A few picture holes
You have hairline cracks and shallow interior scuffs, including a few picture holes, and you want the lowest shelf price in this set. The stated cap is layers of no more than 3 mm.
Surface filler comparison 2026
The best surface fillers, compared.
Top pick: FOME FLEX Finish lightweight putty Best value: Palace Fine Surface Filler 600 g – Lowest shelf price at about £1.25, with 4.6 from 2,247 reviews and a stated 3 mm layer cap. Updated October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A surface filler is a paste pressed into a shallow crack, nick, or screw hole so you can sand and paint. None of them is a powder, a grout pen, a wax stick, or a plasterboard patch. A nick up to about 10 mm wants a multi-purpose paste that states that cap. A hole you can see through needs a patch, not another skim. Separate the tubs by stated depth, by fine paste versus multi-purpose fill versus lightweight joint putty, and by how many reviews describe that job. A sound buy matches the depth and the surface, and it arrives with the lid intact. A wider set of indoor wall repairs sits in the [indoor wall filler](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/wall-filler-indoor) comparison. The eight kept amazon.co.uk listings are ready-mixed pastes. They are not powder, grout pens, wax sticks, or plasterboard patches. You start from the hole, not from a brand. Fine surface filler is the smooth ready-mixed paste for hairline cracks and feathered edges. That is and 68-4, as a 600 g tub and as a pack of two.
A surface filler is a paste pressed into a shallow crack, nick, or screw hole so you can sand and paint. None of them is a powder, a grout pen, a wax stick, or a plasterboard patch.
28 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
8 of 8: Best surface fillers compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 8Best overall
Best value
4.5/10
8.9/10
8.1/10
7.6/10
6.7/10
8.7/10
5.8/10
2.2/10
∼ £10
∼ £3
∼ £1
∼ £3
∼ £14
∼ £7
∼ £16
∼ £21
4.7(6)
4.6(14,595)
4.6(2,247)
4.6(2,247)
4.6(15)
4.5(4,537)
4.4(768)
–
Personal buying guide
Which surface filler fits this job?
Question 1 of 2
What are you filling?
The best surface fillers in detail
Our view
FOME FLEX Finish is a lightweight indoor putty at about £9.99, aimed at plasterboard joints, screw holes, and cracks in plaster, concrete, and masonry. The title says it can be painted after 30 minutes, and the listing says it is sandable after 30 minutes. amazon.co.uk lists 4.7 from 6 reviews, and the three texts in the file are marked as reviewed in Germany, so this is not a British track record. Those texts praise getting paste into a crack from a cartridge. One reviewer found it hard to push out, and a later note says the paste turned gum-like and was hard to smooth. Item volume is listed as 6 ml and item weight as 240 g, which cannot both describe a full cartridge. No fill depth is stated. An EC1 line on the listing is a voluntary emissions claim, not a UK approval and not a non-toxic claim.
Pros
- The kept listing aimed at plasterboard joints and screw holes
- Sandable after 30 minutes, and the title says paintable in 30 minutes
- Indoor surfaces named, including plasterboard, plaster, and masonry
- Cartridge-style application in the stored review texts
Cons
- 4.7 from six reviews, with the stored texts marked as reviewed in Germany
- One review found it hard to push out, and another says it turned gum-like
- 6 ml and 240 g cannot both describe the pack
- No fill depth, and EC1 is not a UK safety approval
Best for: A shallow indoor plasterboard screw head, if you can accept a six-review file that is not from UK buyers.
Less suitable: A hairline on plaster, a deep hole, or anyone treating 4.7 from six German-market reviews as a British record.
Specifications
- Model
- FOME FLEX Finish lightweight putty
- Brand
- FOME FLEX
- Price
- ∼£10
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(6)
- Filler type
- Lightweight putty
- Where
- Interior
- Dry time
- Sandable in 30 min
- Paintable
- Paint in 30 min
- Pack size
- 240 g
- Surfaces
- Plasterboard
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
The listing does not state a maximum fill depth.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Indoor. Named surfaces include plasterboard, plaster, plaster blocks, concrete, bricks, and masonry.
