Wall Repair Toolkit
From picture-hanger pin holes to giant doorknob dents, walls see some abuse. It may look bad, but you can fix it yourself. Here’s what you need to get your walls looking new again—and to get your security deposit back.
For minor holes
Putty knife
Using a putty knife is the fastest and cleanest way to apply patching compound and leave a nice, flat finish that requires minimal sanding.
Putty knives are basic tools, but what sets the Craftsman apart is a comfortable handle, a stainless blade that resists rust, and an extra half inch of putty-pushing leverage.
The Best Putty Knife
Putty knives are basic tools, but what sets the Craftsman apart is a comfortable handle, a stainless blade that resists rust, and an extra half inch of putty-pushing leverage.
The Husky is the same tool as the Craftsman, but a small design detail in the handle makes it slightly less comfortable to hold.
The Best Putty Knife
The Husky is the same tool as the Craftsman, but a small design detail in the handle makes it slightly less comfortable to hold.
Patching compound
For filling holes, choose something that’s easy to apply, has minimal shrinkage, and is a breeze to sand.
This easy-to-use patching compound won’t shrink and is perfect for small holes and cracks. It usually dries in about 30 minutes to an hour, so you can wrap up your project in one day.
This easy-to-use patching compound won’t shrink and is perfect for small holes and cracks. It usually dries in about 30 minutes to an hour, so you can wrap up your project in one day.
Sanding sponge
More versatile than sandpaper, a sanding sponge conforms to curved surfaces (like railings), sanding evenly with few bumps or ridges. Good sponges hold their edges’ shape on detail work or inside corners, and you can wash and reuse them indefinitely.
Perfect for smoothing a wall patch, this 3M sanding sponge fits a hand and lasts longer than most. The 120-grit surface is rough enough to sand down bigger blobs of compound but fine enough to leave a nice, paintable finish.
Perfect for smoothing a wall patch, this 3M sanding sponge fits a hand and lasts longer than most. The 120-grit surface is rough enough to sand down bigger blobs of compound but fine enough to leave a nice, paintable finish.
For larger holes
Drywall repair kit
With the right gear, filling larger holes is a less daunting task. Repair kits require little or no experience and can produce results that look like new.
The Ryobi kit lets you drill out a hole or dent and replace it with a plastic disc that acts as a backer for patching compound. Most kits create a slight bump, but this kit sets the backer into the wall so the finished patch is perfectly smooth.
The Ryobi kit lets you drill out a hole or dent and replace it with a plastic disc that acts as a backer for patching compound. Most kits create a slight bump, but this kit sets the backer into the wall so the finished patch is perfectly smooth.
Place this 6-by-6-inch adhesive mesh over a hole to create a backer for the joint compound to complete the patch. It’s inexpensive and easy to use, but because it sits on top of the wall, you may see a slight bump in the finished product.
Place this 6-by-6-inch adhesive mesh over a hole to create a backer for the joint compound to complete the patch. It’s inexpensive and easy to use, but because it sits on top of the wall, you may see a slight bump in the finished product.
Joint compound
For larger patches, joint compound is easy to apply and even easier to sand. It can take up to a day to dry, and deeper patches need multiple applications. Use it along with a taping knife.
We’ve never noticed much difference between various joint compounds, but the Sheetrock brand is readily available, and we’ve had success with it.
We’ve never noticed much difference between various joint compounds, but the Sheetrock brand is readily available, and we’ve had success with it.
Taping knife
Larger holes need a larger knife to produce a smooth finish. A 10-inch taping knife is enough to span a sizable hole or joint between two sheets of drywall.
No need to overthink this one: Designed with a comfortable handle, the Husky is commonly available at Home Depot and inexpensive compared with the competition.
No need to overthink this one: Designed with a comfortable handle, the Husky is commonly available at Home Depot and inexpensive compared with the competition.
Leftover paint
You should paint patches larger than a pinhole. Ideally, you have paint left over from the first application. Prime the patch before painting, or it will be visible. Paint can fade over time, so you may have to do the whole wall for a perfect match.
This paint goes on easy and combines coverage, durability, and cleanability. Half the painters we spoke to considered it their paint of choice.
The Best Interior Paint
This paint goes on easy and combines coverage, durability, and cleanability. Half the painters we spoke to considered it their paint of choice.
This paint shares many characteristics with our main pick but is slightly more expensive.
The Best Interior Paint
This paint shares many characteristics with our main pick but is slightly more expensive.
Things you probably don’t need
These items have their place, but they’re not required on most DIY paint projects.
Toothpaste
In a pinch, this will work for a pinhole but nothing larger. It’s not meant to be painted, either.
Caulk
Caulk is for filling in joints, not cracks in a wall. And on a flat surface like a wall, it can be difficult to smooth. It’s also messy, and it requires a caulking gun. Use patching compound instead.
“All-in-one" patch and primer kit
It’s hard to get great results with kits like the 3M Patch Plus Primer 4-in-1, but if you’re doing quick patches in a rental, convenience may be more important than quality. If you plan to paint on top of this, use a real primer over it first.
Pole attachment with sanding pad
This can be helpful for a high-up patch on a tall wall or a cathedral ceiling—and you may already know you need one because you read about it in our guide to everything you need to paint a room—but otherwise, stick to the sanding sponge.
