Spackle is a lightweight, sandable material made specifically for patching small holes or cracks in walls and ceilings.
Which Product to Use
Usespackle or drywall joint compoundto spackle a wall.
Products with other namespatches, putties, caulks, and fillersmay not be correctly formulated for spackling a wall.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Spackle shrinks less and dries faster than joint compound.
Want more home reno project tips and inspiration?
Scrape or sand away loose paint or drywall material.
Tetra Images / Getty Images
Use a utility knife to slice away loose drywall paper.
New spackle doesn’t need stirring.
Fill the Hole or Crack
Scoop spackle from the container with the putty knife.
Push the spackle into the hole or crack by sliding the knife at a 45 angle across the wall.
Avoid overworking the spackle.
Place any excess spackle from the putty knife into the container.
Sand larger patches with a fine, 220-grit sanding block or sandpaper.
Sanding isn’t required for small patches like nail and screw holes or thin cracks.
Paint the Patch
Interior spackle patches that match the wall color don’t need to be painted.
Spackle does last longer and look better if painted.
Use a latex primer only if using high-gloss paint.
Otherwise, you’ve got the option to paint directly on the cured spackle.
Gouges, shallow holes, and cracks can be spackled.
Holes that continue through the wall can be spackled, but only up to a diameter of about 1/2-inch.
Do not use spackle to skim-coat a wall.
Spackle does not expand and contract, so avoid using it like caulk or as a joint filler.
Tips For Spackling Walls
Spackle is essentially the same as drywall filler or drywall joint compound.
Either product will work for fixing small holes or cracks in a wall.
it’s possible for you to paint over spackle, unless the product instructions indicate otherwise.
Prime first if using a high-gloss paint.
Wait from one to five hours for the spackle to fully dry before painting.
it’s possible for you to fill a hole up to about 1/2-inch with spackle.
Larger holes unsupported by a backer tend to collapse.