What does the listing say is included?
The listing does not name included components.
Our view
The Polycell Multi-Purpose Polyfilla tube, model PLCMPP330GS, is 330 g of ready-mixed white paste at about £3.49, and amazon.co.uk lists 4.6 from 14,595 reviews, the largest file in this set. Reviewers use it on small holes and cracks without mixing, and they sand the repair. The amazon.co.uk card does not print a fill depth or say indoors or outdoors. Polycell’s page for this multi-purpose paste says up to 10 mm in one go, surface-dry in 1–2 hours, and plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork indoors or outdoors. The paste is often very thick and hard to start from the tube. One review says it dried in the tube despite the lid, and another says the repair can grin through paint unless you prime. The card lists item weight at 358 g against a 330 g fill, and the rank sits under silicone caulk, which does not make this a silicone. In this comparison it is the top pick for a small nick when you want that review file.
Pros
- Ready mixed at about £3.49 for 330 g, with no mixing
- 4.6 from 14,595 amazon.co.uk reviews on small holes and cracks
- Reviewers sand the repair after it has set
- Polycell’s page states up to 10 mm and a 1–2 hour surface-dry time
Cons
- The paste can be very thick and hard to start from the tube
- One review says it dried in the tube despite the lid
- One review says prime first or the repair shows through paint
- The amazon.co.uk card does not state fill depth or interior or exterior use
Best for: A few small holes and cracks, when you want the tube with the largest review file in this set.
Less suitable: A badly marked wall that needs a kilogram or more, or a hole you can see through.
Specifications
- Model
- Polycell Multi-Purpose Polyfilla 330 g
- Brand
- Polycell
- Price
- ∼£3
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(14,595)
- Filler type
- Multi-purpose
- Dry time
- Full cure 2 h
- Pack size
- 330 g
- Container
- Tube
- Surfaces
- Walls
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does the amazon.co.uk card state?
The amazon.co.uk card does not state a maximum fill depth. Polycell’s page for this multi-purpose paste says up to 10 mm in one go.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
The amazon.co.uk card does not say. Polycell’s page for this paste allows plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork indoors or outdoors.
What does the listing say is included?
A Polycell Polyfilla multi-purpose ready-mixed filler tube, 330 g.
Our view
Palace Fine Surface Filler, model 68-4, is 600 g of ready-mixed white paste at about £1.25, the lowest shelf price in this set, for interior cracks and shallow gaps in layers of no more than 3 mm. amazon.co.uk lists 4.6 from 2,247 reviews, the same star line and the same review texts as the pack-of-two listing. Reviewers spread it and sand it on cracks and small holes, and they treat the price as the reason to buy. Several say it is the wrong tub for big holes. At least one says a fine crack dries sooner, while a deeper fill can take about 24 hours. Split tubs and leaking lids appear more than once. The card does not state a dry time, and the volume field says 120 ml against a 600 g pack. Once cured and sanded, the listing says most domestic oil or water-based paints. In this comparison it is the best value.
Pros
- About £1.25 for 600 g, the lowest shelf price in this set
- 4.6 from 2,247 reviews for cracks and small holes
- Stated layer cap of 3 mm for deeper repairs
- Listing says you can sand it and use most domestic oil or water-based paints
Cons
- Reviewers say it is the wrong tub for big holes
- Split tubs and leaking lids appear more than once
- No dry time on the card; one deeper fill took about 24 hours
- The volume field says 120 ml against a 600 g pack
Best for: Hairline cracks and shallow interior scuffs, including a few picture holes, when you want the lowest price in this set.
Less suitable: A nick near 10 mm in one pass, outdoor masonry, or a hole with nothing behind it.
