Joint Compound vs. Spackle: When to Use Each One

Choosing the right product for home repair projects is half the battle, especially in the world of wall repair and construction, where you’ll find both joint compound and spackle. These two substances look almost identical to the inexperienced eye, but they each boast unique use case scenarios. 

If you’re preparing to install or repair a wall, keep reading to learn the differences between joint compound and spackle.

Joint Compound vs. Spackle: Key Differences

Joint compound and spackle seem similar at first glance—they’re both manufactured to repair drywall—but that’s about where their similarities end. When installing drywall, you’ll use joint compound to fill in the joints between the drywall sheets, then cover it with drywall tape and smooth it out to create finished surface. Its mud-like texture goes on thick and takes 24 hours or more to dry. Joint compound is also well-suited for large repair and patch jobs.

Spackle is a lightweight product that fixes small imperfections. It dries very quickly, and then you can sand it smooth and paint over it to complete your repairs. You shouldn’t choose spackle for large repairs because it becomes rigid as it dries, though there are acrylic and vinyl options that do flex and will work in outdoor applications. 

What Is Joint Compound?

Joint compound, also called drywall mud or just mud, features gypsum dust as a primary ingredient. Local drywall repair pros use joint compound during the initial installation process after affixing the large sheets of drywall board and taping the seams between each board and when repairing large areas.

Joint compound requires some skill to apply, and it also helps to choose the right type for your project. Here are the main types of joint compound you’ll have to choose from.

• All-purpose joint compound: You’ll use this type of joint compound for most of your drywall projects. It’s premixed and works for the majority of the taping and mudding process and any drywall repairs.

• Topping joint compound: Topping joint compound leaves a smooth finish for the final layer of the taping and mudding process.

• Taping joint compound: Taping joint compound works best with the tape used to cover joints between drywall sheets.

• Setting joint compound: While most joint compound takes 24 hours or more to dry before adding a second coat, setting joint compound will only take 20, 45, or 90 minutes, and the time is indicated on the packaging. Drywall pros are more likely to use this type as they can work quickly to apply and smooth it properly before it dries, allowing them to apply multiple coats in a day.

Best for: Large repair projects that require a drywall patch and taping and mudding of drywall joints

Joint Compound Pros

Joint compound is the go-to substance for finishing up an initial drywall installation, but it also works for smaller repair jobs in a pinch. If you have some leftover after an install and need to repair a hole, you can use the joint compound instead of buying spackle. Types of joint compound include all-purpose, taping, topping, and quick-setting, adding to its versatility.

Joint compound is extraordinarily durable, especially when compared to spackle. This durability makes the product easy to sand down and ensures it withstands some accidental damage. Joint compound reacts well to multiple layers, so pros and enthusiasts alike use it to fill out and thicken portions of a wall whenever necessary. It features the same main ingredient as drywall itself, along with limestone and perlite, contributing to its renowned durability. 

Joint Compound Cons

Joint compound takes a long time to dry, often 24 hours or longer. After applying a compound, you’ll want to paint, sand, apply sealant, or otherwise finish the wall. The lengthy drying process means you’ll play the waiting game before busting out that paintbrush. This is why pros make multiple trips when installing some drywall and why putting up drywall costs an average of $1,800. However, there’s also hot drywall mud that takes 20 to 45 minutes to dry, but that material should be left to the pros.

Joint compound is not the easiest to use, especially compared to spackle's elegant simplicity. It requires mixing in the container, though some brands offer joint compound as a premixed option. When using joint compound at the initial phase of a drywall installation, you have to apply joint tape, apply multiple coats, and sand it down to ensure an even layer.

The potential for shrinkage requires the application of multiple layers to finish the surface. Plan on multiple coats when repairing holes or cracks in case the compound shrinks so much that it creates a tear or simply reopens the hole or crack. This propensity toward shrinkage is not a huge deal when initially installing drywall, thanks to the use of joint tape and multiple coats.

What Is Spackle?

Spackle is the go-to choice for repairing small cracks, nail holes, or gouges in drywall. It comes premixed, features an amateur-friendly application process, and one tub lasts a long time (as you only use it a bit at a time).

If you’re going to use spackle to repair drywall imperfections, you should know that there are different types of spackle, each suited to different applications.

• All-purpose spackle: This will be your go-to spackle for most DIY drywall repairs. If you’re repairing a smaller crack, hole, or dent, you’ll use this gypsum-based product to smooth over the damaged area. It dries quickly, making repairs fast and simple.

