What Is the Best Wood Filler? The Ultimate Buying Guide

We research in-depth and provide unbiased reviews and recommendations on the best products. We strive to give you the most accurate information. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Do you need to use wood filler for any crevices on your patio table or to fill any rotted wood? Wood is unquestionably long-lasting and durable—not to mention beautiful and versatile—but it is not invincible. Solid wood can acquire holes, cracks, divots, blemishes, and scratches when exposed to dampness and regular wear and tear.

The good thing is that you do not have to replace the material because of wood fillers. There is a solution out there that can fill in fissures, cover nail holes, and blend other irregularities, whether you are working with natural wood flooring, furniture, cabinets, or an outdoor object.

Here are the best wood fillers on the market right now for indoor and outdoor usage.

The Best Wood Filler Options

Wood filler can be used for a variety of factors in numerous areas. Different types are suited to different purposes. Our list caters for that:

Post name Best Values

Content
Disclaimer text…

DAP Plastic Wood

Best Overall
DAP Plastic Wood takes the top spot on our list. This all-purpose, solvent-based wood filler is made with actual wood fibers. It looks and acts like wood, but it is three times as powerful once it solidifies. It can be sanded, drilled, cut, stained, and painted without shrinking, cracking, or splitting. It can even be used to secure screws and nails.
10Expert Score
Adhesives & Sealants

This all-purpose, solvent-based wood filler is made with actual wood fibers. It looks and acts like wood, but it is three times as powerful once it solidifies.

Highly recommend
9
Outstanding Product
9
Easy to Use
8.5
DAP Plastic Wood

DAP Plastic Wood takes the top spot on our list. This all-purpose, solvent-based wood filler is made with actual wood fibers. It looks and acts like wood, but it is three times as powerful once it solidifies. It can be sanded, drilled, cut, stained, and painted without shrinking, cracking, or splitting. It can even be used to secure screws and nails.

Golden oak, natural, red oak, white, and walnut are among the finish colors available for DAP’s heavy-duty, professional-grade filler. It is easy to put in a smooth, even layer on your doors, furniture, windows, or woodwork thanks to the no-mix formula.

9.5Expert Score
Ideal for repairing holes, dents, scratches

This handy tube makes filling splits, cracks, and holes in painted surfaces a breeze.

Great filler
9
Easy to apply
8.5
Elmer's Wood Filler Interior

Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler Interior is the ideal choice for indoor applications. This handy tube makes filling splits, cracks, and holes in painted surfaces a breeze.

It can be sanded to a flawlessly smooth finish and is resistant to breaking and shrinkage. After the white paint has dried, you can paint over it to match your flooring, molding, doors, cabinets, or furniture.

3M Bondo Wood Filler

Best Outdoor
The two-part mixture dries to a medium brown color that looks like wood, then cures and rebuilds decaying or otherwise damaged wood. It can also be used to fill up full gaps in a puzzle.
3M Bondo Wood Filler

Bondo Wood Filler is recommended for external jobs. The two-part mixture dries to a medium brown color that looks like wood, then cures and rebuilds decaying or otherwise damaged wood. It can also be used to fill up full gaps in a puzzle.

You can drill, plane, route, or saw it in approximately 25 minutes after applying the non-shrinking filler. This is not the only benefit; cured Bondo may be stained or painted just like genuine wood.

Minwax Wood Filler

Best Multi-use
It can be used on a number of surfaces, including flooring, furniture, baseboards, cabinetry, decks, and doors, both inside and out. Minwax Filler is available in a variety of wood grain colors and plain white. You can saw, sand, varnish, cut, and paint it once it has dried.
9Expert Score
Interior and exterior use

Whether unfinished or finished wood pieces, the dependable no-sand solution fills in cracks, gouges, nail holes, and other imperfections.

Fast drying
9.5
Sands easily
9
Minwax Wood Filler

Use Minwax Color-Matched Filler if you’re working on various projects. Whether unfinished or finished wood pieces, the dependable no-sand solution fills in cracks, gouges, nail holes, and other imperfections.

It can be used on a number of surfaces, including flooring, furniture, baseboards, cabinetry, decks, and doors, both inside and out. Minwax Filler is available in a variety of wood grain colors and plain white. You can saw, sand, varnish, cut, and paint it once it has dried.

Aqua Coat Water-based Grain Filler

Best for Kitchen Cabinets
The gel solution spreads smoothly, dries in an hour, and leaves a glass-like surface. After it has dried, sand and paint the cabinets as desired.
9Expert Score
WATERBORNE AND ECO- FRIENDLY

Filling in grains, sealing any pores, as well as refinishing your wood cabinets are all possible with these water-based wood fillers.

