Best Hot Glue Guns For Craft and DIY projects

Crafting, Favourite

Make repairs and complete craft projects in record time with the best hot glue guns.

An eminently useful and frequently overlooked device, hot glue guns help everything from kid’s crafts to fabric-based interior design projects such as homemade lampshades and headboards. Unlike other glue forms that take a substantial time to attach (sometimes hours), a hot glue gun produces a molten adhesive that sticks as it cools—usually in less than a minute.

If you’re trying to buy the first glue gun or upgrade to a new and improved brand, go ahead with our advice on finding the right hot glue gun for your project needs, as well as our top tool picks roundup.

Hot glue guns are useful instruments for Craftsmen, Hobbyists, and DIYers. Review our guide below for the best glue guns guidance on choosing among the many choices available today.

Our Top Picks

If you frequently work on DIY projects or enjoy crafting or making repairs, a glue gun can be a lifesaver. These tools are simple to use and highly effective at quickly forming a strong, long-lasting adhesive seal.

The key, of course, is to choose the appropriate glue gun for your needs and preferences. Temperature control and higher wattage may be useful for more experienced crafters with certain materials, but they aren’t necessary for a beginner. If you’re going to be doing a lot of precise work, look for a glue gun with a thinner glue stick for a slower flow.

Overall Winner: Cobiz Dual Power Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

The Cobiz Full-Size glue gun comes with lots of options: You have a choice of 60 watts (ideal for small, detail-heavy projects) or 100 watts (perfect for when the adhesion strength is a big priority). Reviewers particularly like the ability to switch between settings depending on the project at hand.

This glue gun preheats in one to three minutes and has a smart temperature control function that keeps the gun from overheating. The glue gun’s useful features, such as a stand and a controlled three-finger trigger, make it simple to use. Reviewers describe the Cobiz Full Size as heavy-duty and sturdy, but it is also lightweight enough that people with smaller hands can use it with ease.

Best Cordless: Werktough Cordless Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

A cord can be inconvenient, especially if there isn’t a plug nearby or if the cord becomes tangled. Introducing the Werktough Cordless Glue Gun: This battery-powered device quickly heats up to a high temperature. And, after a few minutes of inactivity, it will turn off automatically, which saves energy and helps you avoid injuries.

The battery lasts 45 minutes on a single charge, which was more than enough time for some reviewers. Consider another option if you frequently have time-consuming projects. Many reviewers praised the speed with which this glue gun heated up and its size and ease of use.

Best for Woodworking: Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ Cordless Full Size Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

You can’t go wrong with this option if you’re looking for a dependable option that you can use on various woodworking projects. Unlike other glue guns, reviewers say that wooden items glued together with this cordless Ryobi stay put. According to some reviewers, this glue reaches a high temperature quickly—in less than a minute. The cordless battery lasts more than three hours before needing to be recharged, which is sufficient for most small projects.

Reviewers like how this glue gun is sturdy, easy to use, and does not tip over. They also liked how lightweight the Ryobi P305 is, weighing only one pound. Some reviewers have noted that the battery life is quickly depleted, and a few have suggested that a temperature gauge would be useful.

Best for Electronics: AdTech Mini Hi-Temp Hot Glue Gun Combo Pack

Pros

Cons

Are you repairing electronics with a glue gun? It will help if you exercise extreme caution. You’ll also want something small so you can apply glue precisely. This AdTech mini glue gun heats up and has temperature control, allowing you to avoid spikes and dips in the heat of the glue. This comes in handy when working with electronics.

The user can also control the flow of the glue with this glue gun. It’s compact and lightweight, with a built-in stand that allows you to adjust your project easily. The AdTech mini glue gun’s small size and ease of storage, as well as the on/off switch, are praised by reviewers.

Best Small: Gorilla Dual Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

It’s convenient to have a lightweight and petite option on hand for small or delicate projects or if you have small hands. The Gorilla Dual Temp Hot Glue Gun is an excellent choice, weighing only 5.6 ounces.

It has a high-heat (374°F) and a low-heat (311°F) setting, allowing you to select the best temperature for your project easily.

The nozzle and trigger are designed to make the glue gun simple to use—you can easily direct the glue to where you want it to go with only a light touch on the trigger. It also includes a sturdy stand.

Reviewers appreciate that this Gorilla glue gun does not leak or drip glue and can withstand high temperatures.

Best Budget: Tilswall Hot Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

The Tilswall Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun has a lot of features for the price. It has an on/off switch (this may seem like a basic feature, but many plug-in glue guns lack one, leaving unplugging as the only way to turn them off).

The heating system keeps a constant temperature of 329°F and heats up in less than five minutes. According to the manufacturer, the glue gun has an ergonomic handle (so your hands don’t clench up) and a silicon ring around the nozzle to help prevent accidental burns.

Reviewers like how, despite being sturdy, this glue gun feels lightweight in their hands. Furthermore, they find the trigger simple to use and the size ideal for storing once finished.

Best Splurge: Surebonder Pro2 Industrial Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

If you only use your glue gun on small paper projects, the Surebonder Pro2-220 is probably not for you. However, if you’re looking for a glue gun that can help you seal the bottoms of shipping boxes, perform simple carpentry tasks, or make repairs around the house, the features of this powerful tool will appeal to you.

The glue is dispensed smoothly, without drips, and with great precision. This Surebonder glue gun has an ergonomic trigger that allows you to use it for hours without tiring, as well as an on/off switch, power light, and detachable stand.

