Best Hot Glue Sticks

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2023 @ 11:22 am.

Best Full-Size Hot Glue Sticks: Gorilla 3034518 Hot Glue Sticks

What are the best hot glue sticks?

Shopping for hot glue sticks can be confusing—there are two basic sizes (mini and full-size), so that is easy enough.

Then you have to consider what temperature glue you need: low temp, high temp or dual temp glue (yes, the latter works with either temperature).

Most glue guns are dual temperature, so they can work with all the recommendations in this article. However, if you have a high-temp only gun, you can save some money by just getting high temp glue sticks (which are less expensive than dual temp sticks).

Low temperature glue works well for delicate craft projects that involve fabric, foam or floral materials.  

Higher temperature glue is designed for tougher materials: stone, glass, metal and the like.

There will be a quiz on this next Tuesday.

For the best full-size hot glue sticks, we’d recommend Gorilla’s Hot Glue Sticks (3034518). Yes, these are dual temperature glue sticks designed for full-size guns (if you need mini glue sticks, see later in this article for a recommendation).

What We Liked

• Sticks well to smooth plastic, glass or metal. 

• Works well even in other brand glue guns.

• Safe for either high or low temp crafting.

• Sandable and paintable.

• Bag is resealable.

• Weather resistant.

What Needs Work

• Doesn’t dry clear. The glue is opaque when dried. That didn’t bother us, but we know some folks who do jewelry projects may find this to be a deal killer.

• Small 4″ sticks may be too small for larger projects. 

• Pricey.

Best Budget-Friendly Hot Glue: Adtech Full-Size Hot Purpose Glue Sticks

If you’ve got several craft projects and need a large quantity of hot glue sticks, we know these things can get pricey. For the best budget-friendly dual temperature glue sticks, we’d recommend Adtech’s glue sticks. They work well and are easy on the wallet.

What We Liked

• Dries clear! 

• Work in dual temperature guns—both high and low temp,

• Made in the USA.

• Quickly bonds (less than 30 seconds).

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• Large size = doesn’t fit all glue guns. 

• Better at high temp than lower temp? This is our opinion, but we thought this glue worked better for higher temp applications. At lower temps, it was a bit stringy.

Best Mini Hot Glue Sticks: AdTech 100-pack 4-inch Mini Glue Sticks

For the best mini hot glue gun sticks, we’d recommend AdTech’s 100-pack of 4″ mini glue sticks. Yes, these are made by the same brand we recommended above in the best budget-friendly pick . . . but there is one other major difference. These are high temp only sticks, so they do NOT work for low temp craft projects.

What We Liked

• Made in the USA.

• Dries clear.

• Bonds in 30 seconds or less.

• Non-yellowing.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• High temp glue projects only. This glue is NOT dual temp!

• Sets too fast for some users! We didn’t have a problem with this, but we know some parents who used this glue for kid craft projects were a bit dismayed at how fast it set!

Best Colored Hot Glue Sticks: Ewparts 50 Pack 10 Colors Hot Melt Adhesive Glue Stick

For some craft projects, colored glue sticks may be better choice than standard white sticks—especially if you are glueing posters or other items of a similar color. Colored glue sticks are a great alternative to regular white sticks in that case!

For the best colored hot glue sticks, we’d recommend Ewpart’s 50-pack with 10 different colors. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• High temp glue = great for bonding metal, glass and stone.

• 5 sticks of each color: black, orange, green, white, light pink, yellow, dark pink, red, teal blue, brown.

• Designed for mini glue guns.

• Set time is about 7-10 seconds.

• Great for holiday crafts!

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Not designed for low-temp craft projects (fabric for example).

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