important in the remodeling process. Finishes will have better adhesion, surfaces will be cleaner, and the finished pieces will have more longevity. Here is a closer look at the importance of sanding cabinet doors:

• Surface preparation: Sanding prepares the cabinet surface by removing any existing paint, varnish, or stain. This allows the new finish to bond securely and avoid peeling.
• Smoothness: Sanding levels out imperfections like scratches and nicks. Removing these is important for a professional-looking finish.
• Stain removal: Sanding removes stains, grime, and dirt that build up over time. Without sanding, these stains risk showing through the new finish.

Sanding cabinet doors: what you’ll need

Before you start any sanding, it’s important to know exactly what tools and materials you’ll need. Having the following things to hand will make the process more efficient:

• • Safety gear: Sanding cabinet doors produces wood dust particles that can get trapped in your airways and irritate your eyes. Always prioritize safety. Wear safety goggles, a dust mask, and gloves to keep yourself protected.
  • Screwdriver or drill: You will need a screwdriver or drill to remove cabinet knobs, handles, or hinges before sanding. This protects your hardware from getting scratched and allows you to reach every inch of surface. 
  • Degreasers: Clean and degrease surfaces, especially if you’re sanding kitchen cabinets, where grime builds up quickly. Regular dishwashing liquid effectively removes dirt, but for tougher residues, use something stronger like trisodium phosphate (TSP).
  • Paint stripper: With finished wood, a paint stripper saves you a ton of sanding time. Apply it, wait, and then scrape it off with a putty knife. This restores the wood to its natural color and makes sanding much easier.
  • Sanding blocks and power sander: Use a power sander for the bulk of the cabinet and a sanding block for smaller details, like grooves or decorative drawer fronts. If you can’t get a power sander, use a sanding block for the whole cabinet – but this will take longer.
  • Sandpaper: Depending on the condition of your cabinet doors, you may require various grits of sandpaper. Below, we explain in detail what grit sandpaper to use for cabinets. In general, coarse grits are for removing old residues and fine grits are for perfecting.
  • Tack cloth: You will need tack cloths to wipe down the surfaces after sanding. These are cloths treated with a sticky material that removes dust and debris, which would otherwise contaminate the surface and get trapped in your finish.

What grit sandpaper for cabinets?

Your choice of grit sandpaper for cabinets depends on the specific task you’re doing. If you’re removing a lot of material, use a coarser grit. If you’re refining everything, use a finer grit. 

The grit number denotes how many abrading grain particles there are per square inch. For example, 120 grit sandpaper has 120 abrading particles per square inch. The lower the number, the fewer the particles, the bigger the grain and the coarser the grit. 

Start with lower grit sandpaper and work your way up to the finer grits. This achieves an ultra smooth surface. Here is a breakdown of the different types of grit sandpaper for cabinets and when to use them:

• Coarse grit sandpaper (40-80): Since this has larger pieces of abrasive particles, it’s effective at removing material quickly and leaves behind a scratchy surface. Use this when removing old paint or varnish, or when addressing deep scratches.
• Medium grit sandpaper (100-150): This removes scratches caused by the coarse grit paper and prepares the surface for finer sanding. If your cabinets don’t have any paint or deep scratches, medium grit is a good choice for the initial sanding stage.
• Fine grit sandpaper (180-220): With lots of very small abrasive particles, fine grit sandpaper removes less material. Instead, it’s used for final surface perfection and preparation before applying paint, stain, or a new finish.
• Extra fine grit sandpaper (320+): Keep this on-hand for sanding between coats of paint or finish. This improves adhesion, removes imperfections, and leaves you with a slick, glass-like finish.

How to sand cabinets: step-by-step guide

Knowing how to sand cabinets like an expert is the key to unlocking a professional and enduring finish. Here are the essential steps you need to know before sanding cabinet doors and boxes. 

1. Gather necessary tools and safety gear

Make a checklist of everything you need. Sanding is already time consuming enough. Organizing your tools streamlines the process significantly. But before you start anything, make sure you’re wearing the appropriate safety gear.

2. Find a proper workspace

As we mentioned earlier, sanding produces a lot of dust. If you’re sanding cabinets with layers of paint, toxic particles will also get mixed in. In addition to wearing a mask, choose a workspace with good ventilation and air flow. This will help disperse dust and fumes.

3. Remove hardware from cabinets 

Use a screwdriver or drill to remove hardware and disassemble your cabinets. For easier reassembling once the sanding is complete, number your cabinet doors as you remove them and keep the appropriate hardware with the right door. 

4. Clean the surface of the cabinets

Dedicate time to cleaning and degreasing the cabinet surfaces using one of the cleaners we mentioned earlier. If the cabinets have layers of material you need to remove, apply a paint stripper first and then clean after scraping off all the residue.

