Best Wood Gap Filler

There’s no debating that wood is a versatile, long-lasting, durable and incredibly beautiful material. However, it isn’t indestructible. 

Even the highest quality woods suffer at the hands of general wear and tear, accidents, and moisture. This can lead to holes, divots, cracks, and blemishes developing in the wood, leaving us with a piece of furniture that no longer has the same appeal.

Luckily, there is a solution. That solution is a wood gap filler. Wood gap fillers easily fill holes, crevices, cracks, and divots in wood, giving us an affordable way to revitalize our cabinets, wooden floors, outdoor surfaces, and furniture. 

Today, in this article, we want to help you find the best wood gap filler for the task you have at hand. We’ll do this by showing you 5 of the best wood fillers on the market. We’ll take you through each filler, looking at what they offer and any pros or cons you should know about.

If you’re on the lookout for a wood gap filler to fix your wooden surface, make sure you stick around!

DAP Latex All Purpose Plastic Wood Filler

First up, we have the latex all-purpose plastic wood filler from DAP. We start with this wood gap filler because as far as we’re concerned, it’s the best the market has to offer in terms of versatility, affordability, and usability. 

Made from a solvent-based formula, DAP has manufactured this wood filler using real wood fibers. This is perfect as it gives the filler that real wood look when it’s hardened. In fact, when it has hardened, it becomes three times stronger than most woods.

Aside from its strength and appearance when set, this filler’s biggest selling point has to be its versatility. The filler can be drilled, cut, painted, and sanded, with the user not having to worry about any cracking, shrinking, or splitting. The filler even works as a solid anchor for your screws and nails. 

This all-purpose, professional-grade wood gap filler also comes in a wide range of colors and finishes. These include walnut, white, red oak, and golden oak. This will help you find the right style of filler for your wood. 

When we tested this filler, we found it super easy to attain a smooth, even finish every time.

Pros

• Versatile – DAP’s filler can be sanded, cut, drilled, and painted.
• Affordable – This filler is fairly priced.
• Great appearance – The all-purpose gap filler looks just like real wood.

Cons

• Doesn’t go a long way – Each tube only contains 6 oz of filler.

Also available at: Homedepot.com

Goodfilla’s Water-Based Wood & Grain Filler

If you’re looking for a long-lasting wood filler perfect for filling deeper holes and gaps, Goodfilla’s water-based wood & grain filler might be your best option.

Goodfilla’s wood gap filler could be the most innovative filler on the market. Primarily designed for professionals, it’s also a solid choice for everyday use. One of the things this filler is most loved for is its long shelf life. 

Woodworkers are accustomed to throwing wood filler out when it has hardened, but with this filler, they don’t have to worry. Goodfilla’s wood filler has an everlasting shelf life because it is reconstituted with water.

Perfect for bigger, more serious jobs, the filler allows you to prime, stain, sand, and tint every crack, hole, dent, and divot you need to fix. 

When we reviewed Goodfilla’s water-based wood filler, there were a number of things that impressed us. For starters, the filler only needs to be applied once. Secondly, the filler can be mixed with any stain, dye, tint, or pigment. 

Finally, it is a 100% green product and non-toxic. All of these things and its solid performance make it one of the best fillers out there.

Pros

• Professional grade – Goodfilla’s wood filler is perfect for professional use.
• Perfect for bigger tasks – This filler easily tackles larger holes and gaps.
• Long shelf life – Your filler should last a lifetime.

Cons

• Yellow tint – Goodfilla’s wood filler does leave a slight yellow tint behind.

Also available at: Goodfilla.com

Minwax Color-Matched Wood Gap Filler

The next wood gap filler on our list is the color-matched wood gap filler from Minwax. This is a multi-use wood filler that suits individuals who have multiple projects to complete. 

Whether it be filling nail holes, cracks, and gouges or fixing up other defects in unfinished and finished wooden surfaces, the Minwax wood gap filler has you covered. While the filler’s durable, no-sand formula is long-lasting and incredibly strong, most people pick out this product because it is color-matched.

