5 Cheap DIY Fixes for Holes, Cracks and Loose Wall Plugs

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Take a picture down and you’re left with a nail hole. Take a shelf down and there’s a ragged hole with a plug spinning in it. Then there’s the curtain pole bracket that won’t stay tight, the hairline crack above the door, and the screw that rolled under the sofa the moment you dropped it. None of it is a big job, but it all adds up, especially when you’re about to repaint or hand the keys back to a landlord.

We’ve picked five affordable finds from Amazon UK for these small wall fixes: two fillers for holes and cracks, a filler for loose wall plugs, and two tools that make the job less fiddly. We haven’t tested these ourselves. The picks are based on product specifications, listing details and star ratings on Amazon UK when checked, and we’ve included the honest downsides for each one.

Quick answer

• For nail holes and small cracks, with everything in one box: wall repair kit with filler, patch, scraper and sandpaper
• For deeper holes and a smooth finish without much sanding: Gorilla Smooth Finish Wall Filler, 473ml
• For a loose wall plug or a hole that’s gone too big: PLUGDOH wall plug filler
• For putting fittings back up (and the odd flat-pack job): ZOOI 22-in-1 ratchet screwdriver
• For dropped screws, nails and pins in awkward gaps: Preciva magnetic pick-up tool with LED

Comparison table

Fill holes and cracks

Wall Repair Kit – best all-in-one set for nail holes and small cracks

If you’ve got a handful of nail holes, small dents and chips, this kit puts the basics in one box. The listing says it includes ready-mixed filler paste, a 2-inch repair patch, a scraper and sandpaper. Because it’s ready mixed, there’s no powder to measure. You fill the hole, level it with the scraper, let it dry, sand it smooth and repaint if needed. It’s described as being for interior plasterboard and drywall.

Pros: everything you need for basic patching in one pack, no mixing, and the patch helps with slightly bigger holes. It had a 4.5-star average from over 2,000 ratings when checked.
Cons: it’s designed for indoor walls and small damage, not large holes or structural cracks. The filler won’t match your paint, so you’ll still need to touch up the wall afterwards, and the amount of paste is aimed at small jobs.
Who it suits: renters getting ready to move out and anyone filling picture holes before repainting.

>Check the wall repair kit on Amazon UK

Gorilla Smooth Finish Wall Filler (473ml) – best for deeper holes and a smooth finish

This is a bigger tub of lightweight, ready-mixed filler. The useful twist is the colour change: the listing says it goes on purple and dries white, so you can see when it’s ready to paint, wallpaper or sand. It’s described as filling any depth in one go without shrinking, cracking or sagging, and as drying with a smooth finish so you may not need to sand. It’s listed for walls, ceilings, plaster, wood, brick and stone, and for indoor and outdoor use (outdoor repairs need painting).

Pros: the purple-to-white indicator takes the guesswork out of drying times, a 473ml tub goes a long way, and it cleans up with soap and water. It had a 4.6-star average from over 480 ratings when checked.
Cons: the listing says it’s not suitable for drilling, so don’t use it where you plan to put a screw back in (that’s what the PLUGDOH below is for). For larger holes it recommends a patch or backing, which isn’t included.
Who it suits: anyone with lots of holes to fill, deeper holes from old fixings, or ceiling cracks.

>Check the Gorilla wall filler on Amazon UK

Fix loose wall plugs

PLUGDOH Wall Plug Filler – best for wobbly brackets and oversized holes

A curtain pole bracket, towel rail or coat hook that keeps working loose usually means the wall plug has lost its grip or the hole has worn too big. This is a mouldable compound that you knead, push into the hole and then screw into. The listing says it sets in about 10 minutes, so you can refit without drilling a new hole. It’s described as working on plasterboard, masonry, ceramic tiles, concrete, wood and brick.

Pros: fixes the cause of a wobbly fitting rather than just covering it, no re-drilling, and the sachets mean no measuring or waste. It had a 4.3-star average from over 280 ratings when checked.
Cons: you only get four 5g sachets, which the listing says will repair four to ten holes depending on size, so it’s for small jobs. For heavy items like TV brackets, check the fixing is right for the load and follow the manufacturer’s guidance, as a filler won’t fix a wall that can’t take the weight.
Who it suits: anyone with a curtain pole, toilet roll holder or hook that won’t stay tight.

