Best Hot Glue Stick On The Market – Buyer’s Guide

Versatile and practical, hot glue is a product that can help you create arts and crafts as well as make repairs. Unfortunately, it is also a product that, depending on its manufacturer, varies greatly in quality. As a result, it is not uncommon for people who do not know any better to buy cheaply-made, low-quality hot glue sticks. Apart from performing poorly, a bad hot glue stick can actually cause damage to a hot glue gun. To prevent that from happening to you, this buyer’s guide will provide useful reviews for the five best hot glue stick products on the market. Moreover, it will provide useful information about this type of product.

Image	Product
EDITOR'S CHOISE	Gorilla Hot Glue Stick  Sizes: 10 ct 4″ mini 30 ct 4″ mini 75 ct 4″ mini 25 ct 8″ mini 30 ct 4″ Full 45 ct 4″ Full 20 ct 8″ Full Check Price	Check Price
QUICK-MELTING	Surebonder Low Temp Glue Sticks Sizes: 40 ct 4″ mini 15 ct 4″ mini 100 ct 4″ mini 90 ct 10″ Full 20 ct 10″ Full  Check Price	Check Price
BEST CLEAR	Ad-Tech Multi Temp Glue Stick Sizes: 24 ct 4″ mini 30 ct 4″ mini 50 ct 10″ Full 5 lb Boxes Check Price	Check Price
BUDGET	Artellius Mini Hot Glue Gun Sticks Sizes: 200 ct 4″ mini 600 ct 4″ mini 1000 ct 4″ mini 150 ct 4″ full Check Price	Check Price
COLOR STICKS	Ewparts Color Glue Stick Sizes: 50 ct (10 colors) mini 75 ct (15 colors) mini 11 ct (11 colors) mini 11 ct (11 colors) full Check Price	Check Price

1. Gorilla Hot Glue Stick  – Best All-Around Hot Glue Stick

Versatile, strong and durable, the Gorilla Hot Glue Stick Pack is a great option for arts and crafts, repair and more. All the sticks that come in this pack are suitable for being used with high-temperature, low-temperature and dual hot glue guns. This is very convenient as the glue works with different materials at different temperatures. Despite being compatible with high-temperature hot glue guns, the Gorilla Hot Glue Stick Pack is very safe as it does not have exposed parts that get hot.

Performance and Strength

Consistency and Temperature

Provided with a smooth consistency, the Gorilla Hot Glue Stick Pack is easy to use and manipulate. This is helped by the fact that it has an extended drying time of 45 seconds, providing enough time to adjust and correct your work before the glue has bonded two parts permanently. Once concreted, the bond that this product creates is strong and resistant to impact, water and temperature changes. This protects it against the kind of seasonal temperature swings that often cause other glues to fail.

Material Compatibility

To be sure, the Gorilla Hot Glue Stick Pack stands out for two main things. One is its compatibility with high, low and dual temperature hot glue guns. The other is its bonding abilities with materials of all kinds. Both these factors are intimately related because the temperature that the glue is melted at affects the type of material it can bond with. When melted at high temperatures, the glue works with wood, plastic, metal, glass and more. On the other hand, when melted at low temperatures, this product is fantastic for being used on floral arrangements, fabrics, foams, jewelry and more.
PROS

• Extended drying time allows last-minute adjustments.
• Completely waterproof.
• Resistant to impact.
• Compatible with a wide range of materials.
• Works well at any temperature.

CONS

• Extended drying time can be inconvenient and frustrating.
• Uneven stick sizes.

2. Surebonder Low Temp Glue Sticks – Best Quick-Melting Hot Glue Stick

Designed especially for being used with low-temperature glue guns, the Surebonder CS15 CoolShot is a safe, reliable and effective adhesive. Featuring a completely clear color even after melting, it’s subtle and easy to conceal. Even at low temperatures, it melts rather quickly, producing a consistent, easy-flow substance that is easy to apply and use. Before going any further, however, it is worth noting that the Surebonder CS15 CoolShot Low Temp Glue Sticks can only be used with the Surebonder Cool Shot LT-160 glue gun.

Performance and Strength

Consistency and Temperature

Without a doubt, its consistency is one of the biggest advantages that the Surebonder CS15 CoolShot has over its competitors. Even at very low temperatures, it melts very quickly, producing a rich, thick semi-liquid that is a true joy to apply due to its malleability. As all arts and crafts enthusiasts know very well, hot glue needs to have a good balance between being too thin and too thick in order to be properly used. Luckily, the Surebonder CS15 CoolShot is at that sweet spot between the two states of matter. As if all that wasn’t enough, this glue dries quickly and evenly.

