How to Patch and Repair Drywall

How to repair small drywall holes larger than your typical nail hole is easier when using a drywall repair kit. Most drywall repair kits include the drywall tools you need and a 4-inch by 4-inch adhesive drywall patch, although you can purchase larger patches separately. Make sure the hole is small enough for these patches to cover before using one of these kits. 

To repair a hole in drywall that is smaller than 4 inches across:

• Cover the hole with the self-adhesive mesh patch.  
• Use a putty knife to spread the spackle or lightweight joint compound included in the kit over the patched hole. Spread it generously in a crisscross pattern, feathering the edges so it better blends into the wall. 
• Allow the joint compound to dry for as long as the manufacturer recommends. This can be up to 24 hours.  
• Apply a second coat of joint compound if needed to thoroughly fill and cover the area. 
• Once dry, sand the area smooth. 
• Touch up wall paint.  

If it’s been a while since the wall was last painted, you may need to repaint the entire wall, not just the patched area, to ensure the color matches. This is especially true if you have several patches on one wall and the newly painted repairs stand out.

Typically, understanding how to fix a hole in the wall larger than 4 inches across needs to be patched with a new piece of drywall. For this type of drywall repair, you’ll have to cut into the wall in this process. Make sure you know where your electrical wires and utilities are beforehand. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs, where most wires should be attached. 

Follow these steps to repair drywall with a hole in the wall larger than 4 inches across. 

• To start drywall repair, use a carpenter’s square and a pencil or marker to draw a line at least an inch or more above and below the damaged area. 
• Use a stud finder to find the nearest stud on either side of the hole and mark them.  
• Use a drywall saw to cut along the lines you just drew until you reach the wall studs.  
• When you reach a stud, measure and mark 3/4 of an inch farther in, which will be the center of the stud. Score these lines with a utility knife. 
• The edge of the patch should be directly over the stud so both the existing drywall and patch have support.  
• Continue cutting along the lines carefully with the utility knife, making several passes with each cut slightly deeper than the previous cut.  
• Remove the damaged piece of drywall. 

Safety Tip: Always cut away from your body. 

• Cut a support from scrap lumber if needed for support. A 1 x 3-inch piece of scrap lumber or 3/4-inch piece of plywood approximately 2 inches to 4 inches longer than the height of the patch is a good reference.
• Screw these supports vertically behind the opening using drywall screws. This will help keep the patch from cracking.  
• Sink the heads of the screws slightly below the surface of the drywall. 

• Create a patch from a 2 x 2-inch piece of drywall. Trace the piece of drywall you removed to ensure the patch is the same size. 
• Cut the patch using a utility knife and carpenter's square. 
• Test fit the patch in the wall opening to ensure it’s a good fit. It should be secure but not too snug that you have to force it in the opening. 

• To install the drywall patch, position the drywall screws at least an inch from the edges to avoid splitting or crumbling the drywall.  
• Use a drill to secure the patch to the support and wall studs, sinking the screws slightly below the surface of the drywall. 

• Run strips of self-adhesive fiberglass drywall tape around the edges of the patch, centering the tape on the seams.  
• Use a 6-inch drywall knife to spread drywall joint compound across the patch and tape to create a smooth, flat surface.  
• Let the compound dry overnight, then sand until smooth. 
• Repeat with a second coat.  
• For a very smooth drywall hole repair, spread a third coat with a 12-inch drywall taping knife and let dry overnight before sanding.  
• Wipe the patched area with a tack cloth before painting the wall.