This is useful when it comes to finding a filler that blends in nicely with the wood. When the filler is hardened, you shouldn’t be able to see where the filler was applied. 

Another excellent thing about this wood filler is that it can be used on a wide range of surfaces outside and inside the home. For example, you can use this filler to fix wooden flooring, decking, doors, cabinets, benches, and furniture. 

When the filler has dried, cutting, painting, sawing, and varnishing it is easy. In terms of color, this filler comes in an array of wood grain colors and plain white.

Pros

• Color-matched – You should be able to find a color that perfectly blends in with your wood.
• Inside and outside use – This filler can be used inside and outside.
• Great value for money – Minwax’s wood filler is fantastically priced.

Cons

• Lighter than some woods – The color matching doesn’t always work. Some users have stated the filler was lighter than their wooden surface.

Red Devil Onetime Lightweight Spackling Wood Filler

Another wood filler that can be used on interior and exterior pieces of wood is the Red Devil onetime wood filler. 

Effortlessly applied with a putty knife, this pre-mixed formula is perfect for anyone looking for a quick solution and a professional finish. Just one application is all it takes to fill deep holes and large gaps in a wide range of surfaces, one, of course, being wood.

A big selling point this filler has is its ability to be remolded when necessary. Despite drying quickly, Red Devil’s onetime filler stays fairly malleable for a while. This allows the user to make multiple adjustments until they are 100% satisfied. 

Resistant to cracking and shrinking, another bonus is how the filler doesn’t embed itself when dropped on the floor. Unlike other fillers, when too much filler is applied and a piece falls off, it won’t stick to your floor or leave any marks. 

We were happy with the overall performance of this gap filler, but what pleased us most was how no sanding is required and how we can paint the filler in a matter of minutes as it dries super quick.

Pros

• Durable – Red Devil’s onetime filler won’t shrink or crack.
• Easy cleanup – This filler won’t stick to other surfaces or leave any marks.
• No sanding required – You don’t need to sand this filler down.

Cons

• Can fall off during application – This filler has a muddy texture so expect some of it to drop off during application.

Coconix Floor And Furniture Repair Kit

The final wood gap filler on our list is the Coconix floor and furniture repair kit. If you have cracks, dents, chips, or scratches on your wooden flooring or simply want a product at hand for when the inevitable happens, this is most definitely the best option for you. 

Fixing most issues quickly and easily, with each repair kit, the user receives ten different colors. This will all but guarantee you have the color that matches your flooring perfectly. 

In the repair kit, you’ll also find a convenient wood putty perfect for repairing deeper divots and cracks. Having variety in terms of ways to fix the wood is great as it ensures every problem can be solved. 

This wood filling kit doesn’t just work on flooring. As you can probably already tell from its name, the Coconix wood filler also works brilliantly when it comes to fixing up furniture. Whether you need to fill a dent in a table, fix up a chair, or make a bench look brand new again, this filler will work wonders. 

When we used this repair kit, we loved the variety of colors you receive and how everything you need comes in one pack. Everything from the spatula to spread the filler to the mixing jar to get it ready is provided for you.

Pros

• Everything comes included – Everything you need to prep and use the filler comes with the kit.
• Good variety of colors – This kit has 10 colors to choose from.
• Putty included – To help with bigger jobs, Coconix has included a wood putty in their kit.

Cons

• No need for so many colors – You probably won’t use most of the colors this kit comes with.

Also available at: Coconix.com

Buyer’s Guide

Now you have our list of the best wood gap fillers on the market at your disposal, you can start to think about which wood filler you need. 

While it may seem quite easy to decide, there are actually a number of key factors to take into consideration. 

In this buyer’s guide, you will find some of the most important factors you need to consider. By taking what we say about each one on board, you will be able to make a much better decision. 

The Type Of Wood Filler

One of the most important things to think about is what type of wood gap filler you need. There is a wide range of different types of wood filler to choose from, with each one offering its own benefits. For this reason, it is essential to understand what each type of filler offers.