Specifications
- Model
- Palace Fine Surface Filler 600 g
- Brand
- Palace
- Price
- ∼£1
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(2,247)
- Filler type
- Fine surface
- Stated depth
- Max 3 mm layers
- Where
- Interior
- Paintable
- Oil or water paint
- Pack size
- 600 g
- Container
- Tube or tub
- Surfaces
- Plaster and timber
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
Layers of no more than 3 mm for deeper repairs.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Interior. The listing does not claim outdoor masonry.
What does the listing say is included?
One fine surface filler. The specification says a tube and the feature text says a tub.
Our view
This is the same Palace and Langlow 68-4 fine surface filler, sold as two 600 g packs at about £2.50, so each pack matches the about £1.25 single tub. The listing says touch-dry in 1–2 hours on interior plaster, wood, and masonry, and it names oil and water-based paints. It does not print a fill depth. The single 68-4 listing caps deeper repairs at layers of no more than 3 mm, and that cap is the one to use. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 2,247 reviews, and the written texts are the same corpus as the single tub, including a comment about two tubs arriving split, so this is not a second test. The included-components line says one filler while the title and the piece count say two. Item volume is listed as 240 ml against a 1,200 g unit count.
Pros
- Two 600 g packs at about £2.50, the same paste price as the single tub
- Touch-dry stated at 1–2 hours
- Oil and water-based paints named on the card
- Same 68-4 paste reviewers use on cracks and small holes
Cons
- No fill depth on this card
- Components line says one filler; the title says a pack of two
- The review texts are the same corpus as the single tub, including split tubs
- 240 ml does not describe a 1,200 g unit count
Best for: A room of the same fine interior cracks, when one 600 g tub would run out and you still want 68-4.
Less suitable: A single picture hole, a deep nick, or anyone reading the 2,247 reviews as a separate test of this pack.
Specifications
- Model
- Palace Fine Surface Filler, pack of 2
- Brand
- Palace
- Price
- ∼£3
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(2,247)
- Filler type
- Fine surface
- Where
- Interior
- Dry time
- Touch-dry 1–2 h
- Paintable
- Oil or water paint
- Pack size
- 2 × 600 g
- Container
- Tube
- Surfaces
- Plaster, wood, masonry
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does this card state?
This card does not state a maximum fill depth. The single 68-4 listing caps deeper repairs at layers of no more than 3 mm.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Interior plaster, wood, and masonry.
Does the box contain one tub or two?
The title and the piece count say two 600 g packs. The included-components line says one fine surface filler.
Our view
The Decex kit is a 396 g Polycell Polyfilla multi-purpose tube plus a 3 inch scraper and a 120-grit sanding block, at about £13.90. The listing says up to 10 mm, indoors and outdoors, on plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork, surface-dry in 1–2 hours and recoatable in 2 hours. amazon.co.uk lists 4.6 from 15 reviews. The five short UK texts in the file are all favourable, and none describes a defect. That is a thin base next to the bare 330 g Polycell tube at about £3.49 with 14,595 reviews. You are paying for the scraper and the block. The brand field says Decex and the paste in the title is Polycell. The line that it will not shrink or crack is a listing claim for correct use, not a measured result, and ready-mixed paste can still shrink if you fill too deep in one go.
Pros
- 396 g Polycell tube with a 3 inch scraper and a 120-grit block in the box
- Up to 10 mm stated, indoors and outdoors, on plaster and masonry
- Surface-dry in 1–2 hours and recoatable in 2 hours
- The five stored UK reviews do not describe a defect
Cons
- About £13.90 against about £3.49 for the 330 g Polycell tube without tools
- 15 reviews is a thin file beside 14,595 on the bare tube
- “Will not shrink or crack” is a listing claim, not a test
- Sold under the Decex brand around a Polycell tube
Best for: One indoor or outdoor nick up to 10 mm when you do not already own a scraper and a sanding block.
Less suitable: Anyone who only needs the paste, or a wall that needs more than 396 g.
