Sheen levels are the standard grades for how shiny a polished concrete floor is. They run from flat, to satin, to polished, to highly polished. Each step up takes more polishing passes with finer tools. Sheen is chosen based on looks, traffic, and the space.
What Are the Different Gloss Levels of Polished Concrete?
The industry’s polished concrete appearance chart sorts floors into four levels by how clearly they reflect what’s above them. It works a lot like paint finishes, from flat to eggshell to semi-gloss to gloss:
- Level 1, flat (ground): Reflections look flat. The floor reads as smooth, clean concrete with no real shine.
- Level 2, satin (honed): Reflections look matte. You get a soft, low glow.
- Level 3, polished: Reflections aren’t crisp, but you can easily tell what they are. This is the look most people picture.
- Level 4, highly polished: Reflections are sharp and crisp, close to a mirror. It may need extra filling of tiny pores to get there.
The sheen level is a separate choice from how much stone shows. You pick one from each list, so a floor could be satin with a salt-and-pepper look or highly polished with full stone.
How Polished Concrete Sheen Levels Are Reached
Each level takes more passes with finer diamond grit, like sandpaper on wood going from coarse to fine. A flat floor stops early, while a highly polished floor goes all the way up to the finest diamonds. More passes mean more labor, so higher sheen usually costs more.
Sheen is judged on the polished concrete itself, before any guard or sealer goes on. A guard coat can add a little shine, but it shouldn’t be what makes a floor look polished.
Choosing a Sheen Level for Your Space
Lower sheens give a softer, more understated look, and higher sheens reflect more light and make a bolder statement. The right level depends on the look you want, how the room is lit, and how much traffic it gets, so ask your installer which level they’d suggest for your space. See our guide to polished concrete floors for how sheen fits with cost and care.
Sheen Levels FAQ
What are the different levels of polished concrete?
There are four sheen levels: flat, satin, polished, and highly polished. Each one reflects light more clearly than the last. Separately, there are three classes for how much stone shows: cream, salt and pepper, and full aggregate.
What grit is level 3 polished concrete?
Level 3 usually means polishing into the mid-to-fine diamond range, past where a satin floor stops. Exact grits vary by slab and contractor, so it’s better to judge by the look than the number. Ask to see a sample at the level you want.
Is polished concrete slippery?
Like any hard floor, polished concrete can get slick when it’s wet or dusty. If slip resistance matters in your space, ask your installer how the sheen level and any guard or sealer affect traction. Mats at entries and regular dust-mopping help.