How to Repair Holes and Cracks in Drywall with Spackle

An easy guide to drywall spackle

Co-authored by Norman Raverty and Mason Martinez, BA

Last Updated: February 18, 2024 Fact Checked

Drywall can be easily damaged when drilling or hammering a nail or if something falls into it. If you have a hole that is less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide or ³⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm) deep, you can quickly fix it with spackle, a compound made to cover cracks and holes in walls. It's a simple process that only requires a spackle compound, a putty knife, and sandpaper. We'll walk through it step-by-step, below.

Things You Should Know

Choose an all-purpose spackling compound for holes less than 1-inch wide and 1/4-inch deep. Use vinyl spackling for holes and cracks that are 3/4-inch deep.
Apply spackle with a putty knife. Use a smooth, feathering motion to apply three layers. Allow 2-5 hours of drying time between each layer.
Once the spackle is dry, sand the surface with 150-grit sandpaper. Then, apply primer and paint to match the repair to the rest of your wall.

1

Use all-purpose spackle for small holes.

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Opt for a pre-mixed spackle paste or a powdered spackle. An all-purpose pre-mixed spackle compound is ideal for holes that are less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and no more than ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) deep. For holes and cracks that are up to ³⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm) deep, opt for vinyl spackling, which comes in powdered form. The vinyl adds elasticity to minimize shrinkage.^{[1]
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- Spackle can be bought in light-weight, heavy-weight, or hybrid options. Using lightweight spackle for smaller nail-hole repairs and dents is best, while heavyweight is better for larger repairs.
- Hybrid can be used for any project size, ideal for people with various repairs they need to tackle.^{[2]
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2

Smooth the surface.

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Remove debris from the drywall with 150-grit sandpaper. Place the sandpaper over the hole and rotate it back and forth clockwise and counterclockwise a few times. This keeps your repair area smaller than sanding from side to side.^{[3]
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- Drywall consists of gypsum, facer paper, and backer paper. When it gets damaged, these materials cause the drywall to splinter, and some smaller fragments may stick out from the wall.
- If you leave these fragments as is, the spackle won't stick to the wall properly, which is why sanding is necessary.
- You can also use 100-grit sandpaper if the drywall isn't damaged too badly.
- If you're patching a small area, like a nail hole, push the drywall in with your thumb or the base of a screwdriver, then spackle over the indent.

3

Remove fragments and splinters.

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Angle a putty knife against the wall and scrape up and down. Use a putty knife to remove any lingering fragments or splinters the sandpaper couldn’t remove. Be careful not to make the hole in the drywall bigger when using the putty knife.^{[4]
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- Don't worry about removing paint around the hole. You'll be painting over the area again later on.

4

Cover large holes with mesh tape.

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Cut a piece of mesh tape about 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. Stick some mesh into the hole with your finger to give the spackle a solid base to adhere to.^{[5]
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5

Mix the spackle compound if needed.

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Combine the powdered compounds according to the manufacturer's instructions. It's best to work with less and mix more as needed so you don't waste any. Mix the compound with a mixing paddle or a similar tool until it's stiff enough to hold onto the putty knife without sliding off.^{[6]
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6

Apply spackle to the wall with a putty knife.

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Use a smooth, feathering motion to apply spackle to the drywall. Use enough spackle to cover the hole and scrape around the surrounding area. For deeper holes, apply spackle to the area ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) deep at a time, allowing it to dry between layers.^{[7]
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- You can use two putty knives if you want. Use a wider knife to remove the spackle from the tub, and a thinner knife to apply the spackle.
- Or, use an old plastic credit card or gift card if you don’t have a putty knife.
- Always close the spackle tub after you've removed the amount you need so it doesn't dry out.

7

Allow the first layer of spackle to dry.

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Wait at least 2 to 4 hours, then sand the spackle. The time it will take your spackle to dry depends on the hole size, how much spackle you applied, and the brand. It may seem time-consuming for deeper holes requiring multiple layers, but it's worth repairing the hole properly.^{[8]
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- After the spackle dries, sand it down with 150-grit sandpaper before applying a second layer.
- One layer should be sufficient for nail holes.
- Test the spackle with your finger to see if it's dry. Your finger should come up clean.

8

Apply a second layer and let it dry.

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Use the same feathering and scraping motion as you did with the first layer. Use your putty knife to cover the hole and scrape the spackle around the second layer. Give it 4 to 5 hours to dry before applying a third layer.^{[9]
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9

Add the third layer.

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Feather a final layer of spackle once the previous layer has dried. Generally, 3 layers of spackle are enough to cover a hole in drywall. By this stage, the spackle should be very solid. Be sure to sand down the surface with fine-grit sandpaper.^{[10]
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- You can always apply a fourth layer if the drywall needs it. However, don't overdo it. You may end up with a small lump in your wall from all of the spackle.
- If your drywall is textured, dab a sponge on the last layer of wet spackle to match the texture of the repair to the texture of the rest of the wall.

10

Remove excess spackle.

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Use a puffy knife and sandpaper to smooth the surface. Once you've applied all your layers of spackle, scrape excess spackle from the drywall with a putty knife. Place your knife at an angle to the wall at the edge of the spackle and scrape across. This will make it easier to prime and paint over.^{[11]
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- If there's still too much spackle on the wall, use fine-grit sandpaper against the spackle until it's leveled with the wall again.

11

Primer and paint the repaired area.

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Roll a layer of primer and two layers of paint to the damaged surface. Pour primer into a paint tray and coat a paint roller. To use a paint roller, roll in a narrow V-shape. Generally, primer takes 3 hours to dry. Test it with your finger. Once it's dry, use the same method to apply the first and second coats of paint.^{[12]
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- If you're only painting the small section you applied spackle to, you can use a small paintbrush or a sponge paintbrush to dab your paint onto the patch.
- Allow paint coats to dry between 4 to 5 hours between each layer so it fully adheres.
- To avoid getting paint on your floors, carpet, or baseboards, place a drop cloth or plastic sheet down in the surrounding area.
- You may need to color-match your paint. You can ask your local painting store or home center for help finding a matching color. Bring paint chips home from the store and hold them to the wall to find the exact color.

How Can I Fill Nail Holes?

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Question

What household items can I use to patch a small hole in the wall?

Norman Raverty
Home Repair Specialist
Norman Raverty is the owner of San Mateo Handyman, a handyman service in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 27 years of experience, Norman has expertise in all five of the general building trades (carpentry, ceramic tile, drywall, electrical, plumbing).

Norman Raverty

Home Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

If you don't have sandpaper, you can use the rougher side of a dampened sponge. It will catch all the falling dust and keep a mess from forming.

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Tips

If the hole is too large to spackle over on its own, place a small piece of brown masking tape over the hole. Press down on the tape to create an indent into the hole, then spackle over the tape.

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If your spackle won't stick to your repair area or is producing a bubbling effect, mix in a little wood glue to your wet spackle.

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Do not use spackle containing dried lumps, which will lead to more problems.

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Warnings

Make sure you use spackle and not similar products like caulk.

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Wash your spackle knife promptly as the spackle dries quickly. Never use a dirty spackle knife or one that has been bent or is out of shape.

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Huge holes or missing pieces of wallboard will need to be replaced using a new wallboard and mud compound.

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