Specifications
- Model
- Decex Polycell Polyfilla kit 396 g
- Brand
- Decex
- Price
- ∼£14
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(15)
- Filler type
- Multi-purpose
- Stated depth
- Up to 10 mm
- Where
- Indoors and outdoors
- Dry time
- Surface dry 1–2 h
- Paintable
- Recoat in 2 h
- Pack size
- 396 g
- Container
- Tube
- Surfaces
- Plaster and masonry
- Tools
- Scraper and block
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
Up to 10 mm.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Indoors and outdoors, on plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork.
What does the listing say is included?
One Polycell Polyfilla filler, 396 g tube, one scraper, and one fine sanding block.
Our view
Palace Langlow ready mixed filler, model 68-1, is a 1 kg pail at about £6.99 for interior plasterwork, render, masonry, skirting, architraves, and frames, in layers no thicker than 10 mm. The listing says it skins in about 30 minutes, is surface-dry in 1–2 hours, and can take up to 24 hours at 20°C to cure, then oil- or water-based paint once it is dry and sanded. amazon.co.uk lists 4.5 from 4,537 reviews. Reviewers call shallow work easy and the price fair. The tub is a repeated complaint: cracked, split, or about a third of the paste already set solid. One review calls the texture coarse, another gritty and too fast to spread, and one says it is less flexible where the surface moves. A reviewer who used it outside was happy, which does not override the listing line against exposed exterior locations and continuous water immersion.
Pros
- 1 kg at about £6.99, with layers stated at no more than 10 mm
- Skin, surface-dry, and full-cure times are printed on the listing
- 4.5 from 4,537 reviews for shallow interior work
- Oil- or water-based paint once the fill is dry and sanded
Cons
- Split, cracked, or part-set tubs come up repeatedly in reviews
- Texture is called coarse or gritty
- One review says it is less flexible where the surface moves
- Not for exposed exterior locations or continuous water immersion
Best for: A room of interior nicks up to about 10 mm, including skirting and frames, if you check the lid on arrival.
Less suitable: An exposed outside wall, a joint that keeps moving, or a hairline you need to feather to nothing.
Specifications
- Model
- Palace Langlow Ready Mixed Filler 1 kg
- Brand
- Palace
- Price
- ∼£7
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(4,537)
- Filler type
- Multi-purpose
- Stated depth
- Max 10 mm layers
- Where
- Interior only
- Dry time
- 1–2 h dry; 24 h cure
- Paintable
- Oil or water paint
- Pack size
- 1 kg
- Container
- Pail
- Surfaces
- Plaster and frames
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
Layers no thicker than 10 mm.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Interior. The listing excludes exposed exterior locations and continuous water immersion.
What does the listing say is included?
One ready-mixed filler.
Our view
Sinto’s hole and crack filler is a 5 kg pail at about £16.33, sold for repairs up to 1 cm, with a full-cure field of 12 hours. amazon.co.uk lists 4.4 from 768 reviews. A decorator in those reviews used it on walls, ceilings, and woodwork, and other reviewers call the volume useful and the finish sandable. Complaints include slow drying, sagging, lumps that wasted about half a tub, a tub that arrived open and spilled, and shrinkage plus cracking across more than one thickness. The attribute table says material silicone and compatible material plastic, while the bullets describe a ready-mixed hole and crack filler with over 97% natural ingredients. That natural-ingredients line is not a non-toxic claim. The card does not say whether the pail is for indoors or outdoors.
Pros
- 5 kg at about £16.33, the largest pack in this set
- Stated depth up to 1 cm and a 12-hour full cure
- 4.4 from 768 reviews, including walls, ceilings, and woodwork
- Reviewers who like it mention a finish you can sand
Cons
- Reviews report shrinkage, cracking, sagging, and lumps
- One tub arrived open and spilled
- Silicone and plastic in the specification contradict the filler bullets
- Interior or exterior use is not stated
Best for: A badly marked interior wall where a 330 g tube would run out, if you accept the mixed reviews and check the lid.
Less suitable: A few picture hooks, a joint that must stay flexible, or anyone buying it as a silicone sealant.
