Best Wood Fillers for Gaps and Holes [Updated 2022]

Wood fillers can be life-savers. You can remove most damage and fix gaps and holes with these. 

However, there is not only one type of wood gap filler. It can be a bit daunting to choose which one is best for the job you need to do.

Don’t worry. We explain everything from how to fill large gaps in wood to the best wood fillers for large holes.

In this article, we tell you the top 10 best wood fillers for gaps and holes there are on the market. You can also learn a lot more about the different types of fillers and how to use wood fillers for large gaps.

Top 10 Wood Gap Fillers for Small And Large Holes 

1. Goodfilla Water-Based Wood Filler

This is our favorite wood filler, for sure. It’s water-based, easy to use, and also a very affordable option. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional woodworker or you just like DIY projects.

 You can get it in multiple sizes, ranging from one quart to eight ounces. It’s also available in different colors.

We particularly like it because you only need to apply it once to your gap or hole. Plus, unlike many wood fillers out in the market, this filler doesn’t shrink, crack or sink. And once it’s applied, it will adhere and not move. That’s all you need to fill a gap or hole.

It doesn’t matter what finish or stain your wood has. You can even mix it with any dye, pigment, stain, or tint. It can also fill multiple things like sand, tint, stain, fill, or seal. Plus, it’s easy to stand. It ticks all of the right boxes!

An added benefit is that it’s not toxic. It’s also green, made in the US,  zero-waste, and zero VOC.

However, it can be a bit too dry. It can also take time to get the right texture and use the product right. Plus, this wood filler doesn’t come with instructions. 

Pros

• Green product
• All-purpose
• Won’t crack, shrink, sink or fall out

Cons

• Difficult to get the right consistency at first

2. Elmer’s Wood Filler

If you want a wood filler in a tube, that’s the one to go for. The Elmer’s wood filler tube comes in different colors. It’s ideal for small indoor jobs, and it’s very affordable too. It’s also resealable, which means you can reuse it and not throw it away. 

The drying time is pretty fast, 12 to 24 hours, and you can paint over it too, once it’s dry.  It also has the advantage of not cracking or shrinking.

 This wood filler is easy to clean up with water. It’s also paintable and sandable, so it gives you a smooth finish. Overall, this tube gives you plenty of options for small jobs like repairing gouges or holes.

However, this wood filler won’t resist larger jobs, as it won’t be strong enough.

Pros

• Great for small jobs
• Doesn’t crack or shrink
• Dries fast

Cons

• Not strong enough for larger jobs

3. Minwax Stainable Wood Filler

If you want a wood filler that will work for indoor and outdoor projects, you should try the Minxaw stainable wood filler.

You can either get one ounce, six ounces, or even 16 ounces. This product is specifically formulated to penetrate wood stains, as you can probably tell by the name.  In fact, you can use it for both water-based and oil-based wood stains.

Here are all the things you can use this stainable wood filler for nail holes, knot holes, small gouges, cracks, and any other types of small defects on either unfinished outdoor or indoor wood surfaces. Plus, it dries easily, and you can sand it too.

However, this wood filler isn’t waterproof and doesn’t have a great shelf life.

Pros

• Works for both indoors and outdoors projects
• Can penetrate water-based and oil-based wood stains
• Easy to use and to sand

Cons

• Not waterproof
• Shelf life isn’t long

4. NADAMOO Wood Filler Kit Repair

This is a great wood filler kit repair, with everything you could possibly need to do small touch-ups. It comes with 12 wood fillers and one brush, so you’re sure to find the right color for your project, and the brush can help with small details.

This NADAMOO wood filler is very easy to squeeze out of the tube and to apply. It’s especially good for wood scratch repair. This wood filler is good for scratches on desk furniture, wood veneer, trims, tables, wood floors, cabinets, bed, doors, frames, and so much more.

Basically, it works for chips, cracks, holes, dents, pet marks, scruffs, and dents. It works for any quick fix, and you don’t need to have any experience with wood fillers.

However, it can shrink when it’s drying and fall off if not applied correctly. Plus, although there are a lot of colors, they don’t vary much, so it can be hard to get the exact color you what.

