Door repairs cost around $250 on average but can range from $50 to $700 depending on the type of door, type of repair, materials, and project scope.
How to Fix a Hole in a Door Step-by-Step
Give door holes the heave-ho
Get quotes from door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Simple
COMPLETION TIME
4 hours
COST
$20–$30
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Utility knife
- Plastic putty knife
- 2-inch paintbrush
- Protective gloves (optional)
SUPPLIES
- Drop cloth
- Newspaper
- Aerosol foam insulation
- 120-grit sandpaper
- Spackle
Wooden doors, particularly hollow core doors, are often more fragile than we’d like, and nothing eliminates privacy more than a big hole in the middle of one. Contacting a door repair company to replace an interior door is a surefire way to fix the problem, but there’s a fairly simple DIY fix. Keep reading to learn how to fix a hole in a door yourself with just a few minutes of working time.
Get Rid of Ragged Edges
Clear up the hole first, cutting away ragged edges around the hole using your sharp utility knife. Grab the knife and work slowly, holding it at a slight angle to create an even, beveled cut. Use a gentle sawing motion to remove any splintered edges.
Stuff Paper Inside the Hole
Now, it’s time to start insulating the hole, which helps prevent another accidental hole later on. Start by crumpling up a small amount of newspaper or printer paper and slide the wad into the hollow area, pushing it to occupy the open space surrounding the hole. Make sure to go all around the perimeter, as this crumbled paper acts as a barrier to contain the insulation.
Spray Foam
Next, spray your low-expansion aerosol foam insulation into the hole, using the straw accompanying the can unless otherwise instructed (avoid high-expansion foam to prevent excessive pressure and damage to other parts of your door). Start at the back of the hole and spray slowly and carefully. Aim to fill the void with the DIY spray foam insulation, using the paper inside as a border. Try not to spray foam too far outside the door's surface, but don’t worry too much if you do.
Let the foam sit for 15 minutes until the insulation is soft and rubbery, but be careful to let it sit longer if the manufacturer calls for a longer curing time.
Trim the Insulation
Foam insulation likes to expand. If some insulating foam expands outside the hole, cut away the excess. Start by waiting until the foam is fully dry and putting on some safety gloves. Cut away at the excess with the utility knife blade flush against the door’s surface and trim the foam slowly and carefully.
Spackle and Smooth
Once the foam insulation is flush with the door, lightly sand it with 120-grit sandpaper. Next, use your putty knife to apply some spackle. Apply a thin layer of the substance directly over the filler. Once the spackle dries, go back to sanding and add another fine layer of spackle. Let it dry before doing another very light sanding. Run your fingers over the surface to test for smoothness, and repeat the process until it’s completely smooth.
Paint and Admire Your Handiwork
Use matching paint to cover up any inconsistencies or signs of repair. Use your brush to apply an even layer of paint over the hole. Let the paint dry for a couple of hours, and apply another coat. For best results, go for two to four coats, with adequate drying time between each. Once it’s thoroughly dried, enjoy your fine handiwork.
Tips for Repairing a Hollow Core Door vs. a Solid Wood Door
The steps above apply to hollow core doors, which are empty in the middle. When repairing a hole in a solid wood door, you don’t have to stuff the hole with paper materials (as described in the second step). For the third step, use spray foam to fill the gaps or a wooden dowel trimmed to size. Once you install the dowel, apply wood filler and sand until smooth with 120-grit sandpaper. Finish up with a paint job, and your door will be like new.
Common Door Parts That Need Repair
Based on data from Angi, about 31% of homeowners need to repair the frame of their doors. Locksets and hinges are the next most common parts of a door that need repair, at 10.7% and 9.6%, respectively.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Hole in a Door?
The cost to repair a door depends on the extent of the damage. Average labor costs for a local door repair company run between $40 and $90 per hour. If you contact a handyperson in your area instead, you'll pay less, at $30 to $40 per hour. All in, fixing a large hole or crack costs $50 to $100 when you hire a pro.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Repairing a hole in an interior door is a DIY-friendly project, so you can save some money on door repair costs by doing the work yourself. If you don’t have the time to repair your interior door or feel uncomfortable handling the necessary tools, hiring an expert will ensure a professional finish—as if there was never a hole in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Door services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.8★ avg. • 25 total reviews
- Sue B.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriors - Maggie M.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLC - Thomas S.
Company came to look at my garage door that was off track. They also said I needed a brace on the other garage door. They put the door back on track, and I paid to install the brace. The technician told me I needed a new garage door opener, and it would cost $1000. Red flags went off in...
Precision Overhead Garage Door Service - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Warren C.
Excellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Matthew L.
Called ahead and worked quickly to install keyless locks on vintage wooden doors.
Expert Lock and Key, LLC - Lori M.
Scott did not get appropriate access to the property prior to the scheduled inspection which required us to come back later in the day to complete it. He also, unprofessionally, knocked on a neighbor?s door in his attempts to reach someone with access. His overall report was fine though the...
Security First Home Inspections - Gary K.
Door Depot was very responsive - they came out the day after my call to assess my needs, then returned at my convenience to complete the work. They arrived early, and the work was completed in a shorter period of time than estimated. Very pleased with the results. I would definitely use them...
Door Depot LLC - Jim L.
Replace garage doors: Fast response, competitive estimate, timely work done well.
Village Garage Door - Dana M.
Jeremiah did an awesome job cleaning 28 windows inside and out! He was fast, efficient and now I have a beautiful view again. This was a Groupon for $139 for 20 windows, but I had 28 windows/doors cleaned, so there was an extra $6 per window. Totally worth it.
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