5. Begin sanding

Once you have prepped your cabinets and workspace, you can begin sanding. For flat cabinet surfaces, wrap the sandpaper around a sanding block or use an electric sander with the appropriate grit. Here are some essential tips you can follow:

• Start with coarser grits and work your way to finer grits
• Use a tack cloth in between grit changes to remove any residue
• Maintain light pressure to avoid swirls, cut-throughs, and unevenness 
• Sand in the direction of the wood grain to minimize scratching
• Focus on one section at a time to maintain consistency 
• Inspect the cabinets for any remaining imperfections 
• Switch to extra fine grit sandpaper at the end to give the cabinets a final polish

Certain styles of cabinets can be more awkward to sand if they feature decorative elements. For example, when sanding kitchen cabinets with shaker doors, you may need an electric detail sander to get right up to the edges of the inset panels.

6. Remove sanding dust 

Once you are happy with the results, use a tack cloth to remove all sanding dust from the cabinets and a vacuum to clean the surrounding area. This prevents contaminants from sticking to the cabinets during the finishing stage. 

7. Final touch-ups and cleaning

Now that the cabinets are well-sanded and clean, you can paint, stain, or varnish them. Finishes protect the wood and enhance its appearance, so don’t rush this step.

Check over the cabinets one last time and make any necessary touch-ups. Then apply as many coats as necessary to get the desired finish and level of protection. Remember to lightly sand in between coats for a sleeker finish. 

When applying paint, use a primer. This creates a protective barrier over the cabinet and fills any gaps or imperfections. Whichever finish you choose, apply it in thin, even coats that follow the direction of the wood grain.

Best sander for cabinets

The sander you choose depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here are our top recommendations of the best sander for cabinets, including their benefits, drawbacks, and price points.

Random orbital finishing sander

With a circular base that spins at 10,000 rpm, random orbital sanders are fast and effective at sanding cabinets with large surfaces. They are a favorite among woodworkers and reduce the risk of vertical scratches.

Downsides: Orbital sanders can leave small swirls on the wood surface and cut through it if they are not handled carefully. If you’re new to electric sanders, this might not be the best choice for you.

If you have some experience or are looking to upgrade your existing sander, the Mirka 3″ Deros 350XCV 5mm is a popular option. It’s compact yet effective, and features a brushless motor that allows it to work for long periods of time. It’s a bit on the pricey side at $550, but keep reading because we also have a great budget option to suggest.

Best cabinet sander on a budget

Palm sanders are the most inexpensive cabinet sanders. They are easy to control and small enough to get into tight spaces. But their size also makes them inefficient at sanding large areas, so they are better suited for smaller DIY projects.

For under $150, the BOSCH ROS20VSC Palm Sander offers a variable speed (7,500-12,000 opm) and a built-in microfilter system that traps dust particles as you work. It also prevents swirl marks with its pad-dampening system.

SKIL is another go-to brand for DIYers looking for a quality cabinet sander that doesn’t break the bank. The SKIL Corded Detail Sander comes in at under $30 on Amazon and is excellent at getting into tight corners. This is a great budget option for sanding kitchen cabinets.

Meanwhile, the SKIL PWRCore Orbital Sander delivers 7,000-11,000 opm, effective dust collection thanks to its microfiltration canister, and a 25% longer run time owing to its unique lithium battery – all for under $100. 

Finishing sanders

Choosing a good finishing sander is important if you want your cabinets to look polished. They use fine-grit sandpaper and are suitable for the final sanding stages.

For under $80, the Makita BO4556 2 Amp Finishing Sander is both affordable and powerful. From an impressive 14,000 opm and ergonomic grip to a dust collection system and durable construction, this cabinet sander gives you everything needed for a faster and superior finish. 

Finishing sanders are for fine finishing work and are not designed for heavy material removal. For those tasks, coarser belt sanders are more appropriate.

Belt sanders

Belt sanders have a continuously rotating loop of sandpaper. Adept at removing material quickly, they are ideal for stripping built-up finishes or leveling out deep nicks.

Given their intended purpose, they are more aggressive than the average sander. Key considerations that should influence your buying decision include belt size, speed, and dust extraction systems. The Makita 9403 Belt Sander is a favorite among woodworkers for its low noise rating, lightweight design, and wide belt for efficient material removal. 

For a much cheaper price point, consider the WEN 6321 Corded Belt Sander. Revered for its lock-in safety feature that enables continuous sanding, as well as its high-performance 7-Amp motor with a speed of 13 feet per second, it’s a strong contender for a fraction of the cost.

Learn more with The Cabinet Door Store

Now that you know how to sand cabinets like a pro, you can embark on your renovation project with confidence. Whether you’re upcycling your old kitchen cabinets or customizing off-the-shelf pieces, The Cabinet Door Store is here to make your project exceed expectations.

Browse our range of cabinet doors, hardware, and drawer fronts to find the cabinet materials you want at the price you need. If you have any questions, email us today and one of our friendly experts will contact you soon.