Nail File Grit Guide: 80, 100 and 180 Grit, and Which File to Use
By Edmond Lin, M1 Nail & Beauty Supply, Markham, Ontario. Last updated 8 October 2026. Grits, sizes and pack counts are taken from the Champion cartons and labels on our stock.
The lower the grit number, the coarser the nail file. Use 80 grit to remove bulk and shorten acrylic or hard gel, 100 grit to shape enhancements, and 180 grit to finish the surface and to file natural nails. A file marked 100/180 has one grit on each side; a file marked 80/80 is the same on both. The chart below matches each grit to a job and to the Champion files and buffers M1 stocks in single, pack and case sizes.
In this guide
Nail file grit chart
| Grit | Coarseness | Use it for | Do not use it on | Champion files and buffers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Very coarse | The coarsest side of a block buffer, for taking down thick acrylic | Natural nails | 3 Way Buffer purple/white (60/80/80) |
| 80 | Extra coarse | Removing bulk, shortening acrylic and hard gel, debulking before a fill | Natural nails | Regular Zebra 80/80, Regular White 80/80, Jumbo Zebra 80/80, Jumbo White 80/80 |
| 100 | Coarse | Taking down length, shaping side walls and the free edge of enhancements | Natural nails | Jumbo Zebra 100/100, Jumbo White 100/100, Mini Zebra 100/100, Mini White 100/100, Regular Wood Black 100/100 |
| 180 | Fine | Contouring and finishing enhancements, shaping natural nails, removing shine before gel | Heavy removal: it is too slow | Regular Zebra 100/180, Regular White 100/180 (the 180 side) |
How to read 80/80, 100/180 and 80/100/100
A two-sided file carries two numbers, one per side. On an 80/80 or 100/100 file both sides are the same, so the file lasts twice as long at one job. On a 100/180 file the two sides differ: shape with the 100 side, then turn the file over and refine with the 180 side.
A 3-way block buffer carries three numbers because three of its faces are abrasive. The Champion 3 Way Buffer orange/white is 80/100/100 and the 3 Way Buffer purple/white is 60/80/80. The thin Champion buffers (Slim Buffer, Mini Long Buffer and Mini Square Buffer) are all 80/80.
The colour is not a grit. Champion sells the same grits in zebra and in white, so order by the number printed on the pack, not by the colour of the file.
Which grit for which job
| Job | Grit | Champion file |
|---|---|---|
| Removing acrylic or hard gel bulk, shortening long enhancements | 80 | Regular Zebra 80/80 or Jumbo Zebra 80/80 |
| Shaping acrylic, hard gel or dip: side walls and free edge | 100 | Jumbo Zebra 100/100 or the 100 side of Regular Zebra 100/180 |
| Refining the surface of an enhancement before buffing | 180 | The 180 side of Regular Zebra 100/180 or Regular White 100/180 |
| Shaping natural nails in a manicure or pedicure | 180 | The 180 side of Regular White 100/180 |
| Removing shine from the natural nail before gel polish | 180, light pressure | The 180 side of Regular Zebra 100/180 |
| Smoothing file marks on acrylic or gel before top coat | Block buffer | 3 Way Buffer orange/white |
| One file per client that goes home with them | 100/100 | Mini Zebra 100/100 or Mini White 100/100 |
M1 does not stock a Champion file finer than 180. For a natural-nail-only service that needs 240 grit, look at the other brands in our nail file collection.
Regular, Jumbo, Mini and Wood files
| File | What it is | Grits at M1 | Sold as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | The standard straight salon file | 80/80, 80/100, 100/180 | Single, pack of 50, case of 40 packs |
| Jumbo | A wider board that covers more surface per stroke | 80/80, 100/100 | Single, pack of 50 |
| Mini | A short file for one client; the label says washable | 100/100 | Single, pack of 50, case of 100 packs |
| Regular Wood | A straight file on a wood core, 7" x 0.75"; the label says washable | 100/100 | Single, pack of 50, case of 40 packs |
Zebra Regular Zebra 80/80 and Jumbo Zebra 80/80 are the packs marked "Designed in Canada" and "Japan sandpaper". Regular White 100/180, the Mini files and the Wood file are marked "Washable".
Buffers: when to switch from a file
A file changes the shape; a buffer evens out the surface. Switch to a buffer once the shape is right, to remove file scratches from acrylic and gel or to take the shine off a natural nail. Buffers are foam-backed, so they follow the curve of the nail and are harder to over-file with.
| Buffer | Size | Grit | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Way Buffer | 9 x 3 x 2.5 cm | 80/100/100 (orange/white), 60/80/80 (purple/white) | 500 |
| Slim Buffer | 7.5 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm | 80/80 | 1,000 |
| Mini Long Buffer | 5 x 2 x 1.2 cm | 80/80 | 2,000 |
| Mini Square Buffer | 2.5 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm | 80/80 | 3,400 |
Sizes, grits and case counts are printed on the Champion cartons.
How to file without damaging the nail
- Start with the coarsest grit the job needs, and no coarser. On natural nails that is 180.
- Hold the file flat to the edge you are shaping and work from the side toward the centre. Sawing back and forth on a natural nail can split the free edge.
- Let the grit do the work. Heavy pressure with an 80 grit file builds heat and can cut through to the natural nail.
- Step down in grit as you get closer to the finished shape: 80, then 100, then 180.
- Finish with a buffer to remove the scratches the file left, then remove the dust before primer, base or top coat.
One file per client?
Files and buffers touch skin and nail dust, so they are either cleaned and disinfected between clients or thrown away. Paper and foam abrasives cannot be disinfected the way metal implements can, which is why most salons treat them as single-use: one client, then the bin or the client's bag.
This is the reason Champion files and buffers come in packs of 50 and in cases, and why the Champion 5 in 1 pedicure kit puts a mini file, a slim buffer, a pumice pad, a toe separator and a wood stick in one bag. Rules differ by province and health unit; follow the ones that apply to your salon.
Nail file grit questions
What grit nail file is best for acrylic nails?
Use 80 grit to remove bulk and shorten acrylic, 100 grit to shape the side walls and free edge, and 180 grit to refine the surface before buffing. A 100/180 file covers shaping and finishing in one tool.
What grit nail file should I use on natural nails?
Use 180 grit or finer on natural nails. 80 and 100 grit are for acrylic, hard gel and dip, and are coarse enough to shred and thin a natural nail.
What does 100/180 mean on a nail file?
It means the file has two different sides: 100 grit on one side for shaping and 180 grit on the other for finishing. If both numbers match, as in 80/80, both sides are the same grit.
Is 80 grit or 100 grit coarser?
80 grit is coarser. The lower the number, the larger the abrasive particles and the faster the file removes product.
What is the difference between a nail file and a buffer?
A file is a firm board that changes the shape and length of the nail. A buffer is a foam block or pad that smooths the surface and removes shine or file marks. Most services use a file first and a buffer second.
Where can I buy nail files in bulk in Canada?
M1 Nail & Beauty Supply in Markham, Ontario stocks Champion nail files and buffers by the piece, by the pack of 50 and by the case, for in-store pickup and shipping across Canada.
All Champion nail files, buffers and salon disposables in stock at M1.
Shop ChampionGrit numbers, sizes, pack counts and label wording are those printed on the Champion packs and cartons M1 stocks, checked in October 2026. The uses given for each grit are general trade practice; follow the instructions of the product system you work with and your local public health rules.
