How to Fix Small Holes in Drywall

Every nail hole, anchor hole, and doorknob ding is a 5-minute fix costing under a dollar.

Nail and Screw Holes (Under 1/4 Inch)

Squeeze lightweight spackle (DAP DryDex, 5 dollars for a tub) onto your fingertip. Press into the hole, smooth flat. DryDex turns pink to white when dry (30 to 60 minutes). Sand lightly with 120-grit until flush. Touch up with paint.

Quick rental fix: white toothpaste pressed into the hole and smoothed flat.

Anchor Holes (1/4 to 1 Inch)

Remove loose edges with a utility knife. Pull plastic anchors with pliers. Apply spackle with a 2-inch putty knife, feathering edges flush. Let dry, apply a second coat since spackle shrinks. Sand smooth between coats.

Fist-Sized Holes (1 to 5 Inches)

Self-adhesive drywall patch kit (4 to 6 dollars). Peel backing, center over hole, press flat. Apply joint compound with a 6-inch knife, feathering 2 to 3 inches beyond. Dry 24 hours. Second coat feathered wider. Sand with 150-grit. Prime before painting.

The California Patch (Over 5 Inches)

Cut drywall 2 inches larger than the hole. Score and snap off gypsum from edges leaving 2-inch front paper flaps. Apply compound around the hole, press patch in with flaps flat against the wall. Compound over everything, feather 4 to 6 inches. Two coats, sand, prime, paint. The paper flaps serve as built-in tape.

Matching Paint

Peel a chip from inside a closet for color matching at the hardware store (3 to 5 dollars per quart). Apply with a foam roller and feather 6 inches beyond the repair to blend.

For Nail Holes and Thumbtack Holes (Under 1/4 Inch)

These tiny holes require no patch at all. Squeeze a small amount of lightweight spackle (3 to 5 dollars for a tub that lasts years) directly into the hole using your finger. Smooth the surface flat with your finger or a putty knife. Let it dry for 30 to 60 minutes. Sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper if needed, then touch up with matching paint. Total repair time: 2 minutes of work plus drying time.

For Medium Holes (1/4 Inch to 3 Inches)

These holes, typically caused by doorknob impacts, anchors, or accidents, require a self-adhesive mesh patch (3 to 5 dollars for a pack of patches in various sizes). Peel and stick the patch centered over the hole. Apply a thin layer of joint compound (also called mud) over the patch with a putty knife, extending 2 to 3 inches beyond the patch edges. Let it dry (4 to 6 hours or overnight). Sand smooth. Apply a second thin coat if the patch is still visible, sand again when dry, and paint.

For Larger Holes (3 to 6 Inches)

Cut a piece of drywall slightly larger than the hole. Hold it over the hole and trace around it with a pencil. Cut along the traced line with a drywall saw to create a clean rectangular opening. Cut a backing piece of thin plywood or a paint stick and insert it behind the opening, securing it with drywall screws. Screw the drywall patch into the backing. Apply mesh tape over all seams, then apply joint compound in two thin coats with sanding between. This repair produces a professional result that is invisible after painting.

Bottom Line

Fingertip spackle for nail holes. Putty knife two coats for anchors. Mesh patch for fist-sized. California patch for larger. Every wall hole is a 5-to-30-minute fix under 10 dollars.