To repair large holes on wood, you need a wood filler that is more durable and stronger than products for smaller holes because it must withstand more pressure. To make the right purchase, consider all aspects before buying.
Here are the best wood fillers for large holes you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Interior Use: Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler
- Best For Exterior Use: Abatron WoodEpox Kit
- Strongest: Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler
- Easy To Sand: Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler
- Easy To Apply: FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler
- Best For Hardwood Floor: Timbermate Wood Filler
| 6 Best Wood Fillers For Large Holes | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Interior Use | Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler | |
Best For Exterior Use | Abatron WoodEpox Kit | |
Strongest | Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler | |
Easy To Sand | Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler | |
Easy To Apply | FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler | |
Best For Hardwood Floor | Timbermate Wood Filler | |
Best For Interior Use: Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler
- Easy to use
- Works well on indoors
- Not convenient to use outdoors
If you use anything indoors, make sure that it is safe. Or the chemicals emitted from the product will hurt people inside. For wood fillers, consider the Goodfilla water-based wood & grain filler because it’s non-toxic and free of VOCs. Among all wood fillers, the water-based type doesn’t contain chemicals, so it’s safe to use indoors.
| Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler Specifications | |
|---|---|
Color | Walnut |
Size | 1 gallon |
Material | Polymer |
Highlight features | Water-based, non-latex/acrylic, trowel-ready Non-toxic |
Both customers and manufacturers said that the Goodfilla Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler is good for interior uses.
Best For Exterior Use: Abatron WoodEpox Kit
- Easy to use and work with
- Not shrink
- Effortless to sand and mix
- Straightforward to follow instructions
- Very strong
- Pricey
Why do I recommend the Abatron WoodEpox Kit for exterior use? According to the manufacturer, this product can resist damages caused by environmental elements such as water, UV, and pests. However, this is not only its benefit. You can also use this wood filler indoors because it is almost free of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and low in odor.
| Abatron WoodEpox Kit Specifications | |
|---|---|
Color | Brown |
Size | 12 oz |
Material | Epoxy Resin |
Highlight features | Greenguard certified No shrinking and cracking |
The Abatron WoodEpox Kit is great for both interior and exterior use because it is safe to use and moisture-resistant.
Strongest: Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler
- Easy to use, apply, and sand
- Quick to harden for sanding
- Good price
- Durable
- Mild odor
The Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler is the strongest product in this list because the wood filler can provide you with this benefit. It can offer structural support and reinforcement to wood surfaces instead of being used for cosmetic purposes only. Thus, if your wood is weakened by damage, this choice can restore the strength and stability.
| Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler Specifications | |
|---|---|
Color | Brown |
Size | 32 ounces |
Material | Plastic |
Highlight features | Use for glue and wood-fill |
The Elmer's E892 Stainable Wood Filler can provide weakened wood with strength to restore the stability.
Easy To Sand: Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler
- Results in a smooth and professional outcome
- Easy to handle and apply
- Durable
- Effortless to get into small gaps
- Too quick to dry
- Expensive
If you don’t want to spend too much time on the sanding process, choose the Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler. Its creamy consistency allows you to spread and shape them easier after drying. Plus, this product’s fine dust helps you sand with minimal effort.
Many customers said that they can sand this product straightforwardly. Even one of them feels it has a non-sanded texture that allows him to sand easily. He can smooth the wood filler to any required degree without chipping.
| Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 16 oz |
Highlight features | Using for oil-based and water-based wood stains Interior and exterior use Fast drying |
Thanks to a creamy consistency, the Minwax 42853000 Stainable Wood Filler allows you to spread, shape, and sand it effortlessly after drying.
Easy To Apply: FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler
- Easy to apply and work with
- Durable
- Easy to clean up
- Solid
- Little shrinking
- Limited instructions
Most people said that latex wood fillers are very hard to apply because it requires users to mix precisely. It dries quickly, so the working time is also short. You have to apply and shape them in a limited amount of time. Finally, its sticky texture requires you to put more effort on your part to achieve a smooth finish. This is right, but it’s worth it to have its strength.
