Light sanding, full sanding or floor planing?

Øens HåndværkerCentralPublished July 25, 2026 · 6 min. read

Light sanding only removes the old surface treatment of lacquer or oil; full sanding removes approx. 1 mm of wood and corrects scratches and wear, while planing is the most powerful method and removes up to 3-4 mm for deep damage or uneven floors. So you choose based on how deep the damage is in the floor.

If you have a worn wooden floor, you will quickly encounter these three terms - they sound similar but remove vastly different amounts of wood, and the choice determines the price, result, and how many times the floor can be saved again later. Here, the difference is explained concretely, so you can see which method your floor truly needs before you order a floor sanding.

• 175 kr/m2Including VAT and a standard finish, from 36 m2
• 24 hoursResponse with fixed price
• Workmanship guaranteeOn all completed work

Key takeaways

• Light sanding only touches the surface - quickest and cheapest, but only for floors without deep damage.
• Full sanding removes approx. 1 mm and is the standard choice for worn but sound wooden floors.
• Planing removes up to 3-4 mm and is used for unevenness, deep damage, or old paint.
• A solid wooden floor typically tolerates 4-7 full sandings in its lifetime - engineered wood flooring fewer.
• The more wood removed, the longer the time and higher the price - therefore, it pays to choose correctly from the start.

What is the difference between light sanding, full sanding, and planing?

The difference is how deep the tool goes. Light sanding only sands into the existing lacquer or oil and does not touch the wood itself. Full sanding removes approximately 1 mm of the wood's surface, taking with it scratches and wear. Planing is the most thorough method, removing up to 3-4 mm of wood to correct uneven floors and deep damage.

In short, you choose based on how much damage needs to be removed. Below you can see the three methods side by side.

If you are unsure what your specific floor can withstand, you can read more in our guide on when a wooden floor should be sanded.

When is light sanding sufficient?

Light sanding is sufficient when the wood itself is sound, and only the surface has become dull or lightly scratched. This method lightly sands down the old layer of lacquer or oil and prepares the floor for a new treatment - without eroding the wood. Because less material is removed, light sanding is usually both faster and cheaper than full sanding and can often be completed in a single workday for a typical room.

Choose light sanding when the finish needs refreshing and you want to preserve as much wood as possible. If the lacquer has worn through to bare wood, a surface refresh is insufficient and full sanding may be needed. To choose the new finish, see our guide to lacquering or oiling will help you choose.

What is light sanding of wooden floors - and what does it cost?

A light surface refresh is suitable only when the existing finish can be renewed without sanding back to bare wood. The work and price depend on the condition of that finish, so we assess and quote it individually. For comparison, standard floor sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2. Do not use that rate as a promised price for a different treatment.

This method is well-suited for parquet and other floors with a thin wear layer, where every millimetre counts. If you have a genuine parquet floor, you can read more about the procedure in the guide to sanding parquet flooring. If you want the price calculated for your specific area, you can find examples in our overview of what floor sanding costs.

What is floor planing, and when is it necessary?

Floor planing is the most extensive of these methods and can remove up to 3 to 4 mm of wood. It may be needed where substantial unevenness, deep damage or stubborn old coatings cannot be addressed by ordinary sanding. The remaining wood must be assessed before this approach is considered.

Because so much wood is removed, planing uses a greater portion of the floor's lifespan than regular sanding. Therefore, this method is reserved for floors where an even and clean starting point cannot be achieved in any other way - typically older plank floors. If you have this type of floor, the guide on sanding plank flooring is a good next step, and you can always get a fixed price for your specific area before work begins.

How many times can a wooden floor be sanded?

A solid wooden floor typically tolerates 4-7 full sandings in its lifetime, while engineered wood flooring tolerates fewer because it only has a thin wear layer on top of a supporting core. According to floor manufacturer Junckers and industry sources like Gulvbranchen, each full sanding removes approximately 1-2 mm of wood, and the wear layer should be at least 2.5 mm before sanding is advisable. Planing removes even more - which is why the number of times is a real limit you should consider.

This is also why light sanding is worth choosing when it's sufficient: it doesn't use up those precious millimetres. By light sanding when possible, and only full sanding or planing when necessary, you get the most years out of your floor. A lacquered floor can often last many years between each sanding, while an oiled floor is maintained continuously with re-treatment every few years.

Can you sand the floor yourself, or should you get professionals?

You can hire a floor sander, but the result depends heavily on experience. A mistake with a powerful machine can leave permanent marks or an uneven surface. Each full sanding uses some of the limited wood available, so careful machine handling matters. Professional assessment and sanding help avoid removing more wood than necessary.

At Øens HåndværkerCentral, you get a fixed price without surprises, a response within 24 hours, and a workmanship guarantee on the work. If you want to know what your floor needs - light sanding, full sanding, or planing - contact us for a fixed price, and we will assess the floor before any work begins.

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Øens HåndværkerCentral

We sand and surface treat floors, stairs, balconies, wooden decks, and worktops - based in Aarhus Ø and working nationwide. You get a fixed price before work begins and a workmanship guarantee on the work performed.

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