How to Patch Drywall: Nail Holes, Dents and Large Holes

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

30 min work + drying

Cost

Very low

Holes in walls are the most common home repair — from picture nails to a doorknob that went through. Choose the method by size.

Small: nail holes and small dents (under 1/2 in / 12 mm)

1. Push any loose paper or plaster into the hole, or trim with a utility knife.
2. Press lightweight spackle into the hole with a putty knife, then scrape flat.
3. Let it dry (often 30 minutes to 2 hours), sand lightly, spot-prime and paint.

Medium: up to about 4 in (10 cm)

1. Clean up the edges of the hole.
2. Stick a self-adhesive mesh or metal patch over the hole, extending at least 1 in (2.5 cm) past the edges.
3. Spread joint compound over the patch with a 6 in knife, feathering the edges.
4. After it dries, apply a second, wider coat. A third thin coat may be needed.
5. Sand, prime, paint.

Large: over 4 in (10 cm)

1. Draw a square around the damage and cut it out with a drywall saw. Check for wires and pipes first.
2. Screw two strips of wood ("backers") inside the hole, behind the edges.
3. Cut a piece of drywall of the same thickness to fit the square and screw it to the backers.
4. Tape the seams with paper or mesh tape and joint compound.
5. Apply 2–3 coats, each wider and thinner than the last, drying between coats.
6. Sand, prime and paint.

Cracks

Hairline cracks at corners of doors and windows usually come back if you just fill them. Open the crack slightly with a utility knife, cover with mesh tape, and apply thin coats of compound. Flexible crack fillers help in areas that move seasonally.

Making the patch invisible

• Feather wide. A patch 3× wider than the hole blends much better than a small, thick one.
• Prime before paint, or the patch will "flash" — look duller than the wall.
• Match texture on textured walls with spray texture or a sponge dabbed in thinned compound.
• Paint the whole wall corner to corner if the old paint has faded — touch-ups on faded paint rarely match.