What Grit Sequence Should I Use for Polishing Granite?

The standard grit sequence for polishing granite runs from coarse diamond grinding through progressively finer abrasives to a final high-gloss polish. Skipping grits is the most common mistake fabricators make — each step must fully remove the scratch pattern left by the previous one before you move on.

Standard Granite Polishing Sequence

For a countertop starting from a sawn or rough surface:

50 grit — coarse grinding, removes saw marks and levels the surface
100 grit — refines the scratch pattern from 50 grit
200 grit — intermediate grinding, surface begins to smooth
400 grit — honing stage, scratch pattern becomes fine
800 grit — pre-polish, surface takes on a slight sheen
1500 grit — fine polish
3000 grit — final polish, high-gloss finish

For a 3-step system (Chido, EZ3, or Trio pads), the three pads compress this sequence into three stages — coarse, medium, and fine — designed to move efficiently from scratch removal to final polish without the full 7-step progression.

When to Start at a Coarser Grit

Start coarser than 50 grit if you're dealing with:

Deep scratches or damage that 50 grit won't remove efficiently
Significant lippage between slabs
Epoxy or adhesive residue on the surface

In these cases, start at 30 grit (metal-bond) and work up from there.

When to Start at a Finer Grit

If the surface is already honed or lightly scratched — for example, a countertop that just needs re-polishing after installation — you can often start at 400 or 800 grit and work up from there. Assess the surface first: if you can see the scratch pattern clearly, start below it.

How to Know When to Move to the Next Grit

The surface must show a uniform scratch pattern from the current grit — no deeper scratches from previous steps visible anywhere. Check by looking at the surface at a low angle in raking light. If you can still see coarser scratches, keep working the current grit before moving on.

Common Mistakes

Skipping grits — the most common error. The scratch pattern from a skipped grit will show up in the final polish and can't be polished out without going back.
Moving too fast — rushing through grits leaves residual scratch patterns that compound at the polishing stage.
Not enough water — granite polishing requires consistent water flow to cool the pad and flush swarf. Dry spots cause pad glazing and uneven results.
Wrong pad for the material — some 3-step systems are optimized for quartz and engineered stone. For natural granite, verify your pad system is rated for natural stone.

What Grit Sequence Should I Use for Polishing Granite?