A random orbital sander eats discs, and the difference between a pack that lasts a weekend and one that lasts a month is in the abrasive, the backing and the hook-and-loop fleece, not the brand on the box. Five-inch, eight-hole hook and loop is the standard that fits nearly every consumer orbital sander from DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Ryobi and Black and Decker, which is why this guide looks only at that size. We ranked the 5-inch sanding disc packs in our power tool parts and accessories catalog by abrasive type (aluminium oxide for wood, silicon carbide for wet sanding and finishes), grit range and how many of each grit, backing (paper versus polyester film), anti-clog coating, and what thousands of owners report after sanding tables, decks and car panels with them.
We have not sanded a test board with every pack ourselves; the verdicts rest on the spec sheets and on the owner review history. Prices are not printed because they change daily; every button opens the live Amazon page. For the broader category including 6-inch and mesh discs, see our sanding discs for orbital sanders guide, and for the grinder beside the sander our cut-off wheels for angle grinders guide. Every pick here is new to Do Best Deal and not in the earlier guide.
How we picked
- 5-inch, 8-hole, hook and loop only. Every pick fits the standard pad; adhesive-backed and 6-inch discs were left out.
- Abrasive named. Aluminium oxide for wood and general work, silicon carbide for wet sanding; we list which.
- Grit counts, not just grit range. A 170-piece pack with 19 of each grit is not the same as a 30-piece pack with 5 of each; we say how many.
- Backing and clogging. Paper versus film backing and whether a stearate anti-clog coat is applied, since those decide disc life.
- Owner history. Every pick holds a strong owner rating across hundreds to thousands of owner reviews; the ranking weighs review volume, rating and fit.
The picks
POWERTEC 5 Inch 8 Hole Sanding Discs - 80/100/120/150/220 Grits Sandpaper (10 Each, 50-Pack), Assorted Hook and Loop Sanding Pads for Orbital Sander, DA Sander, Air Sander
The POWERTEC 50-pack is the sensible default because it skips the grits you will never use. Ten discs each of 80, 100, 120, 150 and 220 cover stripping an old finish, flattening, smoothing and prepping for stain, in aluminium oxide with a resin-on-resin bond that holds the grain and a stearate coat that sheds dust before it clogs. The backing is flexible and tear-resistant and POWERTEC rates it for wet sanding too. It fits the common 5-inch sanders from DeWalt, Makita, Bosch and Ryobi. Owners widely praise the cut rate and how long the 120 and 150 grits last on hardwood; most owner complaints mention wanting a coarser grit in the box and the paper tearing at the edge when sanding a corner. Pair it with a pack of 40 grit for the rough work and it is all most shops need.
- The five grits most woodworkers actually use, ten of each
- Stearate anti-clog coat and a resin-on-resin bond
- Strong owner rating from the largest review base here
- Rated for wet as well as dry sanding
- No 40 or 60 grit for heavy stripping
- Nothing above 220 for finishing
- Gold paper backing tears sooner than film
YNZDRWA 70 PCS 5 Inch 8-Hole Sanding Discs, 9 Mixed Grits
The YNZDRWA 70 is the pack to buy when you do not yet know which grits you need, because it has nearly all of them. Five discs of 40 grit for stripping, eight each from 80 up to 600, and nine of 800 for the final pass before a finish, all in anti-static aluminium oxide with a thick hook-and-loop fleece that owners say stays put on the pad. The price per disc is the lowest here. Owners widely praise the range and the value for a first set; most owner complaints mention running out of the coarse grits first, since five discs of 40 do not go far on a deck board, and the lack of a stearate coat means the fine grits load up with softwood dust. Buy it, learn which grits you burn through, then restock those in bulk.
- Nine grits from 40 to 800 in one pack
- Lowest price per disc on the page
- Strong owner rating from a large review base
- Thick fleece backing holds to the pad
- Only five discs of 40 grit
- Fine grits above 400 are more than most wood jobs need
- No anti-clog coating stated
Bates- Sanding Discs, 5 Inch, 30 Pack, Assorted Grits 40 80 120 220 320 600
The Bates 30-pack is the one to throw in the cart with a new sander: six grits from 40 to 600, five of each, for less than a coffee. The spread is good, covering stripping, shaping, smoothing and finishing, and the discs fit any standard 5-inch 8-hole pad. It is one of the most-reviewed disc packs in the catalog with a strong owner rating. The honest caveats are that Bates does not name the abrasive, five discs per grit is a weekend not a month, and most owner complaints mention the discs wearing faster than the POWERTEC or Serious Grit. For a first project or an occasional sander it is exactly enough; for regular work it is the sample pack before you buy one of the bigger boxes.
