A glue gun is a really useful addition to your home DIY kit. It’s ideal for crafts projects and making decorations, ornaments and costumes, but it’s also so handy to have ready to make all sorts of minor repairs around your home.
Buying the best glue gun means deciding exactly what jobs you’re likely to use it for, as well as who’s going to use it. Some are suitable for both adults and kids, others are child friendly but not ideal for the tasks you’d want to take on, and some are great as part of your toolkit rather than for children. Our favorite glue gun is the CCBetter Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun because it works on materials from glass and card to metal, plastic, and ceramics, making it very flexible. It also has a quick heat-up time, trigger propulsion for easy use, and you’ll get 30 glue sticks along with the gun. Check out more of our top choices below.
CCBetter Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun
Easy to use and to control, this glue gun is a home essential
Quick heat up makes this super handy for crafts projects and speedy repairs.
Pros:
- Heats up in 3 to 5 minutes
- Keeps glue temperature constant
- Anti-hot protective cover
- Trigger propulsion
- Comes with 30 glue sticks
Cons:
- Not ideal for gluing heavier items
The CCBetter Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun is our top pick for a host of reasons. It’s ideal for plenty of home crafts and projects because it can be used on wood, ceramics, card, fabric, plastic and more. You can stick on beads and other decorations, trims, shells, pine cones, dried flowers and so on to make unique items for your home, as well as mend breakages in a flash.
It’ll heat up in just three to five minutes, and will keep the temperature of the glue constant, and the trigger means you have great control of the flow of glue. It comes with 30 glue sticks, too, so you’ll be all set. It won’t stick more heavyweight items, but if you’re after a glue gun for all your decorative projects and small repairs, it’s a winner.
Chandler Tool Hot Glue Gun
A stand-up base makes this design ideal for lengthy projects
Designed for both crafts and DIY, this glue gun is drip-free to avoid waste and mess.
Pros:
- Secure stand-up base
- Precision heating element
- Heats up in 3 to 5 minutes
- Comes with 10 glue sticks
Cons:
- Accurate work might be harder than with mini design
If you’re a serious crafter with lengthy projects to carry out, the Chandler Tool Hot Glue Gun could be the design for you. It has a patented base that leaves it easy to grab every time you need it without taking your gaze away from what you’re doing. It’s also drip-free, so it doesn’t waste glue nor leave you with a messy clean-up job at the end. It comes with a lifetime warranty, and you’ll get 10 glue sticks when you buy it.
This design is full sized with 60 Watts of power, making it suitable for plenty of DIY and crafts jobs. It’s lightweight at just 1.2 pounds, but you might find you need a bit of practice to get the best from it if you’re used to a mini design.
TOPELEK Hot Glue Gun
Comfortable for adults and kids to use
An all-rounder with safety features made for all small arts and crafts projects.
Pros:
- Long handle to fit adults’ and kids’ hands
- No-drip nozzle with protective cover
- Finger caps for protection against scalding
- Comes with transparent and colored glue sticks
Cons:
- Not the fastest heat-up
Want to get the whole family started on creative projects? The TOPELEK Hot Glue Gun is the best bet. The handle is long to ensure both adults and kids can grip it comfortably, and you can get two fingers on to the trigger. To avoid accidental scalding, the glue gun comes with three finger covers made from silicone, and there’s a protective cap for the leak-proof nozzle as well.
It’s not as quick to heat up as some, taking five to eight minutes, but it comes with 20 transparent and colored glue sticks ready to make gifts, cards and decorations, as well as to do easy repairs round your home.
AdTech Ultra Low-Temp Cool Tool Glue Gun
A cooler glue temperature for children’s projects
Specially designed for kids’ crafting, this mini design is easily portable.
Pros:
- Cooler than standard glue temperature
- Ideal for kids’ projects
- Sized for small hands
- Light weight
Cons:
- For simple jobs only
- No glue sticks included
Looking for a glue gun that’s ideal for kids’ projects? The AdTech Ultra Low-Temp Cool Tool is specially made for little ones with a temperature that’s 75 degrees cooler than standard glue guns for added protection from burns. It has the proportions that fit kids’ fingers, too, and, at only 0.32 ounces in weight, you can take it to crafting events easily.
The design works best for the kind of projects kids will take on with materials such as fabric and paper. It doesn’t come with glue sticks, but it’s a great value choice in any case.
BSTPOWER 100W Hot Glue Gun
Three additional nozzles create flexibility for all your jobs
This versatile design is great for all sorts of projects and repairs.
Pros:
- 3 to 5 minute heat-up
- Extra nozzles to suit different jobs
- Temperature control
- Anti-drip nozzle
Cons:
- Better for bigger hands
For a glue gun that’ll help you take on projects like furniture re-upholstery as well as smaller decorative jobs, look no further than the BSTPOWER 100W Hot Glue Gun. It has a temperature dial that ranges from 212°F to 428°F, so you can adjust depending on the application, and there are three additional nozzles to suit different jobs.
It heats up in three to five minutes, and has overheating protection, plus there’s a detachable support.
Our verdict
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The CCBetter Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun is our number one glue gun pick. Our best easy-to-grab design is the Chandler Tool Hot Glue Gun with its stable base, and our favorite cordless model is the Ryobi P305 One+ Cordless Hot Glue Gun. For the whole family to use, check out the TOPELEK Hot Glue Gun, while the AdTech Ultra Low-Temp Cool Tool Glue Gun is the best glue gun for kids. Looking for a design to round out your home toolkit? A top option is the BSTPOWER 100W Hot Glue Gun.