If you need the benefits of the latex wood filler type, but it can overcome these challenges, choose the FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler. According to customers, the elasticity of this latex helps them to apply it easily on any hole and channel. It doesn’t create any bubbling, so applying it is a breeze.
| FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler Specifications | |
|---|---|
Color | White |
Material | Latex |
Highlight features | Stainable and paintable Interior/exterior use Solvent free |
The FamoWood 40022144 Latex Wood Filler works well for those who are new in using wood fillers because it’s easy to apply.
Best For Hardwood Floor: Timbermate Wood Filler
- Easy to use and sand to a smooth finish
- Straightforward to apply
- Fairy quick to dry
- No strong odor
- Versatile
- Expensive
Hardwood floors are designed to withstand a range of stresses and pressures, so wood fillers used for this type of floor must have the same feature. The Timbermate wood filler has excellent adhesion, so it can adhere well to your hardwood surfaces, creating a strong bond.
Hardwood floors are inside your house and this product is designed for interior repairs, so you can set your mind at rest about its safety.
| Timbermate Wood Filler Specifications | |
|---|---|
Color | White |
Size | 8oz |
Material | Wood, plastic, and metal |
Highlight features | Easy preparation Fast drying |
The Timbermate Wood Filler is durable enough for hardwood floors because it can withstand a lot of stress and pressure.
How To Choose The Best Wood Filler For Large Holes?
What Is The Best Type Of Wood Filler For Large Holes?
Normally, the most popular type of filling large holes is epoxy wood fillers since it is durable enough to handle high-stress areas and outdoor uses, especially it can resist moisture. However, this type has 2 parts which require you to mix before using.
Is Your Repair Indoors Or Outdoors?
For outdoors, you should know that your repairs will be exposed to environmental elements like moisture, so, it’s best to choose the waterproof epoxy wood fillers. However, if your repairs are indoors, it’s okay to use water-based or solvent-based wood fillers. Remember that you will use the wood filler in your home, so it’s best to make sure that the product is nontoxic and odorless. Strong fumes aren’t an ideal solution.
How Long Do You Need To Fill And Handle Your Hole?
Although the epoxy wood filler type is the best to repair a large hole, it cures quickly. If your project is too large to handle in a short time, you need more working time. Consider a product that has a longer curing time.
Is Appearance Important To You?
If your repair is visible, you need to consider the color and finish of the wood filler. In case it doesn’t match with the color and grain of your surrounding wood, the result will be very ugly. For example, some epoxy wood fillers allow you to tint to match the appearance of the wood better.
Which Brands Make The Best Wood Filler For Large Holes?
Goodfilla
Goodfilla is famous for high-quality wood fillers. Especially, their epoxy-based fillers are durable and long-lasting enough to offer great adhesion and resistance to moisture. So, they are good for both indoor and outdoor applications.
FAQs
Are there different types of wood filler?
Yes. There are eight different types of wood fillers.
Water-Based Wood Fillers
Among all wood filler types, it is very easy for you to use water-based wood fillers. Its creamy consistency allows you to apply and spread it into gaps, cracks, and holes of the wood effortlessly and smoothly. This type is water-soluble, so you can easily clean tools and brushes with water without requiring harsh solvents and chemicals.
I strongly recommend you to apply it indoors because this type is non-toxic and low in odor. This water-based wood filler can dry quickly, so you don’t have to wait for long to sand, paint, and stain your work.
Solvent-Based Wood Filler
It is more durable than the water-based wood filler, so you can use this type both indoors and outdoors. Specifically, this type can resist moisture, which is ideal for exterior wood repairs. However, if you apply this type inside your home, handle its strong odor and provide proper ventilation.
Epoxy Wood Filler
This type is very durable and long-lasting, so I highly recommend it for filling enormous gaps and cracks of wood, especially if it can repair rotted wood. However, mix it before application, sand and paint after curing.
Wood Putty
The wood putty has a variety of colors to match different wood finishes. It should be used for small repairs, minor touch-ups and smoothing surfaces because this type is less durable than epoxy fillers.
Latex Wood Filler
This is the combination of water and latex. It is flexible enough to expand and contract with the wood flooring, so you can apply this type in filling its gaps and cracks.
Powdered Wood Filler
As the name suggests, this type has a dry powder form, which requires you to mix it with water for creating a paste. The powdered wood filler is versatile, so you can customize it to match your project’s color and consistency.
