The Best Wood Filler

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray
Published on
May 3rd, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the ASD (Advanced Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician),
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.

The Cleaning Institute

Wood filler is one of those ordinary home maintenance and repair products that seems like it’s interchangeable, as if any product will do, but that’s far from the case. Products labeled as wood fillers can vary widely in their effectiveness, application instructions, and final results. We gave several products intended for wood repairs to our testers, and Minwax 21600000 High-Performance Wood Filler was the runaway favorite. This wood filler provided a long-lasting repair that could be well-matched to existing wood with professional-looking results whether it’s painted, stained or left as-is.

Testing Categories

Ease of Use – It’s assumed that making any kind of wood repair takes some work, but these three products did vary in the level of effort required. Our testers tried these wood fillers on shallow scratches, deep gouges, nail holes, and pockmarks on floors, windowsills, baseboards, and furniture.

Application – Testers applied products according to package labeling, and then they finished each according to placement of the wood filler (sanding, staining, or painting as needed to match existing wood). Everyone agreed that the directions for each product were clear and easy to follow.

Results – Perhaps the most important assessment is whether each product delivers the results promised on the package, and how satisfied our testers were with those results. We asked testers to rate each product before, during, and after application, as well as once the repair was completed, and two weeks later. Results varied based on the type of wood filler chosen, with the greatest difference being between the one liquid product and the two putty-like products.

Top Pick

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Our testers’ easy top pick was Minwax 21600000 High-Performance Wood Filler. This wood filler makes it possible to get professional-looking, highly durable wood repairs. When following product instructions, the wood filler hardens in less than half an hour and can be sanded within 30 minutes. None of the wood filler shrank, cracked, or otherwise deteriorated when testers carried out the rest of the repair. Testers drilled into the wood filler, applied screws, and even carved into it to touch up furniture and the wood filler remained intact. It even matched surrounding wood well when stain or paint was applied. Overall, our testers were thoroughly impressed with this product.

Price Check

Most notable upside: This product is sturdy and stable enough to help repair large areas, especially soft wood rot.

Biggest downsides: Some large repair jobs may require an extra step, such as anchoring the wood filler by adding screws to the repair area, before application. Also, a few testers felt the product dried and hardened too quickly. A couple also remarked that this wood filler didn’t take stains as easily or evenly as they expected.

Honorable Mention

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Refresh kitchen cabinets and other wood surfaces at home with this easy-on, non-toxic, low emission liquid restoration product that requires minimal preparation and delivers noticeable wood shine.

Price Check

Most notable upside: The Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer gets Honorable Mention for delivering an easy to use wipe-on product that, in addition to beautifying wood, fills in minor scratches to make them less visible. This is a versatile product that works on wood paneling, cabinets, laminate, and similar home surfaces. It’s a liquid polymer that does the job in one coat that applies in minutes and lasts for a few months. It also helps protect wood surfaces from UV rays. A 13 oz. bottle costs $8.99 and includes an application mitt, which is really helpful - better than a rag or sponge you might have on hand. What really makes this product stand out is that it is Greenguard Gold Certified product; it’s non-toxic and releases fewer chemicals into the air. As with any product like this, it’s a good idea to clean and wash a small test area and try it out first, before applying it to all of your kitchen cabinets or furniture.

Biggest downsides: While this product works really well to minimize the appearance of small scratches, it really didn’t improve the look of deep gouges at all because it isn’t actually a wood filler. For best results, homeowners need to also buy Wood Furniture and Floor Repair Markers to make cosmetic repairs before using this product. It can deliver poor results on varnished wood or merely satisfactory results similar to regular furniture polish. Some testers said it took a few applications for best effect.

Green Pick

Elmer's Carpenter's
Color Change
Wood Filler

This non-toxic color changing wood filler is good for hard-to-reach places where you’ll want to be sure you place it correctly; it dries to a light color and can be sanded, stained, or painted.

