Short Answer: What Type of Joint Compound Do I Need?
If you are standing in the drywall aisle wondering what type of joint compound you need, you are not alone. The real decision usually comes down to all purpose joint compound vs setting compound, and knowing when to use each one. The best joint compound for drywall repair depends on what you are fixing, how deep the damage is, and how fast you need it done. Products like Easy Sand 45 setting compound behave very differently than premixed bucket mud. Here is a simple breakdown so you can choose the right one without overthinking it.
For taping new drywall
- Use All Purpose for the first coat.
- Finish with Plus 3.
For small patches
- All Purpose works fine. Finish with Plus 3 if you want it cleaner.
For large holes or deep repairs
- Start with Easy Sand.
- Finish with Plus 3.
If you are in a hurry
- Use Easy Sand.
If you are brand new and only buying one bucket
- Buy All Purpose.
What I Keep on My Truck
On most jobs in Cleveland, I carry:
That combination handles almost everything I run into.
Water damage ceilings. Plaster transitions. Door knob holes. Full basement seams.
Each one has a job. If you use them correctly, the work goes smoother and sanding is easier.
If you are still building your full drywall setup, see my complete drywall tools list at Lowe’s:
Colin Can Help Essential Drywall Tools List
Now let’s break down what each one actually does.
Why Joint Compound Choice Matters
A lot of people think mud is mud.
It is not.
Using the wrong compound leads to:
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Cracks
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Excess shrinkage
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Long dry times
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Hard sanding
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Frustration
Drywall finishing happens in stages. Bedding tape. Building thickness. Feathering seams. Final smoothing.
Different compounds perform better at different stages.
What Is All Purpose Joint Compound?
All Purpose is the standard premixed bucket mud.
You open it and start working.
What It Does
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Embeds tape
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Fills screw holes
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Covers seams
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Handles small repairs
It has strong bonding ability. That is why it works well for bedding tape.
Get a Bucket of All Purpose Joint Compound at Lowe’s
Why I Use It
When I am taping new drywall, this is usually my first coat.
It grips tape well. It sticks to seams. It is dependable.
If I could only buy one compound, this would be it.
What to Watch For When Buying
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Make sure it is premixed
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Check the lid seal is intact
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Avoid buckets that feel frozen or separated
Downsides
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Heavier than lightweight mud
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Shrinks more
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Harder to sand than Plus 3
I rarely use it for final finish coats.
What Is Plus 3 Joint Compound?
Plus 3 is a lightweight finishing compound.
It spreads smoother and sands easier.
What It Does
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Second coats
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Final coats
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Skim coats
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Feathering seams
Why I Use It
If I want a seam to disappear under paint, I switch to Plus 3 for the last coat.
It feathers cleaner. It sands faster. It saves time.
When I am finishing a visible ceiling repair, this is what I want for that last pass.
What to Watch For When Buying
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Make sure it is labeled lightweight
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Stir it before using
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Keep the lid sealed tight so it does not dry out
Downsides
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Not ideal for embedding tape
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Not great for deep fills
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Still air dries so humidity slows it down
I treat this as a finish mud, not a structural mud.
What Is Easy Sand Setting Compound?
Easy Sand is completely different from premixed bucket mud.
It comes in powder form and you mix it with water right before you use it. Once mixed, the clock is ticking.
It does not air dry like All Purpose or Plus 3. It chemically sets. That means it hardens through a reaction, not by evaporation. Humidity does not slow the curing process the way it slows regular joint compound.
You will see numbers like 20, 45, or 90 on the bag. That number is your approximate working time in minutes. The timer starts the second water hits the powder. After that, it will set whether you are ready or not.
Setting compound, often called “hot mud,” also shrinks less than air dry mud. That makes it better for deep fills, wide gaps, and repairs where strength matters.
What It Does
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Fills deep holes
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Handles large repairs
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Allows same day sanding
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Bridges gaps
Get SHEETROCK Easy Sand Setting Compound at Lowe’s
Why I Use It
If I need to patch a big hole and paint the same day, Easy Sand makes that possible.
In Cleveland humidity, air dry mud can take hours longer than expected.
Easy Sand 45 gives me enough working time without locking up too fast.
What to Watch For When Buying
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Choose the right set time for your skill level
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Mix small batches at first
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Use clean water and a clean bucket
Downsides
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Harder to sand
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Sets whether you are ready or not
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Not as smooth for finish coats
- If the bag spills, it is a nightmare to clean up.
I almost always top coat it with Plus 3.
Can I Use Just One Type of Joint Compound?
Yes.
All Purpose joint compound can technically handle every stage of drywall finishing. You can bed tape with it, build seams, fill holes, and apply final coats.
But there are tradeoffs.
It shrinks more than setting compound, so deep repairs may need extra coats. It takes longer to dry than Easy Sand, especially in humid conditions. And it does not sand as easily as lightweight compounds like Plus 3, which can make finish coats more work than they need to be.
That is why professionals use multiple types. Not because you have to, but because each product is optimized for a specific stage. Using the right compound at the right time makes the job cleaner, faster, and more predictable.
If you are a homeowner doing one repair, keeping it simple is fine. Just understand that convenience sometimes means more sanding and longer dry times.
Common Joint Compound Mistakes
Using lightweight mud to bed tape
- It can bubble or fail.
Trying to rush air dry mud
- It will crack if it is not fully dry.
Mixing too much Easy Sand
- It will harden in your pan.
Applying coats too thick
- Thin coats win every time.
If you want a full beginner walkthrough of taping and mudding, start here:
How Do I Mud and Tape Drywall Without Messing It Up?
Final Advice
If you are standing in the aisle wondering what type of joint compound you need, do not overthink it.
All Purpose for strength.
Plus 3 for smooth finishes.
Easy Sand for repairs that cannot wait.
That combination handles almost every real world drywall situation I see.
And if you are in Northeast Ohio and decide you would rather not deal with sanding dust in your house, Colin Can Help handles drywall repair and finishing professionally.