- Cheapest way to try six grits
- Includes 40 grit for stripping, which the POWERTEC lacks
- Strong owner rating from a very large review base
- Fits any 5-inch 8-hole orbital sander
- Five of each grit runs out fast
- Abrasive type is not specified
- The weakest owner rating of the aluminium oxide packs here; durability complaints appear
52 Pack 5 Inch 8-Hole Hook and Loop Sanding Discs Sandpaper Red Round 60 80 120 220 320 Mixed Grits Sandpaper for Random Orbital Sander
The NOOKEYA 52-pack leans coarse, which is the right lean for furniture rebuilds and deck work: eleven discs each of 60 and 80 grit, ten each of 120, 220 and 320. Every disc has its grit printed on the back, a small thing that owners mention because assortments otherwise turn into a pile of indistinguishable red circles. The aluminium oxide is anti-static, the backing is hook and loop with eight pre-punched holes, and it is among the cheapest packs here per disc. Owners widely praise the value and the coarse bias; most owner complaints mention the gap between 120 and 220, which skips the 150 grit most woodworkers use before stain, and the paper tearing at the edges. For stripping and rough shaping it is the budget box to have.
- Grit printed on each disc so the pile never gets mixed up
- More coarse discs than most assortments
- Very low price per disc; strong owner rating
- Anti-static so dust falls off instead of clinging
- Jumps from 120 to 220 with nothing between
- No 40 grit
- Red paper backing tears on edges
Serious Grit - 5-Inch 8-Hole Sanding Discs - P80-220 Assortment - 50 Pack
Serious Grit discs are what you buy after a cheap paper disc shreds on the edge of a tabletop for the third time. The abrasive is aluminium oxide bonded to a polyester film instead of paper, so the disc stays flat, does not fray and can be pulled off and put back on repeatedly thanks to a 60 percent nylon hook-and-loop. A heat-treated zinc stearate coat sheds dust before it loads, so with a vacuum attached the disc stays effective across its whole face. The assortment runs P80 to P220. Owners widely praise how many times longer each disc lasts than paper and the smoother finish; most owner complaints mention the price and the lack of a 40 or 60 grit. On a per-board basis, owners say it works out cheaper than the budget packs.
- Film backing is nearly impossible to tear, even on corners
- Zinc stearate coat keeps the whole disc cutting
- Flatter disc gives a finer, more even scratch pattern
- Nylon hook-and-loop reuses many times; strong owner rating
- Priciest pack per disc here
- Nothing coarser than 80 grit
- Not sold as wet-sanding discs
100Pcs 5 Inch Sanding Discs Hook & Loop 8-Hole Wet Dry Sandpaper Assortment
This 100-piece set is a different tool from the others: silicon carbide on waterproof paper, in ten grits from 180 up to 3000, for sanding finishes rather than wood. Wet sanding a clear coat, levelling epoxy, rubbing out lacquer between coats, cutting back primer on a car panel: those jobs clog an aluminium oxide disc in seconds and need water to carry the dust away, which this paper tolerates. Each disc has its grit on the back. Owners widely praise the fine grit range and the finish it leaves on resin and auto paint; most owner complaints mention people buying it for bare wood and finding it too fine and too soft, and the fleece loosening after many wet cycles. Buy it alongside, not instead of, a coarse pack.
- Ten fine grits from 180 to 3000 for finishing and polishing
- Silicon carbide and waterproof paper for true wet sanding
- Grit printed on every disc; strong owner rating
- Wet sanding rinses the swarf so the disc does not clog
- Nothing coarse; useless for stripping wood
- Silicon carbide dulls faster than aluminium oxide on bare wood
- Hook-and-loop can weaken when soaked repeatedly
170 Pcs 5 inch Sanding Discs 40-600 Grit Assorted
The 170-piece pack is for the shop that goes through discs weekly and would rather order once a season. Nine grits from 40 to 600 cover stripping, shaping, smoothing and finishing wood, and the count is generous enough that running out of the 80 grit on a Saturday stops being a thing. The backing is a 110 gsm high-density flocked fleece, which owners single out because it does not fly off the pad, and the eight holes are cut for dust extraction and heat. Owners widely praise the quantity and the grip; most owner complaints mention the lack of a stearate coat, so the fine grits load on resinous softwood, and the sheer size of the box. For a deck, a staircase or a season of furniture it is the bulk buy.
- A hundred and seventy discs across nine grits in one order
- Includes 40 and 60 grit for heavy stripping
- Dense flocked backing that owners say stays on the pad
- Strong owner rating
- Fewer reviews than the top four
- No stearate anti-clog coat stated
- Box is big to store
ZEHIQ 5 Inch 40 Grit Sanding Discs, 8 Hole Hook and Loop Sandpaper, 30 PCS
The ZEHIQ pack exists because every assortment above gives you five or eight discs of 40 grit, and stripping a painted door or flattening a glued-up slab uses that many before lunch. Thirty discs, all 40 grit, aluminium oxide on a resin bond with a stearate coat and a thickened polyester-fiber backing that holds up to the pressure people put on a coarse disc. Owners widely praise it for paint removal and for levelling rough sawn boards; most owner complaints are the inevitable ones about 40 grit scratches needing 80 and 120 to chase out, which is a reminder rather than a flaw. Keep it next to the POWERTEC or Serious Grit box and the assortment stops running out at the wrong end.
