Can I repair a stripped screw hole with ordinary softwood matchsticks?

Hardwood toothpicks or purpose-cut hardwood splinters give a stronger, more predictable repair. Do not use match heads, and avoid a repair that forces the surrounding wood to split.

How long should the wood glue cure?

Use the full curing time printed by the glue manufacturer. Drilling or tightening too early can pull the repair out before it reaches strength.

Is this repair suitable for a door hinge?

It can suit a lightly worn hinge hole in sound solid wood. A split frame, heavy door, repeated failure or load-bearing fixing needs a stronger repair, such as a glued hardwood dowel or professional assessment.

Guides/Home/How to Repair a Loose Screw Hole in Wood

How to Repair a Loose Screw Hole in Wood

Restore grip in a worn screw hole in solid wood using glued hardwood toothpicks, then reinstall the screw after the glue cures. For tiny wall holes rather than wood joints, see how to fill small nail holes in a wall.

Updated Oct 15, 2026

25 min6 stepsBeginnernew

What you need

Tick off what you already have.

Loose screw removed from a worn hole in sound solid wood

AI illustration

Step 01 / 06

Remove the screw and inspect the wood

Support the fitting, remove the loose screw and check the surrounding wood. This repair suits a stripped hole in sound solid wood. Replace split, rotten or badly crushed wood, and use the correct specialist fixing for plasterboard, chipboard or structural work.

Guide progress1 / 6

1. Remove the screw and inspect the wood
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Support the fitting, remove the loose screw and check the surrounding wood. This repair suits a stripped hole in sound solid wood. Replace split, rotten or badly crushed wood, and use the correct specialist fixing for plasterboard, chipboard or structural work.
2. Clean the worn hole
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Remove loose fibres and dust with the tip of a dry toothpick or a narrow brush. Do not enlarge the hole. Check that the original screw is straight, undamaged and suitable for the fitting.
3. Coat hardwood pieces with glue
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Apply wood glue to two or more hardwood toothpicks or slim hardwood splinters. Press them into the hole until it is firmly filled, adding only enough material to occupy the worn space without forcing the wood apart.
4. Trim and let the glue cure
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Trim the projecting wood flush with a sharp utility knife, cutting away from your hands and finished surfaces. Wipe off squeezed-out glue and leave the repair untouched for the full curing time stated by the glue manufacturer.
5. Drill a small pilot hole
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Mark the centre and drill straight into the repair with a pilot bit appropriate for the screw's core diameter. Set a depth stop or tape flag so you do not drill through the workpiece or into hidden services.
6. Refit and test the screw
Instructional illustration generated with AI for Howmigo.
Reinstall the fitting and tighten the screw by hand until it is snug. Stop if the wood begins to split or the screw spins. Test the fitting gently; load-bearing hardware needs a repair method rated for its intended load.