Reviewers like its power, the speed with which it heats up, and the convenient storage case.

Best for Kids: NEX&CO Kids Mini Hot Glue Gun

Pros

Cons

Of course, if you allow your children to use a glue gun, you must supervise the project from start to finish and explain best practices and rules for working with a glue gun to avoid injuries or mishaps. Then, choose a kid-friendly glue gun, such as this NEX&CO Kids Mini Hot Glue Gun, which has silicone finger protectors to keep kids’ digits safe and a no-drip nozzle.

Because it is lightweight, children will find it easy to hold. There’s an LED indicator so kids can see when the glue gun is turned on, as well as a convenient on/off switch. In addition to the finger protectors, the glue gun comes with colored glue sticks for extra crafting fun, as well as a creative guide. Reviewers said it was a great gift for kids and grandchildren, and they especially liked the color glue option.

What to Look for in a best hot Glue Gun

Heater wattage:

Pay attention to the wattage to assess the heating capacity of the glue gun. Entry-level glue guns usually have around 20-watt heaters, which may be adequate for simple projects but may not be sufficient for home renovation projects or heavy-duty products. More flexible glue guns can work anywhere from 60 to 220 watts or more.

Temperature control:

How fast the glue gun produces adhesives depends on how hot it is. Some glue guns do not provide any temperature control—just an on-off switch—while other versions allow you to change the temperature up or down to generate glue at a faster or slower pace. It is critical if you need more-glue quickly or if you want to slow down the flow of complicated projects.

Low temperature:

The low-temperature glue gun heats the glue to around 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While the glue gun is still scorching at the top, it’s better to use and less likely to inflict unintentional burns than a high-temperature weapon.

Low-temperature glue guns are always the chosen option for child-friendly projects, but children can also have adult guidance when using any glue gun. Low-temperature glue guns are designed only with low-temperature glue sticks made of a silicone base that quickly melts at lower temperatures.

This type of glue gun is ideal for light-duty tasks such as the development of paper chains and scrapbooking.

High temperature:

Gaining temperatures of about 380 degrees Fahrenheit, high-temperature glue guns can melt several different glue sticks, including sticks that include thermoplastic compounds, polymers, and acrylic ingredients that form a tight bond to plastic, wood, and even metal. The downside is that the super-hot adhesive is more likely to melt or blister the skin if it is touched while still hot. For this purpose, high-temperature glue weapons are best suited for adult Craftsmen and Hobbyists.

Dual-temperature:

Most of the glue guns have a single temperature, but a few have adjustable controls that allow the user to switch between high and low temperatures as desired. For a wide range of art projects, your best option may be a temperature adjustable glue gun.

Glue stick size:

Each glue gun is designed for working with a particular glue stick, varying from smaller, thinner 12mm sticks to larger 15mm sticks. With any glue gun you’re considering, pay much attention to the compatible size of stick glue to make sure you don’t end up with unmatched products!

Key Shopping Considerations

All glue guns are dispensing molten glue, but based on the nature of the craft you make, one model might be perfectly suited to your use over another.
Evaluating features such as how hot the glue gun gets and how much glue it delivers can help you decide the best one for your crafting needs.

The Wattage Factor

When it comes to glue guns, strength and heat go hand in hand. More wattage means a cooler sticker gun, improved heating, and the ability to keep hot longer while you’re working. A rating of 10 to 20 watts is typical in low-temperature gluing weapons.
High-temp guns run at 20 watts of heat and can be as high as 100 watts or more.
If a job requires a lot of glue, such as having a dense pine cone, you would have less downtime if you had to use a high-temperature gun of 60 watts or more.
You can still make a wreath with a low-temperature pistol, but you may have to wait a minute or so after adding each cone to allow the gun to heat up again.

Gun Size

Glue guns come in full size or small size, and their size corresponds to the type of stick they take. A small glue gun uses thin “mini” sticks that are only 0.27 inches in diameter, and full-size glue guns take wider sticks that are 0.44 inches in diameter. Full-sized guns deliver a greater volume of hot glue on each squeeze, while mini guns have a smaller amount, making them perfect for wrapping presents and making fragile art items such as Christmas ornaments.

Additional Options

You’re not going to find many fancy bells and whistles on most glue guns; their architecture is relatively simple, but you will find a few choices that could make it easier to craft.

Off/On Switch:

Most glue guns will be on while plugged in by default, but there are a few off/on switches that let you switch it off when the gun is plugged in.

Stand:

There are many glue guns with a flip-down tripod that balances the glue gun when you put it down, but others come with a separate stand where you can rest the gun before you need it next. Others also have an upright style that can stand on their base.

Sleeved tip:

the best glue guns include a heat-resistant shield protecting a substantial portion of the metal dispensing tip. You’re less likely to burn fingertips like that.

Corded vs. Cordless

For years, the only form of glue gun on the marketplace had to have been connected into a wall socket. The latest kids on the block are cordless versions running on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery or removable butane cartridge.
Cordless versions make it easy to enter areas with no outlet, such as the loose shingle gluing down on the garden shed. A single butane cartridge or a fully charged 18-volt battery can fuel the glue gun for around two to three hours.

Bottom Line

The Cobiz Dual Power Heavy Duty Glue Gun is the best overall hot glue gun. It’s easy to hold, heats up quickly, and comes with a sturdy stand. If you’re looking for a cordless glue gun, go with the Werktough Cordless Glue Gun (view at Amazon). This battery-powered device heats up quickly and has a battery life of 45 minutes on a single charge.