Wood Filler Sticks
They are solid sticks of wood filler material, so this type works well for quick and easy repairs such as minor touch-ups. It has a variety of colors with many wood tones.
Pre-Mixed Wood Filler
The pre-mixed wood filler has ready-to-use forms: tubs and tubes. It’s convenient to use on any small jobs since you can directly apply it to the wood surface.
How Long Does Wood Filler Take To Dry?
The answer varies because it depends on many factors, including the recommendations of the manufacturer, the environmental conditions, the depth and size of your repair, and the type of wood filler.
The water-based wood fillers can dry in the shortest time, within 1-3 hours in ideal conditions of room temperature and moderate humidity. However, it takes you longer to wait for a bigger and deeper repair to dry. Whatever, it’s best to wait for one day to let it dry completely before sanding and painting.
The solvent-based wood filler requires you more time for drying, about 2-8 hours. Even it can take more time if your repairs are thicker and affected by many environmental factors.
For initial cure, the epoxy wood fillers just take you around 30 minutes to a few hours. but this type requires several hours even days to harden.
In normal conditions, the latex wood filler can dry within 2-4 hours, but a larger and deeper repair requires more drying time.
The drying time of the powdered wood filler varies depending on how you mix it. So, if you want to determine the exact drying time of your specific product, follow the instructions of mixing ratios from the manufacturer and the drying time that they provide.
After applying, you can sand and finish the wood putty within only 15 minutes to an hour. But, this varies based on each specific product and conditions.
Which Is Better: Wood Putty Or Wood Filler?
Each of them is good at different aspects.
Wood putty
The appearance of the wood putty can closely match the color and grain pattern of the woods because it has a variety of wood tones.
The wood putty dries very quickly, around 15 minutes to an hour.
It’s very effortless to use wood putty since this type doesn’t require you to mix with anything or use a special tool. You can directly apply it from the container, then smooth it with your finger or a putty knife.
Wood Filler
The wood filler is more durable than wood putty, so you can apply this type on larger repairs. Its effect is stronger and longer-lasting.
Epoxy wood fillers are so strong that they can withstand heavy stress and moisture, so I highly recommend this type for outdoor uses and applications in high-traffic areas.
The wood fillers have many types, so it’s easy to choose one that matches your project.
Can Wood Filler Be Screwed?
No. Wood fillers aren’t designed to hold screws because they can’t offer structural support. These items just have cosmetic purposes such as filling gaps, cracks, holes, and imperfections of wood surfaces.
How To Fill Large Holes In Wood?
To fill a large hole in wood, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
Wood filler: the epoxy wood filler is durable enough to repair large holes and handle substantial stress.
Wood chisel: this tool is very essential to clean and shape the edges of the hole.
Sandpaper: coarse and fine-grit sandpaper can smooth the repaired area after the wood fillers dry.
Putty knife or trowel: these tools are used to apply the wood filler.
Masking tape: this can create a clean boundary around your repair to prevent the wood filler from spreading where you don’t want.
Safety gear: wearing safety gear can protect your skin from wood fillers. Some of them include safety glasses, gloves, and dust masks.
Steps to steps:
Use a wood chisel to clean the hole by getting rid of loose and splintered wood as long as the edges of the hole are clean and well-defined.
Create a boundary around the hole by using a masking tape to protect other areas from wood filler.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If it requires you to mix, do it.
Apply the mixed filler to the hole with a putty knife or trowel. Slightly overfill to press it firmly into the hole, which can avoid shrinkage after drying.
Level and smooth the surface of the wood filler with a putty knife or trowel as long as it is flush with the actual wood. If you work with epoxy filler, try to do it as quickly as possible. This type dries rapidly.
Depending on the recommended drying time of each specific product, it may take you from a few hours to several days.
After the surface dries completely, sand the filled area with a coarse-grit sandpaper. To achieve a smooth and even surface, let’s use the coarse grit first, then gradually move to another grit.
Finish your repaired holes by staining or painting it to match the actual wood.
Conclusion
Not any wood filler works well for large holes, so it’s very important to choose the best wood filler for large holes that suit your needs and the conditions of your holes in wood. In particular, consider if you use it indoors or outdoors to choose an appropriate solution. This helps you determine if your priority is safety or environmental-resistant capacity.