>Check the PLUGDOH wall plug filler on Amazon UK

Tools that make it easier

ZOOI 22-in-1 Ratchet Screwdriver – best for putting fittings back up

Once the hole is filled, you need to get the bracket back on. This is a compact ratchet screwdriver with a thumb switch to change direction one-handed. The listing says it comes with 22 parts, including 20 metal bits (slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv among them), an extension adapter and a holder. It’s also pitched for small electronics, glasses and flat-pack furniture.

Pros: the ratchet means less wrist-twisting on stubborn screws, lots of bit types in one small case, and it’s an easy stocking filler for whoever does the odd jobs. It had a 4.4-star average from over 1,300 ratings when checked.
Cons: it’s a hand tool, so it won’t drill new holes or drive long screws into masonry. The listing is heavy on gift wording rather than detail, so check the bit list covers the screws you need.
Who it suits: flats and first homes that don’t have a full toolbox yet.

>Check the ZOOI ratchet screwdriver on Amazon UK

Preciva Magnetic Pick-Up Tool with LED – best for dropped screws

Small screws have a habit of bouncing behind radiators, under skirting boards or down the side of the sofa. This telescopic magnetic stick extends from 19cm to 69cm according to the listing’s bullet points, and has an LED light at the tip so you can see into dark corners.

Pros: saves crawling around the floor, the light helps behind furniture, and it’s handy far beyond DIY (dropped pins, keys under the car seat). It had a 4.4-star average from over 6,000 ratings when checked.
Cons: it only picks up magnetic metal, so it won’t help with aluminium, brass or plastic wall plugs. The product title quotes a longer reach than the bullet points, so go by the 69cm figure to be safe.
Who it suits: anyone who’s ever lost a screw mid-job, and a good small gift.

>Check the Preciva magnetic pick-up tool on Amazon UK

How to choose

• Match the filler to the hole. Tiny nail holes and hairline cracks only need a small kit. Deep holes from old wall plugs need a filler that fills any depth, and a patch or backing for anything large.
• Think about whether you’ll screw back into it. Ordinary lightweight filler isn’t made to hold a screw. If a fitting is going back in the same place, use a plug repair compound instead.
• Check your wall type. Plasterboard sounds hollow when tapped, while brick and block sound solid. Make sure the product lists your wall type.
• Check for cables and pipes. Before you put a new screw into a wall, avoid the areas directly above, below and beside sockets and switches, and use a detector if you’re unsure.
• Plan for paint. Filler shows through, so have matching paint ready, or ask your landlord for the paint colour before you move out.

Free habits that help

• Use removable hooks or picture rails for light frames so you make fewer holes in the first place.
• Keep a small labelled tub of spare screws and wall plugs from flat-pack furniture.
• Fill holes as soon as you take something down, while you remember where they all are.
• Take photos of the walls when you move in, so you know what was already there when you move out.

Final thoughts

Small wall damage is one of the easiest things in a home to fix yourself. A ready-mixed filler for holes and cracks, a plug filler for anything that’s worked loose and a decent screwdriver will cover most jobs, and a magnetic pick-up saves the hunt for dropped screws. Pick the fix for the job in front of you, check it suits your wall type, and look at the latest price and recent reviews on Amazon UK. If you’re also tidying up before winter, see our cheap ways to keep the heat in, and for wobbly loo seats and grubby grout, try our bathroom fixes.

Ready to sort those holes? Choose the fix for your trickiest wall and check today’s price on Amazon UK. Prices change often.

FAQ

Can I fill holes in a rented home?
Usually, yes, and many tenancy agreements expect small holes from pictures to be made good before you leave. Check your agreement, and ask your landlord before making new holes or repainting.

Can I screw straight into wall filler?
Not with most lightweight fillers. The Gorilla filler’s listing says it isn’t suitable for drilling. For a loose fitting, use a plug repair compound like PLUGDOH, which is made to grip a screw once it sets.

Do I need to sand filler?
It depends on the filler. The wall repair kit includes sandpaper for a smooth finish, while the Gorilla filler is described as drying smooth enough that sanding may not be needed.

Sources

• Amazon UK product listings for each item, with prices, ratings and availability checked on 27 and 28 October 2026 (links above).
• Product specifications from those listings, reviewed in October 2026.