What do I need to patch this hole?
Pick the size of the hole and the wall finish. You get the method, the shopping list, how many coats, and how long to leave it between them.
How this works
Small holes are filled with spackle; holes up to a few inches get a self-adhesive mesh patch and thin coats of joint compound; bigger holes are cut back square and a new piece of drywall goes in on backing. Each coat is thin and wider than the one before so the edge disappears.
Drying times are the usual ones for pre-mixed and quick-setting compounds in ordinary conditions. Humidity slows them down, which matters in Florida and the Gulf states.
It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. It is a guide, not a quote or a professional assessment — products and walls differ, so follow the maker's instructions where they disagree, and the handyman confirms what the job needs when they see it.
Questions people ask
- How do you fix a large hole in drywall?
- Cut it back to a neat square, fit wood backing or furring strips behind the edges, screw in a new piece of drywall, tape the seams and finish with three thin coats of compound, sanded between coats.
- Spackle or joint compound?
- Spackle for nail holes and small dings. Joint compound for anything that needs tape or a patch, and for feathering wider repairs.
- How long does joint compound take to dry?
- Pre-mixed all-purpose compound usually needs about a day per coat, longer in humid weather. Quick-setting compound hardens in the time printed on the bag, such as 20 or 45 minutes.
- Why does my patch show through the paint?
- Usually because the patch was not primed, or the edges were not feathered wide enough. Prime the patch before painting and sand the edges flat.
Other free tools
Rather have someone look at it?
Phones answered around the clock. Free estimate — the price is agreed before work starts.