Material Compatibility

As was previously mentioned, the Surebonder CS15 CoolShot can be used with a wide range of softer materials that are commonly used to create arts and crafts projects. This includes (but is not limited to) paper, cardboard, foam, light wood, fabrics, ribbon and various others. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about other, harder materials such as metal or glass. However, once again, these harder materials aren’t often used in arts and crafts projects.
PROS

• Dries very quickly.
• Melts at very low temperatures.
• Dries clear.
• Clean and user-friendly.
• Completely child-safe.

CONS

• At low temperatures, it may not melt satisfactorily.
• Dries too fast to make last-minute changes or adjustments.

3. Ad-Tech Multi Temp Glue Stick – Best Clear Hot Glue Stick

Featuring a collection of high-quality round glue sticks at affordable prices, this product is both convenient and useful. Made with high-quality ingredients, its formula is clear enough to be completely see-through. Not only that, though, as it is also malleable and remarkably strong. Because it can be rapidly melted at high, low and dual temperatures, this is a very versatile product that many crafters and dyers trust. Additionally, it does not emit toxic fumes, making it one of the safest products featured in this buyer’s guide.

Performance and Strength

The Surebonder Ad-Tech 14ZIP50 Multi-Temp Glue Stick has a medium-strength formula that is compatible with a wide range of materials. Despite not being the strongest out there, this product manages to bond surfaces of material disparity with great effectivity. After application, the substance dries in around 20 seconds, eliminating the need to clamp for extended periods of time while simultaneously providing you with enough time to make last-second adjustments. Once completely dried, the product is resistant to impact, preventing breakage. What is more, it is completely resistant to water and other external elements that may otherwise harm its performance.

Consistency and Temperature

Much like the Gorilla Hot Glue Stick Pack, this product can be used with low, high and dual temperature glue guns. No matter what type of glue gun you use, however, it melts quickly, evenly and consistently. Not too thick or too thin, this glue has a smooth and rich consistency that makes it easy to handle and apply. Even better, this type of consistency makes it compatible with various materials of both porous and non-porous types.

Material Compatibility

PROS

• Very affordable.
• Completely clear.
• Does not emit toxic fumes.
• Works with hot, medium and low-temperature glue guns.
• Compatible with different types of material.

CONS

• Does not bond well with certain materials.
• Dries too quickly for some applications.
• The sticks do not have a consistent size.

4. Artellius Mini Hot Glue Gun Sticks – Most Budget-Friendly Hot Glue Stick

Affordable and durable, this product by Artellius may be a great option for larger projects. It features a long-lasting formula that melts easily and smoothly at any temperature. After a quick dry time, this formula dries into a tough substance that bonds very well to most surfaces.

Performance and Strength

The Artellius Mini Hot Glue Gun Sticks Pack is a product that is capable of creating strong bonds. Largely, this has to do with its high-quality formula. Apart from producing strong, impact-resistant bonds, the formula sticks to most surfaces, making this a very practical and useful product. As a matter of fact, it’s resistant to impact, water, weather and other external elements that could otherwise cause it to break.

Consistency and Temperature

PROS

• Includes different colors.
• Works at all temperatures.

CONS

• Does not flow well.

5. Ewparts Color Glue Stick – Best Multi-Color Hot Glue Stick

Most hot glue sticks on the market are either white or clean. Unlike those products, the Artellius Mini Hot Glue Gun Sticks presents a variety of colors that you can use to boost and improve your arts and crafts projects. These compact sticks are effective, efficient and dependable. Compatible with both high and low-temperature glue guns, the sticks can be used in a large variety of settings. What is more, they are made of a high-quality, long-lasting formula that ensures durability and stability.

Performance and Strength

Consistency and Temperature

Both in hardened and melted form, the product’s formula is very even, making it easy to conceal. Even better, even after drying, this glue is flexible enough to withstand movement and impact without breakage. Something negative that should be pointed out while we are talking about consistency, however, is that the sticks that come in this pack are somewhat inconsistent in size or shape.

Material Compatibility

This product is compatible with a wide range of arts and crafts materials, including paper, cardboard, foam and some plastics. What is more, it can be used with wood, glass and other hard, solid materials.
PROS

• Comes in ten different colors.
• Medium drying time allows for easy manipulation.
• Compatible with a wide range of materials.
• Melts quickly and reliably.
• Great for arts and crafts.

CONS

• Glue sticks run out quickly.
• Does not work with medium or large hot glue guns.

Buyer’s Guide

Main Differences Between High-Temperature and Low-Temperature Glue

High-Temperaure Glue: As the name implies, high-temperature glue guns melt glue sticks at an elevated temperature. A glue that is melted at this temperature is well-suited for bonding hard, heavy and substantial materials such as wood or metal.

Low-Temperaure Glue: Opposite to high-temperature ones, low-temperature glue guns melt the material at low, controlled temperatures. Glues that melt at low temperatures are typically better for working with lighter, softer materials such as paper and cardboard. Additionally, because they don’t have parts that heat up at dangerous levels, low-temperature glue guns are very safe for kids.