How do I fill small holes or cracks in walls?

Apply pre-mixed spackling compound into nail holes, screw holes, dents, and hairline cracks using a flexible putty knife, then sand smooth once dry. This is the most common and reliable method for small wall repairs in drywall and plaster.

Squeeze a small amount of white, non-gel toothpaste onto your fingertip. Press it into a tiny nail hole or pinhole and smooth it flat with your finger or a damp cloth. Wipe away excess. The toothpaste dries to a white, semi-hard fill that conceals the hole temporarily.

Rub a bar of white soap or a wall-color-matched crayon firmly over a tiny nail hole or pinhole until the material fills the void. Wipe away excess with a dry cloth. The soap or wax fills the hole and blends with the wall color from normal viewing distance.

For holes larger than 4-5 inches, extensive cracking, water damage, or textured walls that need matching, a drywall professional will cut out the damaged section, install a new piece, tape and mud the joints, and match the existing texture.

Mix powdered setting-type joint compound (like Durabond or Easy Sand) with water and press it into deep holes, wide cracks, or areas where lightweight spackle has failed repeatedly. It sets by chemical reaction and can be built up in thicker layers than regular spackle.

Run a thin bead of paintable acrylic latex caulk along hairline cracks where walls meet trim, ceilings, or corners. Smooth the bead with a wet finger and let it dry. Paint over it once cured.

For holes 1-4 inches across (like doorknob damage or old anchor holes), stick a self-adhesive fiberglass mesh patch over the hole. Apply joint compound over the mesh with a wide putty knife, feathering the edges outward. Let dry, apply a second coat, sand smooth, prime, and paint.

For large holes (larger than 6-8 inches), extensive cracking from foundation settling, water-damaged drywall, or situations where you need a perfectly smooth finish across an entire wall, hire a professional drywall finisher or general contractor. Professionals cut out damaged sections, install new…

For nail holes, cracks, dents, and gaps in wood trim, baseboards, window casings, and crown molding, use a stainable or paintable wood filler rather than wall spackle. Press the filler into the hole or crack with a putty knife or your finger, overfilling slightly. Let it harden fully, then sand…

Purchase a self-adhesive wall repair patch (available at any hardware store in sizes from 2x2 inches to 8x8 inches). Peel off the backing and center the patch over the hole, pressing the adhesive mesh firmly against the wall. The aluminum or fiberglass mesh plate spans the hole and adheres to the…

Cut a piece of new drywall slightly larger than the hole (2-4 inches larger in each dimension). Place it face-down and score the back paper and gypsum core to the exact size of the hole, but leave the front paper intact as an oversized flap. Snap off the excess gypsum, leaving the front paper…

For cracks wider than 1/8 inch or holes larger than a nail hole (up to about 2-3 inches), apply self-adhesive fiberglass mesh tape over the damaged area, then skim coat over the tape with joint compound. Apply a first coat of compound, pressing it through the mesh to embed it against the wall. Let…

Apply a bead of paintable acrylic latex caulk along cracks that form where walls meet trim, ceilings, door frames, or window frames. Cut the caulk tube tip at a 45-degree angle to a small opening (about 1/8 inch). Apply a thin, continuous bead along the crack. Immediately smooth the caulk with a…

Mix a powder-form setting-type joint compound (such as USG Durabond or Easy Sand) with water to a thick peanut-butter consistency. Press the compound firmly into the hole or crack with a putty knife, overfilling slightly. The compound hardens through a chemical reaction (similar to plaster) rather…

Apply a pre-mixed lightweight spackling paste (such as DAP DryDex or 3M Patch Plus Primer) directly into nail holes, screw holes, or hairline cracks using a flexible putty knife. Lightweight spackle contains microspheres or air-filled particles that make it less dense than standard spackle, so it…