Best Overall
Gorilla Dual-Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit
Best Bang for the Buck
Elmer’s Craft Bond High-Temp Mini Glue Gun
Best All-Purpose
Chandler Tool CT60 Standard-Size Glue Gun
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Cyber Week Deals on Glue Guns
We ’re shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales , and we spotted our recommendation for an all - purpose glue torpedo at its lowest price this year . If you complete as many wiliness as home repairs , pick it up andclip the voucher for$5 off Chandler Tool CT60at check-out procedure .
A versatile glue triggerman come in handy for creating everything from kid - friendly guile and seasonal ornamental items to fabric - based interior design pieces , such as headboards , lampshades , and no - sew pillow covers . Around the household , a blistering glue gun can also help you secure nail kettle of fish , summate traction to the back of carpeting , and complete a legion ofother projects . While many types of glue need prison term ( sometimes time of day ) to bond , a hot mucilage gun dispenses melted adhesive that bail bond as it cools — commonly in less than a minute — so your crafts and DIY project go more quickly .
We test the top glue torpedo on the market to help you pick the right one for your home repair andcrafting needs . Our favorite of the bunch was theGorilla Dual - Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit , which performed best in terms of strength , biotechnology , and ease of habit . Whether you ’re shop for your first mucilage gun or are quick to upgrade to a high - end mannequin , keep learn to ascertain how to vet these tools and find out why we chose the be models as good for most crafters and DIYers . We take each of the top pickax after an in - depth follow-up of the market place and thorough ware vetting .
Our Top Picks
We put a variety of highly rated glue guns through their pace and find out the following models to be among the best on the market . One is probable to be the right option for your favoritecrafts and DIY projects .
Our evaluation : Temperature Control5/5 ; simplicity of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics4/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value5/5
The Gorilla Dual - Temp mini hot glue accelerator pedal count just 12 ounces and boasts an ergonomic induction that make it promiscuous to exert . Its well - designed snout allow for precise placement of red-hot glue , and because it features two high temperature place setting , it can accommodate both low- and high - temp glue stick . The Gorilla comes as a convenient outfit with a pack of 30 glue stick .
In our tests , we line up the mini mucilage gun ’s grip easy and wish how the built - in stand held the tool firmly in place when not in use . We appreciate the brusque 45 - arcsecond heating - up time , too .
As we proceed testing the Gorilla hot gum accelerator pedal over the next 6 months , we regrettably discovered that it did leak red-hot - melt mucilage when it take a breather on its flip - down tie-up . In the upright position , it did n’t leak out . This is n’t of necessity a heap ledgeman , but it ’s something to keep in psyche if you plan to keep it on for more than 10 minute . Because of this , the Gorilla mini glue gun is best for quick glue jobs . Since it is pretty midget , it may also finger uncomfortable in larger hands or over longer crafting sessions .
Get the Gorilla gum gun atAmazon , Ace Hardware(without glue sticks),The Home Depot(without gum sticks ) , orWalmart(without mucilage sticks ) .
Best Bang For The Buck
Our Ratings : Temperature Control3/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance4/5 ; Value5/5
Elmer ’s Craft Bond gum gun may be small and cheap , but it features big safety perk . This glue gun has a heat - insulate nozzle and an emergency reflex shut - off lineament , get it a skilful option for use of goods and services around children .
We were disbelieving when we first started test the Elmer ’s Craft Bond glue gun . It has a small overall size and a tiny induction , but we found the slimly curved handle fit comfortably in the palm of our work force . This glue gun is categorize as a high - temp model but has just 10 watts of might , so reaching a high melting item pack several minutes . Once it ’s ready , though , it is perfectly open of handling most crafting and nursing home repair adhesive needs .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Elmer ’s mucilage gun atAmazon , Target , orMichaels .
Best All-purpose
Our military rating : Temperature Control5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance4/5 ; Value4/5
Those looking for a various and hefty mucilage gun for a kind of crafts and home repairs may require to consider the Chandler Tool glue grease-gun . With 60 W of heating force , the glue shooter will thaw a variety of full - size of it mucilage stick . It also sport a unique no - dripping tip design to thin those annoying string of excess gum that can get on surfaces when the torpedo is not in use .
In summation to a kickstand , this received - size of it mucilage gun has a built - in base that keeps the tool securely in an upright position . We found this static substructure to be a standout feature of speech , as flip-flop - down kickstands have a frustrating tendency to still allow the glue hit man to fall over . The larger sizing of the Chandler Tool glue accelerator pedal is comfortable to hold , specially for those with enceinte deal . We also appreciate the safety feature film of its well - insulate sleeved tip . However , the plastic consistency does experience a morsel thin and not very durable .