VERSATILE
9.5
COMPATIBLE
9
Aqua Coat Water-based Grain Filler

Have you noticed any cracks in your cabinetry? Get yourself a tub of Aqua Coat. Filling in grains, sealing any pores, as well as refinishing your wood cabinets are all possible with these water-based wood fillers.

The gel solution spreads smoothly, dries in an hour, and leaves a glass-like surface. After it has dried, sand and paint the cabinets as desired.

Elmer’s Stainable Wood Filler

Best Stainable
It looks and acts like genuine wood, only more robust because it contains actual wood fibers. On both indoor and outdoor materials, the non-structural solution readily fills up cracks, gouges, and holes.
8.5Expert Score
Resists shrinking and cracking

These wood fillers can be sanded by hand or using a high-speed sanding tool once it has dried.

Superior sanding
9.5
Solvent free
8.5
Elmer's Stainable Wood Filler

Carpenter’s Stainable Wood Filler by Elmer’s is a fantastic product. It looks and acts like genuine wood, only more robust because it contains actual wood fibers. On both indoor and outdoor materials, the non-structural solution readily fills up cracks, gouges, and holes.

These wood fillers can be sanded by hand or using a high-speed sanding tool once it has dried. It is also stainable, varnishable, and paintable. It also retains nails and screws securely and withstands cracking and shrinkage over time.

Coconix Floor and Furniture Repair Kit

Best for Flooring
Wood putty is included for repairing deeper divots and cracks. It can also be used to fill in defects on furniture, as its name suggests. Coconix also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty on these wood fillers.
Coconix Floor and Furniture Repair Kit

The Coconix Floor and Furniture Repair Kit is ideal for repairing dents, chips, and scratches on your hardwood floors. You receive 10 mixable hues, enabling you to find the ideal tint to complement your flooring.

Wood putty is included for repairing deeper divots and cracks. It can also be used to fill in defects on furniture, as its name suggests. Coconix also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty on these wood fillers.

Gork’s Goodfella Wood and Grain Filler

Best for Big Projects
It is easy to sand after Goodfella dries, and you can be confident it is not going to break, sink, or shrink. It can also be colored before application or stained and completed after it cures.
8Expert Score
Water-based compound

On a range of surfaces, the water-based compound fills and covers fractures, holes, splits, and knots.

Performance
10
Long Lasting
10
Gork's Goodfella Wood and Grain Filler

We have to recommend buying a tub of Goodfella Wood and Grain Filler for larger tasks. On a range of surfaces, the water-based compound fills and covers fractures, holes, splits, and knots. It comes in three sizes: eight oz., one quart, and one gallon, so you should be able to cover one or more significant projects with it.

It is easy to sand after Goodfella dries, and you can be confident it is not going to break, sink, or shrink. It can also be colored before application or stained and completed after it cures.

Rust-Oleum Varathane Fill Stick

Best for Small Projects
With the wax-based recipe, this pocket-sized wood filler fills in nail holes, cracks, imperfections, and other material defects like a marker. It dries in 10 minutes and cleans up quickly with soap and water. It is one of the best wood fillers for a beginner.
8Expert Score
Ideal for filling scratches or other minor imperfections

It is available in 10 realistic-looking colors to match a wide range of wood textures and finishes.

Easy repairs
9.5
Excellent color matching
9
Rust-Oleum Varathane Fill Stick

Varathane Fill Sticks are ideal for modest tasks and touch-ups. It is available in 10 realistic-looking colors to match a wide range of wood textures and finishes.

With the wax-based recipe, this pocket-sized wood filler fills in nail holes, cracks, imperfections, and other material defects like a marker. It dries in 10 minutes and cleans up quickly with soap and water. It is one of the best wood fillers for a beginner.

FamoWood Wood Filler

Best for Painting
The solvent-free solution is available in a variety of colors to complement different types of wood. You may also paint or stain it in almost any color you like because it is formulated to accept various types of paint, much like actual wood.
8Expert Score
Dries in 15 minutes

It can be used on both inside and outside surfaces and takes only 15 minutes to dry.

Low odor
9.5
Easy water cleanup
9
FamoWood Wood Filler

FamoWood is a high-quality latex wood filler. It can be used on both inside and outside surfaces and takes only 15 minutes to dry.

The solvent-free solution is available in a variety of colors to complement different types of wood. You may also paint or stain it in almost any color you like because it is formulated to accept various types of paint, much like actual wood.

