10 Best Glue Sticks 2024 in the United States

If you’re interested in crafts and after-school activities, a glue gun with glue sticks is a great idea. You can use it in a wide range of materials, such as plastic, paper, wood, ceramics, glass, fabrics, and styrofoam--pretty much everything! It’s also handy in a number of repairs, such as gluing the spine of a book or for woodworking. You’ll see it used in electronics to set parts and wires, and to protect and insulate components. But there are hot glue sticks, for strong bonds, low-temperature glue sticks, for delicate work, and dual-use glues. You also have to make sure that the diameter of the glue stick matches your glue gun.

We've put together this guide to help you select the best glue sticks that answer to your needs. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of glue stick,

• See useful tips about that type of glue stick,    

• Read reviews of different brands of glue stick, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of glue stick, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

We can distinguish between glue sticks by their dimensions:

• Ministick: These will be small sticks, 5/16" or 1/4" thick, and 4" long. This is adequate for crafts and school use.

• Standard:  These will be slightly thicker, at 7/16" or 1/2" thick by 4" long for household or hobby use. There is also a 10" long version for commercial use

• Commercial and Industrial: These are substantially thicker, at 5/8" thick and 10" long.

• Other forms: Hot glue also comes in the form of bulk pellets, pillows, or chips.

We can also distinguish between hot-melt and low temperature glue sticks.

• Hot-melt sticks melt at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 Celsius), and are employed in stronger bonds. You’ll employ hot-melt sticks in uses where the material reaches a high temperature. The Surebonder H-810R High Performance Acrylic Adhesive Glue Sticks are hot melt sticks.

• Low-temperature sticks melt at 250 Fahrenheit (121 Celsius), and are good for delicate materials such as lace and cloth. The Surebonder CS15 CoolShot Low Temp Glue Sticks are low temperature sticks.

• There are also dual-use sticks, that melt at low temperatures, but can be used at high temperatures as well. The Surebonder DT-2010 can be used at all temperatures.

Glues will be marked as Low, High, or Dual-Use temperature sticks.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Care with hot glue: Exercise caution when using the hot glue. Since the temperature is very high (400 degrees Fahrenheit), it can cause burns to the skin. Some prefer the low temperature glue for just that reason, especially when working with children’s projects.

• Specialty glue sticks: Glu-Stix also makes colored and glitter glue sticks, which are especially popular for crafts.

• Prefer the high-temperature sticks: Some prefer the high-temperature sticks, even on fabrics (which don’t usually require much strength). This is because the high-temperature glue takes longer to set, which allows you more time to position pieces  and move them around. High-temperature glue will also prove to be stronger.

• Glue pot: A glue gun is great if you’re working alone. But if more than one person wants to use a glue stick, there is the glue pot. A glue pot has a receptacle for a glue stick, or glue in the form of pellets, pillows, or chips. The glue pot then melts the glue, which collects in a reservoir. You dip the object that you want to glue in the reservoir, wipe off the excess, and attach the object. Using a glue pot, you only need one hand to work with the adhesive.

• Strings of glue: When using hot-temperature glue, there is the problem of “strings” or “threads” of glue, which may be a disadvantage. You can avoid this by using a glue pot, or low-temperature glue sticks.

Surebonder--is a brand of FPC Corporation, which was founded in 1968, and has its headquarters in Wauconda, Illinois. They make a complete line of fastening and adhesive products: adhesives and glue guns, craft tools, bulk applicators, pneumatic tools, and staple guns.