How to Fix a Hole in a Door

Co-authored by Barry Zakar

Last Updated: March 25, 2022 References

It's pretty easy to accidentally knock a hole in a hollow-core door, but fortunately, it's also pretty easy to fix! We'll show you how you can get your door looking like new again with just a little time and a few materials from the hardware store.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Trimming and Packing the Hole

1
Cut any loose plywood away from the edges of the hole. The hole in your door probably has some loose plywood around the ragged edges. Use a utility knife to cut this material away, until you’re left with a clean hole with smooth edges.
2
Pack a couple of paper towels into the hole. Push in 3 or 4 paper towels, until they’re firmly set in place and won’t slip lower within the door. You’ll need the paper towels in the hole to support the expanding foam you’re about to add. Without the paper towels, the foam would fall to the bottom of the hollow door.
- Paper towels are light enough that they can support their own weight by creating friction against the inner walls of the hollow door.
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3
Fill the hole with expanding foam insulation. This material comes in a large aerosol can with a long plastic applicator tip. Squirt a generous amount into the hole, so that the foam expands to fill the hollow space behind the hole. Allow the foam to dry.^{[1]
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Research source} This will take several hours, so it’s best to let it dry overnight.
- You can purchase foam insulation at any local hardware store or home-supply store. If the store has a variety of options, purchase a low-expansion type. This will leave you with less cleanup.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Applying Auto-Body Resin

1
Cut the protruding foam. Once your expanding foam has dried, it will have expanded significantly and may extend a couple of inches away from the door. Using your utility knife, cut the excess foam away until the foam is slightly lower than the surface of the door.^{[2]
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Research source}
- The expanding foam needs to be completely dry before you start trimming. If the center of the foam is still wet, wait a few hours until it’s fully dry.
2
Mix auto-body filler and a hardener catalyst at a 2:1 ratio. Scoop or squeeze an auto-body filler out of its container and into a disposable bowl or any sort of plastic tray. Then squeeze in half as much hardener catalyst. This material will quickly harden and cover the outside of the door hole. These are both thick, putty-like liquids; use a popsicle stick to stir them until the substances are fully blended.^{[3]
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Research source}
- Start out with about 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of the auto-body filler and half as much catalyst. Mix more as needed.
- Both auto-body filler (such as Bondo) and a hardener catalyst should be available at a large hardware store. If not, check a home-supply store or an auto-body business.
3
Apply the filler mixture over the dried expanding foam. Use your popsicle stick to scoop up some of the filler mix and smear it over the dried foam that’s filling the hole in your door. This material will dry and harden quickly, so you’ll need to work fast.
- After about 5 minutes, once the filler has started to thicken, take the edge of a putty knife and scrape it across the filler. This will smooth the surface and remove any excess, semi-dry filler.
- Wait to proceed until the filler has fully dried.
4
Sand the filler with 100-grit sandpaper.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kevin Turner
Commercial Handyman
Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.} Use the sandpaper to sand the fully dried filler until it’s completely smooth and flush with the surface of the door. Also sand off any leftover expanding foam or filler that has stuck to the plywood door material around the edges of the hold you’ve filled.^{[5]
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Research source}
- Sandpaper of all grit consistencies will be available at your local hardware store.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Spackling and Painting the Hole

1
Apply spackle over the sanded filler.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Kevin Turner
Commercial Handyman
Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.} Use a putty knife to apply a layer of spackle over the hole.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Barry Zakar
Handyman
Expert Interview. 16 July 2020.} Work in long, smooth strokes to apply the putty as smoothly as possible.^{[8]
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Research source} Allow the spackle to dry once you’ve applied it. Give it about an hour.
- You can find spackle at any hardware or home-supply store.
2
Sand the hole once the putty has dried.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Barry Zakar
Handyman
Expert Interview. 16 July 2020.} Take a sheet of sandpaper and rub it over the dried spackle until it’s completely flat and smooth.^{[10]
X
Research source} You can use 100-grit sandpaper for this task as well. You should use a different sheet from the one you used to sand down the filler, though.
3
Apply a coat of paint over the hole^{[11]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Turner
Commercial Handyman
Expert Interview. 15 July 2020.}. Now the spackle has dried and been sanded down, you’re ready to finish fixing the hole. Use a large paintbrush to apply a coat of paint over the patched hole.^{[12]
X
Expert Source

Barry Zakar
Handyman
Expert Interview. 16 July 2020.} Work in long, smooth strokes so that the layer of paint looks as uniform as possible. Give the paint about an hour to dry, and at that point, the hole will be fixed.
- The paint that you use should match the color of your door. In order to find a good match, visit a paint store, bring home multiple swatches, and find the color closest to that of your door.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you repair a hole in a door?

Kevin Turner
Commercial Handyman
Kevin Turner is a handyman and the owner of Red Gator Maintenance, a handyman business based in Fresno, California. Working on handyman-related projects since the age of 12, Kevin specializes in a wide variety of home improvement projects such as (but not limited to) lighting/electrical, plumbing, deck staining, drywall repairs, cabinet installation, air conditioning, trash removal, and window, roof, and appliance repairs.

Kevin Turner

Commercial Handyman

Expert Answer

I would recommend filling in the hole with a heavy-duty auto-body filler. Once the filler dries, sand it smooth. Then, add a layer of putty, sand that smooth, and apply primer and paint.

Things You’ll Need

Utility knife
Expanding foam insulation
Polyester resin (auto body filler)
A hardener catalyst for the filler
Popsicle stick
Putty knife
100-grit sandpaper
Spackle
Paint which matches the color of your door
Paint brush

Warnings

Exercise caution when using the utility knife. If you’re not careful, the blade could easily slip and cut your hand. Do not allow young children to play with the knife.

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If the hole is really big, it might be worth replacing the door altogether. Hollow-core doors aren't that expensive, so it's not that big of a burden.^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Barry Zakar
Handyman
Expert Interview. 16 July 2020.}

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