Fortunately, almost any DIY homeowner will find that they can repair these holes in just a few hours using basic tools and supplies. Whether your door is hollow or made from solid wood, you can save money by making repairs instead of replacing the entire door.
Repairing Hollow Core Doors
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Use insulating spray foam to fill the inside of your door around the hole. Though most interior doors are characterized as "hollow core," they actually have a cardboard honeycombed interior. The honeycomb structure will limit the spray foam to only a small area.
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Wait until the foam dries completely. It will expand as it dries and will likely spread beyond the face of the door. Use a razor blade to carefully cut away excess foam. Create a slight depression at the patched area so that the foam is just slightly below the surface of the door.
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Apply joint compound, such as Spackle, to the hole and surrounding area using a putty knife. Spread this material in thin layers until the hole is flush with the rest of the door. Allow the joint compound to dry completely before proceeding.
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Smooth the edges of the Spackle with sandpaper to make them even with the rest of the door surface.
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Clean the door with a damp cloth to remove all sanding dust, then paint the patched area to match the remainder of the door.
Repairing a Solid Core Door
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Carefully chip away loose or splintered pieces of wood around the edges of the hole. Use a chisel or sandpaper for this task, depending on the extent of the damage.
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Apply wood putty with a putty knife. If your door is stained, mix stain with the putty to match the face of the door before applying it to the hole. This may take some trial and error, so experiment with different combinations.
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Finish painted your door by sanding the wood putty after it dries, then painting it to match the door. Remove all sanding dust before applying paint.