How to Fix a Hole in the Wall Quickly and Easily

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How to Fix Nail Holes 

Nail holes, dents, and even tiny cracks are easy to fix and do not require many tools or materials. You may want to fix these small holes so you can prime and paint a smoother surface, or, you may want to repair the holes without repainting.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Lightweight, non-shrinking spackle (you can use putty if that’s all you have, but putty is meant for larger jobs like covering seams in drywall)
• Putty knife
• Soft, clean cloth or wet sponge (optional)
• Small piece of fine-grit sandpaper
• Touch-up wall paint 

Step 1: Clean the Hole or Crack

Blow on the hole or crack to release any small particles of dust.

Step 2: Apply Spackle

Using the putty knife or even your finger, fill in the hole (dent or crack) with spackle, enough so the spackle completely fills the hole and is level with the wall’s surface.

Step 3: Let Dry

Let the spackle dry for the amount of time recommended on the package (it should be about 15 to 30 minutes).

Step 4: Smooth the Area (optional step)

Using a slightly damp cloth or sponge, wipe the spot to smooth the spackle.

Step 5: Sand the Spot

When the spot is dry, use fine-grit sandpaper to gently and carefully sand the area smooth. Use your fingers to brush away any sandpaper particles and other debris.

Step 6: Paint (optional step)

Touch up the spot with paint that matches the wall. If the hole is very tiny, you won’t always need to paint.

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How to Fix a Small Hole

A small hole is anything considered about ½ inch to five inches in diameter (roughly the size of a screwdriver, hammer’s head, or a doorknob that accidentally punches through the wall). For this size job, it’s best to take advantage of the many wall repair kits available at home improvement stores. Choose a wall kit that fits your size hole. The kit will generally include the following items:

• Small tub of spackle
• Self-adhesive patch (it may be mesh, metal, or even plastic)
• Putty knife
• Sanding pad

Follow the package’s instructions, but here are general steps so you can see how easy it is to use one.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Wall repair kit for your size hole
• Primer
• Touch up paint for your wall

Step 1: Clean the Hole

If you can reach inside the hole, pull out any debris and run your fingers around the edges to smooth it out as much as you can. 

Step 2: Apply the Patch

You will have some sort of mesh or stabilizing patch in your kit with a tacky coating on one side. Put that over the hole, sticky side on the wall.

Step 3: Spackle the Patch

Use the spackle in the kit to cover the entire patch. Apply in a crisscross pattern and feather the edges so it blends in with the wall’s surface.

Step 4: Smooth the Spackle

Use what the kit suggests to further smooth out the spackle—it could be a wet sponge or sandpaper. Let dry.

Step 5: Prime and Paint

Touch up the area of the wall with prime and paint to match your wall.

Photo via Evan and Katelyn

How to Fix a Big Hole

A large hole is anything considered over six to eight inches all around to about two feet by two feet. This is a more intermediate DIY project that requires specific tools, but it’s still pretty easy to accomplish even for a beginner.

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Tools and Materials Needed:

• Piece of drywall
• Pencil
• Sanding block and 150-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth or paper towel
• Two short pieces of 1x4s (wood)
• Drywall knife or serrated knife
• Utility knife
• Drywall screws (at least 12 and 1 ¼ in size)
• Drill
• Construction adhesive/joint compound
• Putty knife
• Drywall joint tape
• Primer
• Paint to match your wall
• Protective gloves

Step 1: Trace Around the Hole

Use your clean-edged piece of drywall (it needs to be larger than the hole in your wall) and hold it up over the hole. Trace around the piece of drywall onto the wall.

Step 2: Cut the Hole

Use your knife to cut along the square you traced on the wall and remove the excess drywall. You should have a clean square on your wall.

Step 3: Sand the Edges

Using a sanding block with 150 grit paper, smooth out the edges of your square. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth or paper towel.

Step 4: Install Wood Backing

If there’s no stud behind your hole, you will need to give the drywall scrap something solid to attach to, such as wood. Place one piece of wood behind the square opening on the left side and use drywall screws, at least three on each side, to attach the wood to the edge of the drywall. Make sure the hole overlaps the wood by about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches. Apply the second piece of wood to the right side of the opening the same way.

Step 5: Apply Adhesive

When the wood is in place, use a putty knife to apply construction adhesive to the face of each piece of wood.

Step 6: Secure the Patch

Put the clean patch of drywall up to the hole so it fits nice and snug into the space. Press it in so it makes contact with the adhesive on the wood. Then use drywall screws, at least three on each side, and your drill to attach the patch to the wood.

Step 7: Spread More Adhesive

Use a putty knife to spread a generous amount of compound around the edges of the drywall patch. Feather it as you apply it around the edges so it blends into the wall’s surface.

Step 8: Apply Tape

Apply drywall tape (the mesh type of tape will be slightly adhesive) to the compound around the edges of the patch and cut the tape with a utility knife. The compound will hide the tape and smooth out the patch. Let the compound dry completely.

Step 9: Sand

Sand the compound with the sandpaper block once the compound is dry. If necessary, add more thin coats of compound and repeat steps until the patch is smooth.

Step 10: Final Sanding

Lightly sand the final coat of dry compound. Then prime and paint the wall.

Tips and Hacks for Difficult Cases

Sometimes, a problem is bigger than a simple spackle or patching job won't fix the issue you're facing. Here are some more difficult problems and how to face them.

When to Replace a Drywall Panel

If you have multiple holes or the hole is too large and appears to affect the structural integrity of the drywall, you’ll need to replace the entire or half of the drywall panel.

How to Fix a Hole in the Ceiling

You can use the methods above to patch holes in your ceilings—ceilings are typically made from drywall, too.

How to Reduce Nail Holes

Cut down on the number of nail holes in your walls by using alternative ways to hang artwork on drywall. The best trick: Command Velcro Hangables products.

What kind of material have you used to plug up small holes in your walls? Have you used toothpaste? Let us know your creative fixes for wall holes!