Specifications
- Model
- Sinto Hole and Crack Filler 5 kg
- Brand
- Sinto
- Price
- ∼£16
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(768)
- Filler type
- Multi-purpose
- Stated depth
- Up to 10 mm
- Dry time
- Full cure 12 h
- Paintable
- Easy to paint
- Pack size
- 5 kg
- Container
- Pail
- Surfaces
- Wide range
- Tools
- None
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
Up to 1 cm.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
The listing does not state whether this is for interior or exterior use.
What does the listing say is included?
A lid. Tools are not named.
Our view
The Zawan bundle is 1.4 kg of ready-mixed wall repair paste at about £21.00, the highest price in this set, with gloves, three filling tools, and 12 sandpaper sheets. The listing says indoor and outdoor use on walls, plaster, wood, doors, trims, and ceilings, and it says fast drying and a paint-ready finish. It does not give a time or a fill depth. The amazon.co.uk file has no review line, so there is no star count to read. The material field says plaster, while the title sells a repair paste, and water resistance is a listing claim with no maker’s data sheet in the sources used here. Country of origin is listed as the United Kingdom. Without a depth and without reviews, the tools in the box are the only concrete extra against a cheaper tub of paste.
Pros
- 1.4 kg plus gloves, three filling tools, and 12 sandpaper sheets
- Indoor and outdoor use claimed, with walls, wood, and ceilings named
- The listing says a paint-ready finish
- Country of origin is listed as the United Kingdom
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk review line
- No fill depth and no dry time, only “fast drying”
- About £21.00 is the highest price in this set
- Material “plaster” does not match a repair-paste title, and waterproof is untested here
Best for: Only if you specifically want this tool bundle and you can ignore the missing depth and the missing reviews.
Less suitable: A first tub for a known hole, or any job that needs a stated depth and a UK review file.
Specifications
- Model
- Zawan wall repair paste 1.4 kg
- Brand
- Zawan
- Price
- ∼£21
- Filler type
- Multi-purpose
- Where
- Indoors and outdoors
- Dry time
- Fast drying
- Paintable
- Paint-ready
- Pack size
- 1.4 kg
- Surfaces
- Walls, wood, ceilings
- Tools
- Gloves, tools, paper
Common questions
What fill depth does the listing state?
The listing does not state a maximum fill depth.
Is it for indoors, outdoors, or both?
Indoor and outdoor, with walls, plaster, wood, doors, trims, and ceilings named.
What does the listing say is included?
One wall filler, one pair of gloves, three filling tools, and 12 assorted sandpaper sheets.
How we compared
We compared 8 ready-mixed surface fillers on amazon.co.uk and scored them from the listing facts in this set. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK lines, taken on 15 October 2026. There was no lab test. Fill depth and dry time were not measured. The scores do not rank the wider UK market. The four weights below sum to 100.
1
Review evidence
40%Stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines. A large UK file scores higher than a handful of reviews. Texts marked as reviewed in Germany are not a British track record. The two-pack shares its written reviews with the single 600 g tub.
2
Stated repair
35%A millimetre layer cap on the card scores higher than a blank depth. Interior with a named exclusion, or indoor and outdoor with named surfaces, scores above a blank scope. A timed dry or cure plus a named paint type scores above “fast drying” with no time.
3
Shelf price
15%This is the shelf price of the pack on amazon.co.uk, not a price per kilogram. Under £4 scores highest in this set. £20 or more scores lowest.
4
Listing clarity
10%Points come off when the material field contradicts the filler bullets, the pack count disagrees with itself, or the volume and the weight cannot describe one pack. Split, leaked, or part-set tubs in the reviews also come off.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Surface filler buying guide
Choose the tub from the hole in front of you: stated depth, interior or exterior, surface, and pack size. The decision order is in the [surface filler buying guide](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/surface-filler/sub/surface-filler-buying-guide).
What is surface filler?