Price Check

Most notable upside: Testers were pretty surprised to see Elmer's Carpenter's Color Change Wood Filler go on purple but pleased to see it dry white; this makes it a lot easier to see where it was applied and if any spots were missed. After it dries, this wood filler can be sanded, stained or painted to match surrounding wood. Most testers agreed it worked well for minor repairs like holes, scratches, dents and gouges on wood, wallboard and most painted surfaces. The wood filler didn’t shrink or crack after drying. A 16oz. container costs $9.07.

Biggest downsides: Unlike some wood filler, this product does not contain any of the fibers that help with traditional wood filler’s staying power. This wood filler can crumble or get powdery after drying, reported some testers. Most agreed that this isn’t a great choice for larger repairs. A few testers said it did not take a stain very well, although it seems like a lot of it depends on the stain used.

All Our Picks

Top Pick

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Our testers’ easy top pick was Minwax 21600000 High-Performance Wood Filler. This wood filler makes it possible to get professional-looking, highly durable wood repairs. When following product instructions, the wood filler hardens in less than half an hour and can be sanded within 30 minutes. None of the wood filler shrank, cracked, or otherwise deteriorated when testers carried out the rest of the repair. Testers drilled into the wood filler, applied screws, and even carved into it to touch up furniture and the wood filler remained intact. It even matched surrounding wood well when stain or paint was applied. Overall, our testers were thoroughly impressed with this product.

Price Check

Honorable Mention

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Refresh kitchen cabinets and other wood surfaces at home with this easy-on, non-toxic, low emission liquid restoration product that requires minimal preparation and delivers noticeable wood shine.

Price Check

Tips for Effective Repairs Made with Wood Filler

Wood filler includes sawdust and wood fibers as a patch, whereas not all products sold as fillers include these items – then they’re actually putties instead. Make sure you get the right product for your needs.

The first step in making effective repairs with wood filler is to clean and prep the surface, making sure it’s thoroughly dry before actually applying the filler. Prep filler with stain if mixing it in, although be aware this could change the performance of the filler. Water or oil-based stains, too, can affect the performance of your filler.

Use a putty knife to apply the wood filler. Start at the edge of the repair area and press it in, moving across the affected area. Work in the grain, not against it. Add a little more than you think you’ll need to make the fill level because the product can shrink a little. It can be sanded down afterward so that treated area is level with the unaffected area after the product dries. Time to dry can take less than an hour to several hours, depending on the size and depth of the patch.

A Note About Safety and Storage

As with any household cleaning and maintenance products, keep wood filler and similar products out of reach of children, even if they’re marked non-toxic. Store away from direct sunlight, and in a cool and dry place. For some products, like Elmer’s mentioned above, a light spray of water into the jar before sealing and returning to the shelf for storage can reduce the chances of it drying out; although chances are, many users will have the product dry out before it’s all used. Otherwise, softening can sometimes be done with acetone or water, depending on your product.

You may want to use protective gear on your hands to prevent actual contact with wood filler, which could irritate your skin. Use protective gear when sanding, too, to avoid inhaling or other exposure to dust.

The Best Wood Filler

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter's
Color Change
Wood Filler

All Our Picks

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter's
Color Change
Wood Filler

Tips for Effective Repairs Made with Wood Filler

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Wood Filler

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Minwax 21600000 High-PerformanceWood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches - Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter'sColor ChangeWood Filler

All Our Picks

Minwax 21600000 High-PerformanceWood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches - Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter'sColor ChangeWood Filler

Tips for Effective Repairs Made with Wood Filler

A Note About Safety and Storage

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter's
Color Change
Wood Filler

Minwax 21600000
High-Performance
Wood Filler

Rejuvenate Cabinet & Furniture Restorer Fills in Scratches
- Seals and Protects Cabinetry, Furniture,
Wall Paneling

Elmer's Carpenter's
Color Change
Wood Filler