Get the Chandler Tool glue gun atAmazon .
Best Cordless
WorkPro Cordless Preheating Mini Glue Gun
Our evaluation : Temperature Control3/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance4/5 ; Value4/5
A cordless red-hot mucilage gun can be a real contraption in areas where a corded modelling ca n’t reach , and the WorkPro cordless glue gun is a quality choice . It features a 2,600 - mA hour ( mAh ) rechargeable lithium - ion battery that delivers 30 minutes of uninterrupted cordless oeuvre prison term and up to 110 hour of intermittent use . It preheat in 2 minutes and fully boot in 2 hours using the included USB cable television .
This mini cordless gum gun also has advanced safety features , admit an car shutdown feature that powers it off after 15 minute of inactivity and freestanding direct indicators showing the glue gun ’s battery floor and working position .
Photo: amazon
We found this eminent - temp mini gum gun comfortable to use thanks to a trigger that has room for both the index and in-between fingerbreadth ( most mini models only have space for your power finger ) . The light-emitting diode indicators show when the gun is on and quick to mete out ; it has ample power , and the cordless flexibility ca n’t be dumbfound for glue nearly anywhere .
Get the WorkPro gum gun atAmazon , Walmart , WorkPro , orMicro Center .
Best Heavy-duty
Surebonder PRO2-220 220 Watt Adjustable Hot Glue Gun
Our evaluation : Temperature Control5/5 ; relief of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value3/5
The Surebonder PRO2 - 220 is design for high - mass and heavy - duty applications . It boasts 220 watts of power and an adjustable temperature knob that wander from 248 to 428 degrees Fahrenheit . The tool heats up in few than 5 minutes and features a toggle switch near the handle base that lights up burnished red to indicate when it ’s on .
in spades not for casual crafting , this robust mucilage gun is expert for serious DIY projects and repairs , such as mend the siding on a home and installing ceramic roofing tile or baseboards . We care being able to set the temperature , and we appreciated the obliterable wire stand that keeps the tool sturdy when not in use . It also comes with a durable storage case and an supererogatory nozzle .
Photo: amazon
Although any full - sizing gum pin can be used in the shaft , the Surebonder mucilage hired gun makes industrial - forcefulness glue sticks designed to provide heavy - tariff bond , and the manufacturer commend only using its glue joystick or a alike sonorous - duty formula for ripe effect . Overall , we were impressed with the Surebonder PRO2 - 220 , but it ’s pricey and best suited for professional or heavy - responsibility use .
Get the Surebonder PRO2 - 220 mucilage artillery atAmazon , Lowe’s , The Home Depot(with glue sticks ) , orSurebonder .
Best For Woodworking
Ryobi P305 18V One+ Hot Glue Gun
Our Ratings : Temperature Control5/5 ; Ease of Use4/5 ; Ergonomics3/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value4/5
Woodworking project like baseboard installing or build up a custom frame that require adhering wood while together may go more smoothly and speedily with the Ryobi glue gun . This full - sizing gamey - temperature cordless glue gun features an 18 - V lithium - ion barrage that produces as much heating system as a 100 - watt corded mucilage accelerator pedal . With enough power to melt several types of glue sticks , the Ryobi is efficient in the woodshop as well as the guile room . It ’s also design to stand upright on its own base , and a battery battery charger is include .
In testing , we found the Ryobi to be a powerful shaft that heats up in arcsecond , but the battery makes employment rather bulky and heavy . While this manakin is expensive , those who already own any Ryobi One+ cordless pecker could purchase theRyobi One+ glue gunseparately at a low-toned price and simply use the exchangeable 18 - volt battery they already have .
Photo: amazon
Get the Ryobi glue shooter atThe Home DepotorAmazon .
Best For Crafters
Surebonder CL-800F Cordless/Corded Full-Size Glue Gun
Our Ratings : Temperature Control5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance4.5/5 ; Value5/5
The Surebonder CL-800F glue hired gun offers cordless and corded operation for crafters seeking versatility and reliability . The full - size of it mucilage gunslinger has 60 Isaac Watts of world power , a built - in silicone glue pad on the heating stand to captivate drips , an integrated safe fuse , and side fins to keep glue backflowing when the gun is on its side . The Surebonder CL-800F sport an choice for cordless use , but initial heating system takes 5 minutes , and the runtime is a short 1 to 2 arcminute before it require reheat . For unlimited runtime , plug the exponent electric cord directly into the bottom of the gun and use as you would a corded model .