Pros

• Easy to use and to apply
• Kit comes in 12 colors
• Perfect for small wood scratch repair

Cons

• Can shrink when it dries
• Can fall

5. J-B Weld KwickWood Wood Repair Putty Stick

This affordable putty stick is very easy to use. It’s hand mixable, and you need to mix the two-part formula together. This wood repair putty takes about twenty minutes to set or less and cures in one hour. It can be sanded, drilled, or even tapped.

There are several things you could use it for. These include dry rot repairs, furniture cracks, gouges, knot holes repairs, window or door hinge repairs, and gap fillers. Plus, you can use it for both small and big jobs.

However, it only comes in one color: light tan. Also, it’s very hard to sand once it’s fully dried.

Pros

• Good for both small and big jobs
• Quick to set and to cure

Cons

• Hard to sand once dried

6. DAP All Purpose Plastic Wood Filler

This plastic wood filler is all purpose, and it looks and even acts like real wood. That’s because it contains real wood fibers.  It’s actually solvent-based, which hardens, which gives a repair that is up to three times stronger than wood.

It’s available in five different colors, and it’s professional grade to and fits heavy duty. You can do a lot with this filler. You can sand it, cut it, screwed, drilled, varnished, painted, stained, or even lacquer. 

Plus, this wood filler won’t split and provides screw anchoring and a strong nail. It’s shrink and crack resistant, and it dries fast.

However, it can be difficult to get it out of the tube after you first use it. Also, the shelf life won’t last as long.

Pros

• All purpose
• Professional grade
• Great for heavy duty

Cons

• Difficult to squeeze out
• Short shelf life

7. Roberts Wood, Laminate, and Vinyl Putty

This putty is good for wood, laminate, and vinyl putty. It’s good to fill gaps, scratches, and other nicks on the flooring. It works great for this purpose. The color match is also usually good. However, you can’t use it for anything other than that. Also, it can be runny, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage.

Pros

• Fills gaps, scratches, and nicks on floors
• Good color match

Cons

• Limited possibilities

8. Great Stuff Big Gap Filler Insulating Foam Sealant 

This is an interesting one. This insulating foam sealant is another good wood filler for gaps and holes. You can find it in multiple colors, and it delivers an overall smooth finish. It also adheres very well to building materials.

This product is made in the US, and you can use it for both indoor and outdoor projects. What’s really good about this filler, in particular, is that it’s tack free in six minutes and it trims in half an hour. You can paint it, stain it, and also sand it.

However, you have to use the full can straight away. Otherwise, it won’t work for the next use.

Pros

• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
• Adhering to building materials
• Can be painted, stained, sanded

Cons

• Can only be used once

9. Bondo Wood Filler

The Bondo wood filler is great for rotted or damaged wood. If you have this specific problem, look no further. This filler allows quick non-shrink repairs that will last. You can use it for doors, fences, windows, wood trim, furniture, and so much more.

It also cures really fast, and it’s sandable in under 15 minutes. This way, you can do same-day repairs and don’t have to wait around! You can then paint it and stain it in 25 minutes.

An added bonus is that it’s waterproof and that you can use it for both interior and exterior uses. 

However, you don’t have much time to use the product once it’s been mixed, as it dries quickly.

Pros

• Non-shrink lasting repairs suited for rotted or damaged wood
• Great for same-day repairs
• Waterproof

Cons

• Quick drying time which can be annoying 

10. Liberon Wax Filler Stick

Our last recommendation is for the best wood fillers for gaps and holes. The Liberon wax filler stick does the job. It’s easy to use and quick to dry.

It’s available in 15 different colors, which are varied as well. You can even mix all the colors! This stick is great for repairing finished furniture. You can fix small to medium gaps and holes, but also scratches and cracks. You don’t even have to strip or sand the finish.

However, it’s a bit more expensive than the other products but still affordable.

