Abstract. The issues of the influence of orientation and the shape of abrasive grains on one of their most important operational characteristicscutting ability, and also on cutting properties of tools made of them, are considered in the article. Modern approaches to cutting capacity assessment, of both single grains, and loose abrasive mass are analyzed. The original method for the assessment of cutting capacity of a single grinding grain fixed in a rotating disk, implemented in surface grinding, is presented. The experimental data of the dependence of the cutting capacity on the shape and the orientation angle of the grinding grains are presented. In addition, the influence of the shape factor of the flap grinding wheel grains on its cutting capacity is shown. Practical recommendations on the application in practice of various varieties of grinding grains are proposed.