• Acrylic spackle: Acrylic spackle is formulated to adhere to surfaces that other types of spackle won’t, like brick, wood, and stone. You can use it inside or outside. It flexes when dry so that it can hold up against some expansion and contraction.

• Vinyl spackle: If you have a larger or deeper hole to fill, vinyl spackle may be the best choice. It’s designed to be applied in layers, so you can fill holes up to ¾ inch deep.

• Epoxy spackle: This oil-based spackle has superior adhesion qualities and works on wood and for outdoor applications.

• Lightweight spackle: Ideal for small repairs, lightweight spackle dries quickly and has minimal shrinkage. It doesn’t sand as well as other types, so it’s best for repairing small nail holes or little cracks.

Best for: Repairing small holes, cracks, or dents and then painting over them

Spackle Pros 

One of the best parts about using spackle to repair minor drywall is how quickly it dries. Spackle takes only 30 minutes or so to dry completely. Compare that to the 24 hours for joint compound, and you see how much time spackle saves. 

Spackle reacts well to the sanding process and paint. You sand down a recently spackled area to level it out with the rest of the wall, and then apply the paint color of your choice to match your home decor. Patching a drywall hole with spackle is simple when you consider that paint is used to cover up any imperfections. 

The product boasts simplicity, making it suitable for most DIYers to learn how to spackle drywall. It comes premixed, eliminating a frustrating step for some, and requires little to no experience to get it right. All you do is apply it with a putty knife, spatula, or palette knife and then wipe off the excess with a rag. Once it dries, simply paint over it to match the existing wall. 

Spackle Cons 

The great thing about joint compound is its versatility, as it shines with the initial installation and minor repairs. The same is not said, however, about spackle. Though a great choice for fixing small holes and the like, spackle is not a great choice for the initial installation process. It dries too quickly, significantly reducing your working time. When installing drywall, you want enough time to get everything perfect, and spackle may rush you.  

Compared to joint compound’s classy finish, spackle’s finish is rough, splotchy, and absolutely requires sanding after an application. This translates to another crucial step while patching up holes and increases cleanup tasks after finishing the work. After all, sanding down spackle leads to dust all over your floor.

Spackle vs. Joint Compound: Key Attributes Compared

When directly comparing joint compound to spackle, you’ll find some stark differences. Here are some ways in which these two drywall materials differ. 

Cost: Tie

Spackle is more expensive than joint compound, but you use less per job. In other words, a small tub of spackle lasts longer than a large container of joint compound, as the latter benefits from multiple coats across large areas of drywall. At the same time, joint compound is more versatile than spackle, offering two-in-one functionality. Neither product is particularly expensive, though, so it’s a wash here. 

Expiration Time: Joint Compound  

Dry formulas last a bit longer than wet formulas, making joint compound, which is not premixed, last several months longer than premixed spackle. All told, spackle goes bad in around nine months, while a non-mixed joint compound lasts slightly over one year. Also, wet formulas are sensitive to extreme weather, as both cold and heat dry them out, rendering them unusable. 

Project Size: Joint Compound

Spackle comes in small tubes, whereas joint compound comes in large containers of 1 gallon or more. This makes joint compound the clear winner when conducting larger-than-average repair jobs. Spackle is great for fixing small nail holes but not for repairing large gaps in drywall.

Dry Time: Spackle

Spackle is a lightweight, water-based compound that dries through evaporation of its water content. The small particles in spackle allow for quicker moisture removal, which results in a faster drying process of about 30 minutes for most small repairs.

Joint compound, on the other hand, is made from gypsum or lime and is heavier and denser, taking longer to dry because it relies on a chemical reaction to harden. However, some joint compound options, such as hot mud, boast shorter drying times than the average drywall mud.

DIY-Friendly: Spackle

Spackle is easy to work with, even for those with minimal home improvement experience. The product comes premixed and is available in convenient containers, making it user-friendly and eliminating the need for mixing or measuring. It has a smooth consistency that is easy to spread and sand.

It dries relatively quickly, allowing for efficient patching and repairs on small holes or imperfections in walls. Joint compound, however, is often more labor-intensive, requiring proper mixing, a skilled application, and a longer drying time due to its chemical setting process. Joint compound is also more suitable for use in finishing drywall, especially when it comes to how to tape and mud drywall.