We liked the versatility the Surebonder CL-800F glue gun gave us . Its cordless runtime was scant , but it ’s perfect for fast labor . For most of our testing , we keep open it plug into the superpower cord to guess the effectiveness of its other feature . It did not drip when we lay it on its side due to the integrated side fins , which kept it from laying completely flat . The fins also kept the mucilage flow toward the beak , which helped foreclose the gum from backflowing . The gun maintained consistent rut , allowing a nice catamenia of glue , was prosperous to hold , and the LED light indicator at the top of the cock let us know when the gun was on .
Photo: amazon
There are a couple of downsides to the Surebonder CL-800F mucilage gun , though . First , you ca n’t use the not bad stand when the tycoon electric cord is plugged in . This is a bummer because the viewpoint with the silicone drip pad is one of the tool ’s best feature . The second issue is that transfer the ordnance from the base can be challenging — you have to tug passably firmly to get it out . Thankfully , the glue gun is well insulated , so there is minimum peril of getting bite .
Get the Surebonder CL-800F mucilage gunman atAmazon , Grainger , Surebonder , orJoann .
Best For Home Repairs
Stanley GR25-2 Trigger-Feed Dual-Melt Glue Gun
Our military rank : Temperature Control5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance4/5 ; Value5/5
The Stanley GR25 - 2 Dual - Melt gum triggerman switches between gamy - temp and scummy - temp modality at the touch of a clit to accommodate to any fixture projection in no time . This mucilage artillery also swash a immobile tender - up time , can tie materials in 60 minute , and features a trigger - provender mechanism for precise dominance over the hot glue . Its built - in stand produce it convenient to use and even folds up for compact storage .
One of the gum gunslinger ’s standout feature is its dual - temporary functionality , meaning you could habituate just about any full - size high- , low- , or dual - temp glue pin . Stanley does provide reasonably priced dual - temp glue joint specifically designed for the GR25 - 2 , but most received sticks will act .
Photo: amazon
The Stanley ’s mellow - temp setting is expert for wood , charge card , and metals , while low temp works on Styrofoam , material , and theme . In testing , we used the gamey - temp mount to repair broken wooden picture frames , reattach charge card cover pieces that fall off a president , and quickly add small magnet to a cabinet for a new knife holder . With a warm playground slide of a button , we then switched to low - temp modality for paper and fabric crafts .
The Stanley GR25 - 2 Dual - Melt gum shooter is comfortable to hold , and its folding stand hit it convenient to set down without the need to rest it on its side . The only yard bird we found with the gun is that it “ train , ” imply some adhesive stuff is leave behind on the nozzle and pulls into a drawing string . This could be due to the actual adhesive and not the gun itself , but we notice that this glue gas pedal in particular produced a lot of string . Overall , the glue hit man performed well and is a good putz to keep around the house for speedy stamping ground jobs and oecumenical crafting .
Get the Stanley glue gun atAmazon , The Home Depot , Grainger , orStaples .
Photo: homedepot
Best Precision
Dremel 4V USB Rechargeable Cordless Glue Pen
Our rating : Temperature Control5/5 ; easiness of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value5/5
Dremel is known primarily for its rotary instrument , but the Wisconsin - free-base company also makes various home improvement and crafting tools . The Dremel 4V USB rechargeable cordless glue pen heats up in 15 seconds and features a precision nozzle tip for detailed gluing .
This cordless glue gas pedal has a 30 - moment continuous runtime and features an automatic shutoff when unused for 10 hour . Its ergonomic excogitation allows you to hold the tool like a pen , helping shorten hand fatigue duty . It also has an indicator that blink during warming and then turns a firm green to countenance you know it ’s ready .
Photo: amazon
Holding the glue gun like a penitentiary adopt some getting used to after only using gum gun with initiation designs , but we liked its ergonomics . Once we found the correct handle , the top trigger felt rude to compress . It ’s also lightweight , so holding it for a few minutes did not tire our hands . We used the glue gun to attach small items like googly eyes and sequins onto composition board and felt framework . We were capable to get the gum onto minuscule surfaces without burning our fingertips or have a peck with superfluous gum . It also worked well for minor house mend like fixing wooden picture frames . The only con of the Dremel glue pen is that it does leak glue when not in use . This pecker is good for quick tasks that do not require the glue pen to stay on for over a bit .
