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There’s no shortage of wood fillers on the market. So when the wood inside or outside of your home starts to show scratches, cracks, or holes, what’s the best wood filler to choose?
The most suitable wood filler depends on whether you’d like to paint or stain it, if you need a product to blend in with existing wood grain, and the type of repair you’re making. We’ve rounded up seven of the highest-rated wood fillers and ranked them by category.
Best Wood Fillers
Best Wood Filler Reviews
We reviewed more than 20 top products to find the best wood fillers, locating the highest-rated options that fit everyday needs.
Top Pick: Minwax Stainable Wood Filler
Available on Amazon, Walmart, and Lowes.
Minwax Stainable Wood Filler makes the top of our list for its versatility. It’s stainable and paintable, plus appropriate for indoor and outdoor use. You can use it with oil-based or water-based wood stains.
Use Minwax Stainable Wood Filler to repair cracks, screw or nail holes, and small gouges in wooden surfaces. It dries within a few hours and is sturdy enough to hold nails and screws. To use it, apply to clean, dry wood with a putty knife, allow it to dry for 2-6 hours, and smooth it out with a sanding block. You can stain or paint it afterward.
Minwax Stainable Wood Filler has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating with over 7,000 reviews. Users claim it’s easy to apply, accepts stains well, and dries fast. The few negative reviews state the product they received was dried out or gunky.
Pros:
- Accepts oil-based stain, water-based stain, or paint
- Appropriate for interior and exterior use
- Easy to apply
- Strong; holds screws and nails
Cons:
- Quickly dries out if not stored air-tight
- It may not be suitable for large patch jobs
Easiest to Use: Elmer’s Color Change Wood Filler
Available on Amazon, Walmart and Menards.
Elmer’s Carpenter’s Color Change Wood Filler is an excellent choice for first-time users. It goes on pink and dries a natural color when ready to sand and finish. Once dry, the filler accepts paint and stain.
Use this wood filler to cover small cracks, nail holes, and minor gouges. It’s for interior use only. Apply with a putty knife, and wait for it to lose its pink coloring before sanding.
Elmer’s Color Change Wood Filler has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from more than 1,800 reviewers. Some top reviewers state the product is easy to spread and ideal for beginners. A few negative reviews claim the product was hard to sand off once dry.
Pros:
- It goes on pink and turns a natural color when dry
- Paintable and stainable once dry
- It doesn’t shrink or crack
- Cleanable with water
Cons:
- Not suitable for exterior use
Best Wood Filler Kit: Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler Repair Kit
Available on Amazon, Homedepot.
Gorilla All-Purpose Wood Filler Repair Kit is ideal if you only have a small area to patch. It comes with wood filler, a sanding block, and a three-inch putty knife – everything you need to complete the job.
Gorilla Wood Filler is stainable and paintable. You can use it on interior and exterior surfaces. It goes on smooth, dries fast and strong, and can anchor nails and screws.
Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler Repair Kit is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by 3,800 users. The most common reviews state that this product works as intended – it dries fast and is easy to sand. While negative reviews are few, one complaint is that the filler dries out fast if you leave the lid off, even for a short time.
Pros:
- It comes with everything you need to complete the job
- Accepts water and oil-based stains and paints
- Spreads smoothly, making it easy to work with
Cons:
- The 8 oz. package is best for smaller jobs
- It will dry out fast if you don’t secure the lid when using
Best for Painted Surfaces: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler
If you need to fill in painted wood, Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler will do the job. It’s appropriate for cracks, holes, gouges, and dents. You can even apply multiple layers to deep areas.
To use Elmer’s Carpenter Wood Filler, apply with a putty knife. For shallow repairs, sand after 15 minutes; for deeper repairs, wait 2-8 hours or until dry. You can paint with a water-based (latex) paint two hours after sanding.
Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating with over 2,000 reviews. It receives glowing ratings for how easy it is to spread and sand. The common negative review is that the lid isn’t secure, so if you don’t store the container in a Ziploc bag, the product dries out.
Pros:
- Appropriate for painted wood
- You can apply multiple coats for deep holes, gouges, or cracks
- Easy to spread and sand
Cons:
- The lid doesn’t stay shut tight, allowing the product to dry out
- For interior use only
Best for Furniture and Wood Grain: Minwax Color-Match Wood Filler
Available on Amazon, Walmart, and Lowes.
If you want to avoid the trouble of staining your filler after applying, try a color-match wood filler. Minwax Color-Match Wood Filler Putty is ideal for filling small holes and cracks in wood grain.
You can get Minwax Color-Match Wood Putty in five colors: walnut, golden oak, natural, white, and cherry. The product is easy to use – you don’t even need to sand. Fill in your cracks or holes, wipe off the excess, and allow it to dry.
Minwax Color-Match Wood Filler has 4.5 out of 5 stars from almost 1,000 users. Top reviewers state the product is easy to apply and provides a good color match. Criticisms include long drying times and insufficient color shades.
Pros:
- Easy to apply – no sanding or staining
- It comes in five common shades
- Appropriate for interior and exterior use
Cons:
- Not suitable for large holes or cracks
- Limited choices might make a color match difficult
Best for Nail and Screw Holes: DAP Plastic Wood
Available on Amazon, Homedepot.
DAP Plastic Wood is one of the strongest wood fillers on the market. Thanks to its solvent base and natural wood fibers, it dries three times as hard as standard white pine, making it a good option for filling in nail and screw holes. You can even put nails and screws back through it, and it won’t split.
To use this product, apply it with a putty knife and wait for it to dry. Once dry, you can sand, paint, or stain it. It comes in three shades: white, golden oak, and walnut.
Dap Plastic Wood is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by over 4,300 users. Most users rave about how well it works for small patch jobs and dents. Common complaints include bad color matches and slight shrinkage as the product dries.
Pros:
- The solvent-based formula contains wood fibers, making it extra strong
- Can hold nails and screws without cracking
- Suitable for interior and exterior use
- Paintable and stainable once dry
Cons:
- Complaints that the tube is only half-filled
- Some users experienced slight shrinkage
Best Exterior: Bondo Home Solutions Wood Filler
Exterior wood fillers must resist inclement weather and temperature fluctuations without cracking. Bondo Wood Filler contains a hardener, making it a top choice for exterior finishes, kitchen cabinets, decks, and bathroom surfaces.
3M Bondo chemically bonds with wood and is sandable after 15 minutes. You can stain or paint it once cured. Use it for minor dents or gouges and large holes. But because it sets fast, you need to work quickly.
3M Bondo Wood Filler has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from more than 2,200 users. Positive reviews indicate it works well, even for deep holes. But, because of how quickly it dries, it might not be best suited for beginners. Some negative reviewers had a hard time getting the product to accept stain.
Pros:
- Chemically bonds for a strong, moisture-resistant repair
- Works on small and large gouges and holes
- Ideal for interior and exterior use
Cons:
- Strong odor
- Quick dry time makes it hard to work with
- It doesn’t accept stains as well as other wood fillers
Why Trust Homedit Reviews
Since 2008 Homedit has delivered unbiased product reviews and home improvement advice. We thoroughly vet products before adding them to our “best-of” lists, reviewing user experiences, and giving an honest assessment of pros and cons. Team member, Katie Barton, compiled the Best Wood Fillers list. She has more than ten years of experience in product writing and home improvement reviews.