Below, we have provided information about four of the most popular types of wood gap filler.

Epoxy Wood Fillers

Epoxy wood fillers are known to be extremely durable and resistant to a range of external factors such as water, dirt, and dust. When they have hardened, epoxy wood fillers can be painted and stained. They are also one of the best options for outside use. 

If you need to put screws in your wood, epoxy wood fillers can help. It is important to remember though that this type of filler comes in two parts.

Gypsum Wood Fillers

Ideal for any indoor repairs that need doing, this type of wood filler is well suited to fixing drywall and baseboard issues. Made out of gypsum dust and water, gypsum wood fillers are appreciated for their ability to match the consistency of even the hardest of hardwoods after approximately 2 hours. 

This type of filler isn’t water-resistant, so keep it away from the bathroom, kitchen, or outside area.

Cellulose Wood Fillers

Cellulose wood fillers tend to be used indoors, but they can also be used on some outdoor surfaces. You should always check the product description before using this type of filler outside though. 

Cellulose wood fillers can be easily mixed with stains before application. This is handy because it gives the user a better chance of matching the filler to their wood.

Latex Wood Fillers

This type of wood filler works well outdoors and indoors. Latex wood fillers also require a lot less prepping than epoxy wood fillers so if you’re in a rush they could be a better choice. 

Relatively easy to use, this type of wood filler can be quite messy. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you have to remove it and reapply if you’ve never worked with a wood filler before.

Size 

You need to seriously think about the size of the job you need to complete. The wood filler you decide to buy will be directly impacted by this factor. If you have a deep hole or large gap to fill, it doesn’t make sense to buy a small tube of filler. 

Instead, you’ll need to pay the money for a larger tube of filler capable of covering the area. Alternatively, you can save some money by purchasing a smaller tube if you don’t have a big area to cover.

Drying Time

Each type of wood gap filler takes a different amount of time to dry. There isn’t a uniform drying time for each brand. As a result, it is always a good idea to take a close look at the product descriptions in order to see how long it takes your chosen filler to dry.

If you only have a small hole to fill, look for fillers that dry in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. For bigger projects, try and find a filler that you can stop from drying out before the application process has finished. 

A wood filler that can be diluted offers this best.

Price

You should never dive into a purchase based on price. Instead, you should take your time to work out which wood filler is best for your job. Just because a wood filler may be more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it is better for your job. 

On the other hand, don’t just buy a wood filler because it saves you money. Sometimes, you have to pay a little bit more to get the job done effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should I Leave The Wood Filler Before Sanding?

How long you need to leave the wood filler before sanding depends on how long the type of wood filler you’re using takes to fully cure. Generally speaking, most wood fillers take 30 minutes to dry. 

However, always check with the manufacturer first as some fillers can take up to 24 hours if the job is a big one. 

Can You Use Wood Fillers To Repair Scratches?

Yes, you can use a wood filler to repair a scratch on a wooden surface. To do so, apply a decent amount of filler to the scratch and remove any excess. After that, simply sand the filler down to remove any lumps. This will also give the wood a smoother finish.

Which Wood Filler Is The Best To Use?

In our opinion, DAP’s all-purpose plastic wood filler is the best wood filler on the market. We believe this because it offers the most versatility and durability at an incredible price.

Final Thoughts

Using wood filler to fill in cracks, divots, scratches, holes, and gouges in your wooden surfaces and furniture is an easy, quick way to revitalize the wood without spending a fortune on new products.

In this article, we have looked at five of the very best wood fillers the market has to offer. As you can see from our list, there are plenty of options available when it comes to finding a wood gap filler to solve a certain problem. 

While all of the wood gap fillers on our list work wonders when fixing wood, they all slightly differ in what they offer and how they work. Some wood fillers are suited to larger jobs, whilst others suit smaller scratches and dents. 

By looking at varying types of wood gap filler, we have given everyone more chances to find the filler that suits their needs and requirements. 

Now, using our buyer’s guide to help, you should start to narrow down our list until you can identify the wood filler that suits your needs best.