How to fill a hole in a wall

Holes in walls are relatively common problems that can be caused by any number of issues. Whether it’s caused by maintenance work like removing electrical fittings, lights or plumbing, or accidental damage, a hole that goes unfixed can look untidy and may get worse over time.

In serious cases, holes can even damage the wall’s integrity if left unrepaired. Thankfully, learning how to repair a hole in a wall is straightforward with the right tools, materials, and approach.

This guide covers everything you need to fix a hole in any wall, including assessing the overall damage, what you’ll need to complete the job, and how to do it.

Things to consider before fixing a hole in a wall

Before starting, it’s important to assess the damage to plan your next steps. How you fix the hole in the wall depends on several factors, including:

Size of the hole: Small holes, like drill holes or minor chips, can usually be filled quickly with a standard filler. Larger holes, bigger than 10cm in diameter, may need patching before filling and sanding down.
Depth of the damage: A deeper hole might need filling in slow layers rather than with one application.
Wall location: Consider whether the hole is in a load-bearing wall or in a high-traffic area that might require more durable materials.
Internal or external wall: Filling a hole in an external wall may require weather-resistant materials to withstand moisture and temperature changes.
Wall material: Plasterboard is lightweight and easy to patch, but brick, concrete, or timber walls need more robust fillers that best match the wall’s material.
Wires and pipework: Many internal walls have electrical cables and pipework underneath, which is tricky to work around.

What to use to fill a hole in a wall

Choosing the right materials is key to achieving a professional finish when filling a hole in a wall. But you’ll need to know what each type of filler is used for:

Plaster filler: Ideal for internal plastered walls and ceilings.
Multi-purpose filler: Suitable for most surfaces, including plasterboard.
Exterior masonry filler: Designed for brick, concrete, and exterior walls.
Wood filler: Specifically used for timber surfaces like panelled walls, and wooden doors and frames.

Once you have the best filler for your surface, you will need to gather the right tools. This will include:

Filling knives
Sandpaper or sanding sheets
Dust mask
Drill (for larger repairs)
Safety goggles
Surface cleaners
Surface protection.

Having the right filler and tools for application makes fixing a hole in the wall quicker and cleaner, giving you a more consistent finish.

How to fix a large hole in a wall

When planning how to fill a large hole in a wall, anything above 10cm will likely need additional work. Simply applying filler alone is unlikely to provide a stable or long-lasting repair.

To fix a large hole in a wall, follow these steps:

Clean and prepare the area by wiping the wall with your filling knife. You could also use a small vacuum head to remove any debris and dust.
Smooth the edges of the hole with sandpaper.
For plasterboard walls, fit a mesh piece. For a masonry wall, you may need to back the hole with a suitable support, such as a sturdy piece of wood, to create a rigid base.
Use the filling knife and the correct filler for the wall material to slowly build up the filler in layers. Allow each layer to partially set before applying the next. Drying times vary depending on the product you use.
Once the final layer is filled and completely dry, sand the filler down so it’s level with the wall around the area.
Apply a layer of mist coat to seal the fresh plaster.
Finally, add a fresh coat of paint that matches your wall’s current colour.

How to fill a small hole in a wall

Fixing small holes in walls is simple, as minor damage doesn’t require as much deep work into the foundations of the wall.

Gloved hand applying wall filler with a putty knife to repair a damaged wal;, with a blue bucket of filler nearby.

Follow these steps to fix a small hole in a wall:

Remove dust and debris from the hole with a small brush and wipe the surrounding wall area with a clean microfibre cloth.
Use a filling knife to press filler into the hole and smooth it over.
Allow the filler to dry completely.
Lightly sand the filler to achieve a smooth finish level with the surrounding wall area.
Paint over the area with the same paint used for the rest of the wall to blend in seamlessly.

Putty knife scooping thick white wall filler from a tub on a wooden surface, ready for patching holes or smoothing damaged walls.

Common mistakes to avoid when filling a hole in a wall

Filling holes in walls is usually a simple job, but even straightforward repairs can go wrong if you don’t use the proper techniques. Avoid potential errors by looking out for common errors with wall repairs, such as:

Poor surface preparation: Dust and debris prevent effective adhesion, which reduces the durability of the repair. Ensure a clean and debris-free area before starting any repair work.
Using the wrong filler: Different materials require specific fillers, so it’s important to choose the right one. Using the wrong type can cause cracking and instability.

Overfilling: Applying too much filler for the size of the hole means you’ll need to do more sanding, which takes time and could lead to an uneven finish.
Underfilling: In contrast, also avoid underfilling the hole, as it could cause shrinkage and visible dips in the wall when dried and painted.
Not leaving to dry: You need to leave the filler long enough to dry to avoid damaging or weakening the repairs you’ve made and ruining the final finish.
Skipping sanding: Failing to sand down the filler properly will leave a rough and uneven surface that becomes noticeable after painting.

Get the right materials for the job

Whether you’re working on a quick touch-up for a small hole in a wall or a larger repair, having the right tools and materials makes all the difference. From fillers, sealants and adhesives, to sanding sheets and filler knives, using trade-quality products and tools encourages a long-lasting, professional finish.

Browse the full range of fillers, tools, and surface preparation products available at Jewson to ensure every wall repair — large or small — has a quality finish.