How to Patch a Hole in Drywall

The right patch depends on the size of the hole. Using a big fix on a small hole makes extra sanding, and a small fix on a big hole cracks later.

What you'll need

• Lightweight spackle for small holes
• Joint compound for medium and large patches
• Self-adhesive mesh patch, or a scrap of drywall
• 4-inch and 6-inch putty knives
• Sanding sponge (fine grit)
• Utility knife and drywall saw for large holes
• Primer and matching paint

Small holes: nails and screws

1. Press a little spackle into the hole with a putty knife.
2. Scrape it flush with the wall in one pass.
3. Let it dry, sand lightly, then prime and paint.

If a screw has popped through the surface, drive it back in just below the face of the drywall first, or add a new screw an inch or so away, then fill over it.

Medium holes: up to about 4 inches

1. Sand the area around the hole so the patch sits flat.
2. Stick a self-adhesive mesh patch over the hole.
3. Spread a thin coat of joint compound over the patch, feathering it a few inches past the edges.
4. Let it dry fully, then add a second, wider coat.
5. Sand smooth, prime, and paint.

Thin coats dry faster and crack less than one thick coat. Two or three thin passes is normal.

Large holes: bigger than 4 inches

1. Cut the damaged area into a clean square or rectangle with a drywall saw. Check for wires and pipes before you cut.
2. Screw a strip of wood inside the opening, behind the top and bottom edges, as backing.
3. Cut a piece of drywall the same thickness to fit, and screw it to the backing.
4. Tape the seams, then apply joint compound in two or three thin, wide coats.
5. Sand, prime, and paint.

Getting an invisible finish

• Feather each coat wider than the last.
• Prime before painting. Bare compound soaks up paint and shows through as a dull spot.
• If the wall has texture, match it before priming. Spray-can texture works for small areas.