Finding the right source for sandpaper can be frustrating!

I sell sanding blocks, and not surpisingly, I get asked quite often “What sandpaper should I get?  Where can I buy it?”

I’ve made more than a few bad sandpaper decisions in my time. You know the kind — the stuff that clogs up in five swipes, or somehow turns into glue when you’re wet sanding. Or the worst offender: paper that leaves impossible-to-remove residue on your sanding block, forcing you to spend 10 minutes cleaning it with a razor blade and some colorful language. If you’ve never wanted to chuck a sanding block across the shop like a frisbee, you either haven’t done enough bodywork… or you’re a much calmer person than I am.

And don’t get me started on backing that doesn’t stick to hook-and-loop pads, or sandpaper that almost feels like the right grit… but acts like 36 when you wanted 180. I finally hit a point where I decided to stop experimenting and start tracking what actually worked. Not the cheapest, not the trendiest — just the stuff that stuck to the block, cut clean, and didn’t leave me regretting my life choices.

That’s how this list came to be. Every product here earned its spot by not making me swear out loud. And if that’s not a trustworthy standard, I don’t know what is.

Most cities have at least one paint jobber who carries sandpaper and body shop supplies. But have you seen the price??? If you’re not running a shop account, walk-in pricing is often marked up painfully — and even then, it’s hit-or-miss whether they’ll have the exact grit you need. Aisles full of sandpaper… but somehow not the one you’re looking for. And don’t get me started on being pushed toward a house brand or something I’ve never heard of.

I finally wised up and started ordering almost everything online — mostly through Amazon. But as you know, that place can be a Jungle (capital J). Cheap knockoffs dominate the listings, and some of the reviews are… let’s just say, optimistic. I’ve wasted more time and money than I care to admit, but through all that trial and error, I’ve narrowed down a list of brands and products that actually deliver.

This page is that list — curated by grit, tested in the real world, and focused on auto body prep, primer sanding, and paint work. I don’t sell these directly, but these are links to products I’ve come to trust. Quality products at a fair price.