- Thirty discs of the grit assortments never include enough of
- Stearate coat and resin bond for a coarse disc that lasts
- Thickened backing resists tearing under heavy pressure
- Strong owner rating
- Single grit; you still need a finishing pack
- Forty grit leaves deep scratches that take time to remove
- Fewer reviews than the assortments
Compare the picks
| Product | Count | Grits | Abrasive | Backing | Our score | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWERTEC 50POWERTEC | 50, 10 each | 80 to 220 | Aluminium oxide, stearate | Tear-resistant paper, wet/dry | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| YNZDRWA 70YNZDRWA | 70, 9 grits | 40 to 800 | Aluminium oxide | Thick fleece | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| Bates 30Bates Choice | 30, 5 each | 40 to 600 | Not stated | Paper | 8.8/10 | 8.8 | See price |
| NOOKEYA 52NOOKEYA | 52, coarse-heavy | 60 to 320 | Aluminium oxide, anti-static | Red paper | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| Serious Grit 50Serious Grit | 50 | P80 to P220 | Aluminium oxide, zinc stearate | Polyester film | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| 100-piece wet/dryRvetol | 100, 10 each | 180 to 3000 | Silicon carbide | Waterproof paper | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| 170-piecePukamam | 170, 9 grits | 40 to 600 | Aluminium oxide | 110 gsm flocked | 9.1/10 | 9.1 | See price |
| ZEHIQ 40 gritZEHIQ | 30, one grit | 40 | Aluminium oxide, stearate | Thick polyester fiber | 9.0/10 | 9.0 | See price |
Which grits you actually need
For bare wood the sequence is 80 to remove mill marks, 120 to smooth, 150 or 180 before stain, and 220 before a clear finish; going finer than 220 on wood closes the grain and makes stain blotchy. Forty and 60 grit are for stripping old finish and flattening, and they get used in bulk, which is why the ZEHIQ single-grit pack is here. The fine end, 320 and up, is for sanding between finish coats and for wet-sanding a clear coat or epoxy, which is what the silicon carbide 100-piece set is for. The POWERTEC pack is the one assortment that includes only the wood grits; the YNZDRWA and 170-piece cover both ends; the Bates and NOOKEYA lean coarse.
Paper, film and why discs tear
Most discs here are aluminium oxide on paper, which is cheap and cuts well until the edge catches a corner and the paper rips, usually with half the grit still usable. The Serious Grit discs put the abrasive on polyester film, which does not tear and lies flatter so the scratch pattern is more even; they cost more per disc and owners say they come out cheaper per project. Backing fleece matters too: the thick flocked backings on the 170-piece, YNZDRWA and ZEHIQ packs are praised for staying on the pad, while the thin fleece on the cheapest discs can let go at high speed. A stearate anti-clog coat, on the POWERTEC, Serious Grit and ZEHIQ, keeps resinous softwood from gumming up the fine grits.
Dust holes, pads and sander fit
Eight holes in a 5-inch disc line up with the dust ports on the common DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Ryobi, Skil and Black and Decker random orbital sanders; a few sanders use five or six holes, and an 8-hole disc still works on them with slightly less extraction. If your discs stop sticking, the problem is usually the sander pad, not the disc: the hooks on the pad wear flat after a year of use, and a replacement pad costs about as much as a box of discs. Always let the disc spin down on the work rather than lifting it running, which is what flings a loose disc across the shop.
Will 5-inch 8-hole discs fit my orbital sander?
If the pad is 5 inches with a hook-and-loop face, yes. DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Ryobi, Skil, Wen, Porter-Cable and Black and Decker 5-inch sanders all take them. The hole pattern only affects dust extraction; a 5-hole pad still works with an 8-hole disc.
What grit should I start with on bare wood?
Eighty for rough or planer-marked boards, 120 if the surface is already smooth, then step up through 150 and finish at 180 or 220. Use 40 or 60 only to strip finish or level a glued-up panel.
Can I wet sand with these discs?
The 100-piece silicon carbide set is made for wet sanding and runs up to 3000 grit. POWERTEC rates its aluminium oxide discs for wet use as well. The other aluminium oxide packs are dry only; water softens their paper backing.
Why do my sanding discs fly off the sander?
Usually the hooks on the sander pad have worn flat, not the disc fleece. Replace the pad. Thick flocked backings like the 170-piece, YNZDRWA and ZEHIQ hold better on a tired pad, and the Serious Grit nylon loop reuses many times.
Are film-backed discs worth the extra cost?
For anyone sanding edges and corners, yes. Serious Grit film discs do not tear, keep a flatter face for an even scratch pattern and can be reused after a dust change, so owners report a lower cost per project than paper despite the higher price per disc.
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