Surface filler is a paste or powder pressed into a shallow crack, nick, or screw hole so you can sand and paint. The eight kept amazon.co.uk listings are ready-mixed pastes. They are not powder, grout pens, wax sticks, or plasterboard patches. You start from the hole, not from a brand. Fine surface filler is the smooth ready-mixed paste for hairline cracks and feathered edges. In this set that is Palace and Langlow 68-4, as a 600 g tub and as a pack of two.
Best for
- Hairline cracks and a few picture holes
- A room of interior nicks up to about 10 mm
- A shallow plasterboard screw head
Not ideal for
- A hole you can see through, which needs a patch
- A crack wider than 5 mm, or one that keeps growing
- A live electrical opening, or a joint that keeps moving
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Fine paste in one deep pass
Palace fine surface filler caps deeper repairs at layers of no more than 3 mm. Multi-purpose pastes that state a cap sit around 10 mm. Skipping a dry layer above that cap is how a ready-mixed fill shrinks.
- 2
Painting as soon as the skin looks dry
A skin is not a full cure. Palace 1 kg can take up to 24 hours at 20°C. One Palace fine review put a deeper fill at about 24 hours. Sand only once the fill is no longer soft.
- 3
Leaving the lid off
The next session is lumpy, or the paste sets in the tub. Reviews on Palace and Sinto include split, leaked, or open tubs. A 5 kg pail is a loss if the lid arrives open.
What to weigh up
Depth, interior, and movement
HighDepth is the first split. Toupret UK puts fine smoothing at about 2 mm locally. The Palace 68-4 listing caps deeper repairs at layers of no more than 3 mm. Polycell’s Multi Purpose Polyfilla page and Palace’s ready-mixed data sheet both describe about 10 mm in one go, then more layers after drying. Sinto is sold for repairs up to 1 cm. A hole you can see through needs a patch. Then read interior, exterior, and movement.
Surface, pack, and review file
HighThe kept pastes claim interior plaster in some form. Palace fine and Palace ready mixed also name timber, skirting, or frames. FOME FLEX Finish is the listing aimed at plasterboard joints and screw holes. Gloss, dust, and damp bond poorly. A 330 g tube will not cover a badly marked wall. A 5 kg pail is a loss if the lid arrives open.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Small holes, largest review file
You want one ready-mixed tube for a few small holes and cracks, and you want the largest amazon.co.uk review file in this set. The card itself does not print a fill depth.
A room of interior nicks
You have more than a 330 g tube will cover, on interior plaster, skirting, or frames, in layers no thicker than 10 mm. Check the lid on arrival.
Common questions about surface fillers
Which surface filler is the top pick in this set?
The top pick for a small nick, when you want the largest review file here, is the Polycell Multi-Purpose Polyfilla 330 g tube at about £3.49. amazon.co.uk lists 4.6 from 14,595 reviews. Reviewers use it on small holes and cracks and then sand the repair. The amazon.co.uk card does not print a fill depth. Polycell’s page for this multi-purpose paste says up to 10 mm in one go. The paste can be very thick in the tube.
How much does surface filler cost on amazon.co.uk?
On these eight shelves the prices run from about £1.25 to £21.00, checked on 15 October 2026. Under £5 is Palace fine surface 600 g, the two-pack, and the Polycell 330 g tube. About £7 to £14 is the Palace 1 kg tub, FOME FLEX Finish, and the Decex kit. Sinto 5 kg is about £16.33 and the Zawan 1.4 kg kit is about £21.00. These bands are this set, not a market census.
Is fine surface filler the same as multi-purpose filler?
No. Fine surface filler is the smooth paste for hairline cracks and feathered edges. Palace 68-4 caps deeper repairs at layers of no more than 3 mm. Multi-purpose paste is the everyday fill up to about 10 mm, including the Polycell tube and Palace 68-1. Toupret UK puts fine smoothing at about 2 mm locally. A hole you can see through needs a patch, not a thicker skim of fine paste.
How deep can I fill in one go?
