Projects & How-To
How to Patch a Hole in Drywall (Small, Medium and Large)
How to repair nail holes, dents, fist-sized holes and larger damage in drywall (plasterboard) with filler, mesh patches or a new piece of board, then sand and paint invisibly.
Holes in drywall happen: a door handle through the wall, removed anchors, a misplaced drill hole. The good news is that almost any hole can be repaired invisibly with the right method for its size. This guide covers three sizes of damage.
Tools and materials
- Filling knives 50 mm, 100 mm and 250 mm
- Utility knife, jab saw (large holes)
- Lightweight filler / spackle; joint compound
- Self-adhesive mesh patches or mesh tape
- Drywall offcut and wood battens (large holes), drywall screws, drill-driver
- Sanding block (120–180 grit), damp sponge
- Primer and paint
Small holes (nail and screw holes, up to ~10 mm)
- Remove anchors or screws. Push any protruding paper edges in or trim them with a knife.
- Press lightweight filler into the hole with a small knife, then scrape flush.
- Let it dry, then sand lightly. A second thin coat may be needed as filler shrinks.
- Spot-prime and paint.
Medium holes (up to ~15 cm / 6 in): mesh patch
- Trim loose paper and crumbled gypsum around the hole.
- Stick a self-adhesive metal-reinforced mesh patch over the hole, overlapping the sound wall by at least 2–3 cm.
- Apply joint compound over the patch with a 100 mm knife, pressing through the mesh.
- Feather the edges wider than the patch with a 250 mm knife. Keep coats thin.
- After drying, apply a second and, if needed, a third coat, each wider than the last.
- Sand smooth, prime and paint.
Large holes: new piece of drywall
- Check for cables and pipes behind the hole. Draw a square or rectangle around the damage.
- Cut out the square with a jab saw, keeping cuts straight.
- Insert wooden battens behind the opening on two sides and screw them through the existing drywall to create a backing.
- Cut a drywall patch to fit the opening (same thickness), and screw it to the battens, heads just below the surface.
- Apply mesh or paper tape over the joints, bed it in joint compound, and feather out in two or three thin coats.
- Sand, prime and paint.
- Feather compound well beyond the patch; wide, thin coats are invisible, narrow thick ones show.
- Use a light held at a low angle to reveal ridges before painting.
- Prime the repaired area; unprimed compound absorbs paint differently and "flashes" through.
- Paint the whole wall section (corner to corner) if the paint is old or sheen varies.
Dents and dings
Lightly sand any raised edges, fill with lightweight filler or compound, and feather. For corner damage, replace or repair the corner bead before filling.
Frequently asked questions
How long does filler need to dry?
From 30 minutes for lightweight spackle to 24 hours for thick joint compound coats. Check the product and wait until it is fully dry before sanding.
Why does my patch show through the paint?
Usually a ridge or edge that was not feathered enough, or the patch was not primed. Sand, feather wider, prime and repaint.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Always read your tool's manual, use the right protective equipment and follow local building and electrical codes. See our disclaimer.