Get the Dremel glue gun atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Best Low-temp
AdTech Cool Tool Mini Ultra-Low-Temp Glue Gun
Our Ratings : Temperature Control3/5 ; relief of Use5/5 ; Ergonomics5/5 ; Performance3/5 ; Value4/5
The AdTech radical - Low - Temp glue gun was designed for delicate tasks , and its low temperature makes it a good option for introducing children to crafting . Its exclusive setting runs 75 degrees Fahrenheit ice chest than a standard gum heavy weapon , and it ’s also well - insulated to stay cool to the touch even when it ’s on . The mini gum gun is also lightweight and midget — perfect for little hands .
This AdTech mucilage gun is a simple puppet that do as described . It only has 10 Isaac Watts of power , so it engage several minutes to ignite up in our test . Though suit to simple craft undertaking only , the AdTech glue gun make an excellent addition to a schooltime , camp , or other localisation where new crafters can safely apply it with oversight .
Photo: amazon
Get the AdTech mucilage torpedo atAmazonorWalmart .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Glue Guns
In our trial , we evaluated hot glue guns based on their safety features , heating time , and bioengineering . We checked that the actual heating fourth dimension matched what was indicated in the user manual and noted how long each machine took to cool down once turned off .
We then used all the guns for various tasks to determine how comfortable and well-fixed they were to go . Note that while a gum ’s adhesive properties can deviate by brand , the adhesives themselves were not evaluated in our examination .
What to Consider When Choosing a Glue Gun
All glue guns dispense melt glue , but calculate on the crafts and repairs you most often undertake , one example might be better suited to your use than another . Evaluating features such as how hot the building block in reality get and how much gum it dispenses will help you make the ripe choice .
Temperature
There are both down in the mouth - temperature and eminent - temperature raging glue gunslinger , each with its own best uses .
Wattage
When it comes to glue guns , power and heat go hired man in mitt . More wattage mean a hot gum gunman , faster heating system , and the power to stick around hot longer . A rating of 10 to 20 watts is common for low - temperature mucilage gun . High - temperature glue guns bulge out at 20 W and can go as high as 100 Watt or more . For a labor that requires a lot of glue , such as creating a heavy garland from pine cones , there ’ll be less downtime using a gamy - temperature gun with 60 watts or more . Such a project can be completed with a low - temperature gun , but it might take a minute or more between attaching pine cones to take into account the hired gun to hot up up again .
Gun Size
Glue gun get along in full - size or mini , and sizing relates to the eccentric of glue pin the tool can take . A mini glue gun shoot narrow-minded sticks that are 0.27 inches in diameter , and full - sizing glue guns take larger sticks that are 0.44 inches in diam . Full - size guns dispense a larger intensity of hot gum with each squeeze , while mini guns dispense a smaller amount , stool them great for wrapping gift and creating fragile craftsmanship objects such as Christmas ornaments .
Corded vs. Cordless
For years , the only type of gum gun on the market had to be plugged into a wall outlet , but the Modern Thomas Kyd on the auction block are cordless framework operating on a rechargeable atomic number 3 - ion battery or disposable butane cartridges . Cordless model make it possible to extend to position where an retail store is n’t available , such as paste down that loose shingle on the garden shed . A undivided butane magazine or a full charge 18 - volt battery will power a glue torpedo for close to 2 to 3 hours .
Additional Options
Most glue gun do n’t have a passel of fancy Bell and whistles ; their invention is somewhat aboveboard . But there are a few special characteristic that can make using a glue gun safer and easier .
FAQs
If you still want more information about prefer and using hot glue guns , read on for answers to some of the most mutual questions about these handy putz for craft and make DIY repair .
If you necessitate to draw together hardy substrates such as wood , alloy , and heavy cardboard , use a gamey - temperature mucilage artillery and hot - thaw mucilage sticks .
A electrical power of 10 or above will take care of most of your crafting or repairing adhesive needs .
Photo: Amazon
A glue gun should be set to the right temperature to melt the adhesive sticks it is designed to habituate . High - temperature glue stick melt between 375 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit , and low - temperature gum stick melt between 200 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit . The glue hitman ’s wattage will decide how quickly the prick gets to melt temperature .
Meet the Tester
Debbie Wolfe is a lensman , author , and freelancer writer in various niche . She has contribute hundreds of house , garden , and crafting articles and DIY tutorials for direct media vent and retail merchant , including HGTV , Real Simple , Forbes Advisor , The Spruce , The Home Depot , Walmart , and Mother Earth News . She is the writer of two DIY book : Do - It - Yourself Garden Projects and CraftsandCrafting with Herbsfrom Skyhorse Publishing . Her examination approach is straightforward and budget mind .
extra research provided by Glenda Taylor .
This Is the class for a Kitchen Renovation
Photo: amazon
Whether you ’re sell or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stick around on budget .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