Solvent vs. Water Fillers

Water-based or solvent-based wood fillers are available. Both can be used to fill cavities and pores in wood, but there are a few variances.

Water-based

Cellulose, wood fiber, or gypsum are common ingredients in water-based wood fillers. They have a milder odor because they produce few, if any, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Since they can be easily diluted with water and utilized in projects needing thinner filler, certain water-based fillers are regarded more adaptable than their solvent-based equivalents. Water-based fillers dry in approximately 15 minutes, and all that’s required for cleaning is soap and water.

Read More:   DeWalt DW7670 Dado Blade Review

Solvent-based

Epoxy or vinyl are commonly used as solvent-based fillers. They have a larger VOC concentration and, as a result, have a stronger odor. Solvent-based wood thinners take roughly one hour to dry, and turpentine or acetone is required for cleanup. Solvent-based fillers are more expensive than water-based fillers as they’re more resistant to humidity, water, extreme heat and cold, and rot, making them ideal for interior and exterior woodwork projects.

Choosing the Best Wood Fillers for Your Specific Project

Task

Generally, wood fillers are designed to do one or more specialized duties. Some are suitable for filling wood voids in all wood types, such as knot holes, divots, or gouges. Others are designed to soften the inherent coarse texture of open-grain woods with huge pores visible to the human eye, such as elm or oak. (As the filler floods the pores, it evens out any patchiness for a look that’s especially appealing on furniture.) Fillers with the most versatility can be used to fill pores or voids.

Color

The most popular fillers are wood-inspired or white in color, with clear variants for pore filling also available. If you do not plan to paint or stain the item in the future, choose a filler color that either contrasts or matches with the original wood color, based on whether you want to play up or play down the filler color. If you plan to paint or stain the cured filler, make sure to choose a stainable or paintable product in a lighter shade (such as white) than the paint or stain you are going to use.

Consistency

The consistencies of wood fillers can be thick ( like putty) or thin ( like pancake batter). Thicker fillers are utilized to fill voids in open-grain wood, whereas thinner fillers are chosen to fill pores. Since larger fillers have huge particles that do not easily fit into the pores of open-grain woods, and thinner fillers lack the substance to fully fill voids, it is critical to choose the ideal consistency for the job. 

Packaging

Squeeze tubes, tubs, and filler sticks are used to package fillers. Those in tubs are either no-mix and may be used with a spreader or putty knife right away, or two-part fillers that must be mixed first. Tube fillers require only a tiny amount to fill holes or pores, whereas stick fillers require only ripping out a small bit and applying by hand. Tubs are the most cost-effective and are ideally used to repair cracks and scratches because they hold the most product. Sticks are the least budget-friendly and are usually used to repair cracks and scratches because they retain the least product.

Conclusion: The Best Wood Filler

Overall, DAP Plastic Wood is one of the best wood fillers. We like how the professional-grade, the heavy-duty composition looks and feels like real wood, but is more durable. However, because of the ultra-strong, multi-purpose recipe, Minwax Color-Matched Wood Filler is a close second.

Why trust Handyman.Guide?

s written by Itamar Ben-Dor, who has 25 years of experience in renovations, carpentry, locks, creation, landscaping, painting, furniture construction, and furniture renovation, works with concrete, plumbing, door repair, and more.

Itamar Ben-Dor has been in the home improvement business for over 25 years. Itamar Ben-Dor is a jack of all trades. He's worked in the renovation field for years, doing everything from locksmithing to carpentry. He's a small repairs specialist. But his true passion lies in furniture construction and renovation - he loves seeing old pieces come back to life with some new woodwork or a fresh coat of paint.

He has taken courses on many topics in these fields at professional colleges in Israel. Over the years, Itamar has also become quite skilled in gardening, carpentry, and renovations. He's worked on projects of all sizes, from massive renovations to small repairs. No job is too big or too small for him!


Disclosure: handyman.guide participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Itamar Ben Dor
Itamar Ben Dor

My father is a practical engineer, and as a hobby he was also involved in construction, renovations, carpentry and woodwork at home; So there was always tools, saws, drills and more at home. Already I was a little kid Dad and I would renovate the house. Once we built a shed for garden tools, once we did flooring for the garden, once we renovated the bathroom and that’s the way it is. Long before there was an internet, directories and plans. We would build things, kitchen cabinets, install electrical appliances, do flooring, pour concrete and more ... I in this blog want to pass on to you the experience I have gained over the last 20 plus-minus years since I was a child to this day and give you information about the best tools, project plans, guides and more.

HandyMan.Guide
Logo