Match the cap on the tub you bought. Palace fine surface filler states layers of no more than 3 mm for deeper repairs. Palace ready mixed 1 kg states layers no thicker than 10 mm. The Decex kit states up to 10 mm. Sinto is sold for repairs up to 1 cm. Ready-mixed paste hardens as water leaves it, so one deep fill can shrink. Let a layer dry before you add the next.
Can I use these fillers outdoors?
Only if that listing says so. The Decex kit and the Zawan paste say indoors and outdoors. Palace fine surface filler and the two-pack say interior. Palace 1 kg excludes exposed exterior locations and continuous water immersion. The Polycell 330 g card does not say. Polycell’s multi-purpose page allows plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork indoors or outdoors. Do not treat every white tub as waterproof outdoors.
Is sanding filler dust a problem at home?
Dust is the hazard, not the wet paste. HSE’s page on sanding taped plasterboard joints cites a workplace exposure limit of 4.0 mg/m³ for that respirable gypsum dust, averaged over 8 hours, and points to on-tool extraction. One picture hook is not that task. What to do with the dust at home is in sanding filler dust at home. Do not read water-based or natural ingredients as non-toxic.
When should I stop filling and call someone?
Get advice when a crack is wider than 5 mm, constantly over about 2 mm and horizontal or vertical, or growing. NHBC treats 2 mm or less as cosmetic. The BBC’s 2026 piece says mark a crack and measure again after a couple of weeks, and a diagonal crack near openings, or one into brickwork, needs a builder or structural engineer first. Also stop if the ceiling sags, doors stick, damp sits with the crack, or plaster is blown over a wide area. Fix damp before you fill. Do not fill a live electrical opening.
Does a high star rating mean the tub is right for a deep hole?
No. Palace fine surface filler is 4.6 from 2,247 reviews, and reviewers still say it is the wrong tub for big holes. FOME FLEX is 4.7 from six reviews, and the stored texts are marked as reviewed in Germany, so that is not a British track record. Zawan has no review line. Read the stated depth, the interior or exterior line, and whether the lid arrived intact.
Our verdict
Across these eight amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick for a small nick is the Polycell Multi-Purpose Polyfilla 330 g tube: about £3.49, with 4.6 from 14,595 reviews, the largest file in this set. The amazon.co.uk card does not print a fill depth. Polycell’s page for this paste says up to 10 mm in one go, surface-dry in 1–2 hours, on plaster, masonry, concrete, and brickwork indoors or outdoors. The paste can be very thick in the tube. The best value is Palace Fine Surface Filler 600 g at about £1.25, with 4.6 from 2,247 reviews and a stated layer cap of 3 mm. Reviewers still say that tub is the wrong one for big holes, and split lids appear more than once. The two-pack matches that paste price and does not take the value line, because the pack lines disagree and the reviews are not a second sample.
Best value
View offer
Palace Fine Surface Filler 600 g
Lowest shelf price at about £1.25, with 4.6 from 2,247 reviews and a stated 3 mm layer cap.
Editorial
Editor
Surface fillersReady-mixed wall pasteamazon.co.uk listings
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to surface fillers
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Best surface fillerWho each of the eight listings is for, without a lab ranking.Surface filler buying guideChoose by depth, interior or exterior, surface, and pack.Fine or multi-purpose fillerPalace 68-4 against the Polycell tube and Palace 68-1.How to fill holes in a wallClean, fill, dry, sand, and paint. Product choice stays on the buying guide.Filler for plasterboardScrew heads, joints, and when a patch replaces filler.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices are from amazon.co.uk on 15 October 2026.
- Polycell — Multi Purpose Polyfilla Ready Mixed (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Palace Chemicals — Ready Mixed Filler TDS (28 October 2024) (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Toupret UK — powder versus ready-to-use (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- HSE — sanding taped plasterboard joints (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- NHBC — Cracking in your home (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- BBC — cracks in walls (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
- Checkatrade — how to fill holes in a wall (retrieved 15 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.