Domakihub How to Fill Holes in Walls: A Clean, Lasting Repair
From tiny nail holes to fist-sized damage, here is the right method for each.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Holes in walls are part of life in any home, holiday rental, office or hotel room, whether from a removed shelf, a stray door handle or years of picture hooks. The video above shows a professional patching a drywall hole step by step, and the guide below breaks the whole job into clear stages so you can match the right method to the size of the damage. With a little filler, sanding and paint, the wall ends up looking like nothing ever happened.
Match the method to the hole size
Not every hole needs the same treatment. Pinholes and small nail or screw holes can be closed with a dab of lightweight filler. Holes up to a couple of centimetres usually need filler plus mesh or paper tape so the patch does not crack later. Anything larger than a coin, or a hole that goes right through plasterboard, needs a backing piece or a self-adhesive patch to give the filler something solid to hold onto.
Knowing which type you are dealing with before you start saves time and prevents a repair that sinks, cracks or pops out a few weeks later. In rentals and hotels where walls take constant wear, doing it once and doing it properly is far cheaper than redoing it every season.
What you will need
For most repairs you need a filler or spackle, a putty knife or filling blade, fine sandpaper (around 120 to 180 grit) or a sanding sponge, and a damp cloth. For medium and large holes add self-adhesive mesh tape or a ready-made wall patch, and for big holes a small offcut of plasterboard. To finish, you need primer and a small amount of wall paint that matches the room.
Keep a dust sheet or old towel under the work area. Filler dust travels, and in a furnished rental or office it is much easier to catch it than to clean it off floors and skirting afterwards.
Step-by-step: filling a hole in a wall
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1. Clean and prepare the hole
Pull out any old wall plugs, nails or loose debris. Lightly scrape away crumbling edges with the corner of your putty knife so you are filling into sound material, then wipe the area with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust. Filler grips far better on a clean, stable edge than on loose, dusty plaster.
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2. Reinforce medium and large holes
For holes bigger than a coin, cover them with self-adhesive mesh tape or a ready-made patch so the filler has support. For a hole that goes right through the plasterboard, cut a slightly larger backing piece of board, slot it behind the opening and secure it, or use a proper patch kit. This backing is what stops the repair from caving in.
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3. Apply the filler
Load a little filler onto the blade and press it firmly into the hole, working it in at a slight angle so it fully packs the cavity. Then draw the blade across flat to leave the surface just proud of the wall. Deep holes are best done in two thin coats rather than one thick one, letting the first dry so it does not slump or crack.
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4. Let it dry, then sand smooth
Allow the filler to dry fully, following the time on the tub (often a few hours, longer for deep fills). Then sand gently with fine paper or a sanding sponge until the patch is perfectly flush with the surrounding wall. Run your hand over it; your fingertips will feel any ridge that the eye misses, especially under angled light.
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5. Prime and paint
Wipe away sanding dust, then prime the patch so the filler does not soak up paint and show through as a dull spot. Once the primer is dry, paint over the repair and feather the edges into the surrounding wall. For a flawless finish on a visible wall, repaint the full wall corner to corner rather than just the patch.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted handyman pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- What is the best filler for holes in walls?
- For small nail and screw holes, a lightweight spackle or all-purpose filler is ideal because it dries fast and sands easily. For larger holes or deeper fills, use a setting-type or two-part filler, which is stronger and less likely to shrink. Always match the product to the hole size and follow the drying time on the tub.
- Do I need to prime before painting over filler?
- Yes. Dried filler is more porous than the surrounding paint, so if you paint straight over it the patch can show as a flat or slightly different shade, an effect called flashing. A quick coat of primer seals the repair so the topcoat looks even and blends in.
- How do I fix a large hole that goes through the plasterboard?
- A large hole needs backing. Either fit an offcut of plasterboard behind the opening and secure it, or use a self-adhesive metal or mesh patch made for the job. Cover it with filler in thin layers, let each dry, then sand, prime and paint. Without backing, the filler has nothing to hold and will crack or fall out.