Polishing Pad Kits & Stacks
4.9from 128 reviews across this range
A polishing pad kit gives you every grade of pad in one box, a cutting pad for the heavy defects, an intermediate for one step work and a finishing pad for gloss, so whatever the paint needs on the day, the right pad is on the shelf. The refill kits are the same idea for people who already own a set, a few of each grade so you can swap to a clean pad mid car instead of pushing one through the lot. If you're buying your first buffing pads, start here rather than guessing at one grade.
Featured items & kits
Hand picked for this category
25% offMost PopularShine MatePad Stack | Foam Cutting, Polishing & Finishing Pads
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
14 Reviews
From$58.25
$77.70
30% offBest ValueShine MatePad Refill Kit | Cutting, Intermediate & Finishing Pads
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
77 Reviews
From$50.15
$71.70
15% offPro's Choice
13 products
15% offLake CountryHDO Pad Stack | Cutting, Polishing & Finishing Pads
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
14 Reviews
From$111.95
$131.70
30% offShine MatePad Refill Kit | Cutting, Intermediate & Finishing Pads
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
77 Reviews
From$50.15
$71.70
25% offShine MatePad Stack | Foam Cutting, Polishing & Finishing Pads
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
14 Reviews
From$58.25
$77.70
15% offLake CountrySDO Pad Stack | Cutting, Polishing & Finishing Pads
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
13 Reviews
From$76.25
$89.70
Polishing Pad Kits & Stacks
FAQ's: Polishing Pad Kits
Which stack for which machine, why you need more than one of each, and what to add to it. These are the questions we get asked the most.
Still unsure? Ask us ›What's in a polishing pad kit, and do I need all three grades?
Usually one pad of each cut, a cutting pad, an intermediate pad and a finishing pad, sometimes with a fourth heavier or softer pad depending on the brand. You don't always need all three on a given car, but you don't know which one you need until you've done a test section, and that's the point of the kit. Most daily drivers get done with the intermediate alone. A neglected car needs the cutting pad first. Soft dark paint wants the finishing pad to clear the last of the marring. Having all three means the car dictates the pad, not the other way round.
Match the kit to your backing plate size, 5 inch pads for a 5 inch plate, 3 inch for a mini polisher. The product page for each kit lists the sizes it comes in.
Match the kit to your backing plate size, 5 inch pads for a 5 inch plate, 3 inch for a mini polisher. The product page for each kit lists the sizes it comes in.
Why would I need a pad refill kit?
Because one pad per grade isn't enough for a whole car. A pad loads up with spent compound and clear coat over a bonnet, and a loaded pad hazes instead of cutting. The fix is to swap to a fresh pad every couple of panels and spur or wash the used one, and that only works if you've got spares. A refill kit gives you two or three of each grade, which is what a detailer actually runs through on a full correction.
It's also the cheap way to replace worn pads. Buying the refill kit rather than single pads costs less per pad, and you end up with a consistent set rather than a mix of brands and ages. Keep them clean with the pad cleaning range and they last.
It's also the cheap way to replace worn pads. Buying the refill kit rather than single pads costs less per pad, and you end up with a consistent set rather than a mix of brands and ages. Keep them clean with the pad cleaning range and they last.
Which polishing pad kit should I start with?
The picks at the top of the page show what's popular and what we reach for. Broadly, the ShineMate kits are the everyday choice, good foam, sensible price, and they suit any dual action polisher. The Lake Country HDO and SDO stacks are a step up in foam quality, with the HDO built for long throw machines. The Koch Chemie kits come in a hard and a soft version, so you pick by paint hardness rather than by cut, hard for German clears, soft for Japanese and resprays.
The kits here are all foam. If you want more bite for heavy correction, the wool pads and microfibre pads are the specialty options and are bought individually. Add a compound kit to match and you've got a complete correction setup in two boxes. If you're not sure which kit fits your machine or your paint, get in touch and we'll point you at the right one.
The kits here are all foam. If you want more bite for heavy correction, the wool pads and microfibre pads are the specialty options and are bought individually. Add a compound kit to match and you've got a complete correction setup in two boxes. If you're not sure which kit fits your machine or your paint, get in touch and we'll point you at the right one.