Pros

• 15 varied different colors
• Good to repair finished furniture

Cons

• More expensive than other wood fillers

Wood Fillers FAQ

How to Choose A Wood Gap Filler

You need to choose a wood gap filler depending on the size of your gaps and holes, but also if you want to paint or sand the surface. It can be hard to choose, but with the information below, you’ll be able to make the right decision very quickly.

We believe that the three best wood gap fillers are powder fillers, epoxy fillers, and acrylic caulk with a silicone filter.

What Types Of Wood Fillers Exist?

There are many types of wood fillers that exist. It’s good to be aware of the different possibilities to choose the best wood gap filler for you.

Acrylic Caulk 

Acrylic caulk with silicone is good for exterior wood since it can resist moisture. This type of wood filler sticks quickly to surfaces and stays flexible when you apply it.

You can find this in multiple colors, so you can be sure you can find a match for your wood’s shade. Or, if you wanted to, you could use paint.

Cellulose Wood Putty

If you have larger holes and gaps to fix. That’s because, as its name indicates, it’s made of real wood. This means there won’t be any risks of shrinking, unlike some other fillers.

You can sand, stain, and paint it after it’s hardened. Unfortunately, it can’t cover more than three to eight inches.

Epoxy Fillers

An epoxy filler is a durable option. It can bind on wood surfaces, unlike latex fillers. This means you can drill it, stain it and even paint it. This filler is great for large holes. You can fix door jambs, trims, sills, and moldings.

After you’re done filling what you need to fill, you can saw, sand, or shape the filler. You can mold it before and after it dries, as an epoxy filler looks a bit and feels like dough.

However, it can look a bit plasticky if you don’t use the right paint and can clash against the rest. 

Homemade Wood Fillers

If you don’t want to buy a wood filler, you can make it yourself. You simply mix sawdust with white wood glue, just like as you would with a powdered filler. Use a 50-50 ratio of each so a paste can form.

Ideally, get the same color of wood species as the one from your sawdust, as it will make it easier to match up the color. Also, don’t use too much white glue as it could make the final product fully white.

Making your wood filler is easy to sand and cheap, but you have to apply your homemade filler multiple times for it to work. It can also shrink, so you need to watch out for that.

Latex Fillers

Latex fillers are perfect for small gaps and holes. They’re great to cover up little cracks or nail holes. However, they only act as a temporary cover, as they don’t have structural integrity. They can sink or crack over time if you use these on larger gaps or holes.

Powder Fillers

If you want to fix surface damage, powder fillers are the ones for you. However, they can’t stand heavy impact once they’re dry. 

You can mix different colors of powder fillers to get the perfect shade for your damaged surface.

Polyester Paste

Polyester paste is suitable for very large gaps and holes. It resists drilling, sanding, and painting, just like for an epoxy filler, but it’s not as flexible. That’s because it requires a hardener, which is toxic.

Spackling Paste

Finally, we have spackling paste. It’s ideal for interior wood use. It’s also durable, and you can even patch up drywall with it. Once it’s dry, you can paint it and sand it. However, it needs several applications, and it can shrink.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Wood Filler 

When choosing a wood filler, there are three main things to consider:

Quantity

You will need different quantities for different jobs, and it can depend on if you’re a professional woodworker or just a DIYer. Usually, if you just need a wood filler for some home damage, four to 16 ounces is enough.

If you need to fill anything else than small gaps and holes, get at least 30 ounces. If it’s your job, get the fillers in bulk.

Drying

Every filler takes a different time to dry, so it depends on what you’re looking for. Fast-drying fillers can usually only be used once, while slower drying ones can be reused but take longer to dry, which can be frustrating.

Powder VS. Ready Made Paste Fillers

Ready made paste fillers are convenient if you just need a quick fix or don’t have much time. However, it dries out quicker than powdered fillers. 

Powder fillers give you more control, so if you have the time to make your own mixtures, go for it. It’s more durable, and it won’t dry out. However, paste fillers are suitable for small gaps, holes, and cracks.

Conclusion

Once you know what kind of fillers there are, which ones you can buy or make yourself, it’s easier to make the right decision.

When choosing a wood filler, always consider quantity, drying time, and the pros and cons of powder and paste fillers.