7 Best Glue Guns of 2024

Written by: - Garden Maintenance Expert
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The Best Glue Guns

best glue gun
  1. Best for durability - Bosch Home and Garden PKP18 Hot Glue Gun

  2. Best lightweight glue gun - Rhaegon Mini Size 60 Watt Glue Gun

  3. Best glue gun with dual power - SeekOne Dual Power 60/100 Watt Hot Glue Gun

  4. Best heavy duty glue gun with case - Beeway 100 Watt Hot Glue Gun

  5. Best for number of glue sticks - GoFriend 20 Watt Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun

  6. Best glue gun with coloured sticks - Tilswall 60 Watt Mini Melt Gun

  7. Best general purpose glue gun with case - Voyaux 50 Watt Hot Glue Gun

Glue Gun Reviews

Editors Choice
  • Most users agree that this is a well made and robust tool. Bosch should know a thing or two about making the best hot melt gun, after all.
  • You get a decent length power cord with this hot glue gun. It’s more generous compared with the Beeway tool, and even a little less stiff. It doesn’t fall over quite as much.
  • Weighing in at just 350 g, this is a super light hot glue gun. It means you can use it for long periods of times without tiring out your hand.

  • Compared with the huge range of hot glue sticks you get with the Tilswall hot glue gun, you only get one glue stick with this tool. That’s stingy seeing as it’s a more expensive product.
  • This is a premium branded hot glue gun, but it doesn’t include a case. It comes in a cardboard box, but once you’ve installed a glue stick, it doesn’t fit any more!
  • Even though Bosch promise this to be a non-drip hot glue gun, more than a few users have reported drips here and there.
Type
Mains
Power
16W
Warm Up Time
3-5mins
Stick Diameter
11mm
Glue Sticks
1 transparent
Carrying Case
No
On-Off Switch
No
Overall Score 4.7
Durability
5
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
4

Bosch is a brand that hardly needs an introduction to most DIYers, they’re one of the biggest names when it comes to tools. The German brand have been around since 1886, so I’m not surprised that the Bosch PKP18 is one of the best hot glue guns on the market right now.

Decked out in the familiar green plastic they use for their DIY level tools, this glue gun has a comfortable handle and a large solid trigger. The heating element draws a whopping 200 Watts, then reduces to 16 Watts to maintain a steady 200° C. This melts the 11 mm diameter glue sticks in around 3 – 5 minutes. The drip lock stops those fine lines of glue when you pull away from the workpiece too.

Coming from a big brand like Bosch, you can expect premium features like the extra thin nozzle that helps you put the glue exactly where you need it. It helps to keep waste to a minimum and has a useful plastic heat shroud around it to make sure you don’t burn your fingers.

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Runner Up

2. Rhaegon Mini Size 60 Watt Glue Gun

Best lightweight glue gun

best glue guns RHAEGON Mini Size 60 Watt Glue Gun
  • It’s really good to see a small glue gun that doesn’t fall over constantly when it’s on the stand. The front legs sit at an ideal angle and the power cord isn’t too rigid either.
  • If you’ve got small hands, this glue gun has a perfect handle. It’s been ergonomically designed to stay comfortable even when gluing up big jobs
  • The LED power light is a useful safety feature to have on a glue gun. The 165° C working temperature is hot enough to be dangerous, so it’s great to have a visual reminder.

  • Don’t try and use this glue gun on large surfaces. The 1.5 mm tip and small size 7 mm glue sticks mean you’re not producing large beads of glue. It’s ideal for small stuff though.
  • If you’ve got big hands, like I have, this might be a little bit small for heavy use. And if you’re left handed, there’s a chance you’ll knock the power switch with your little finger.
  • Like a lot of inexpensive glue guns, the power cord could be a lot longer. If you’re using this on a workbench it’ll be fine, but otherwise you’ll be reaching for the extension cord.
Type
Mains
Power
60W
Warm Up Time
1-2 mins
Stick Diameter
7mm
Glue Sticks
50 transparent
Carrying Case
No
On-Off Switch
Yes
Overall Score 3.7
Durability
4
Ease of Use
3
Value for Money
4

Gadget masters Rhaegon have an impressive inventory of useful tools for crafters and electric wizards. I was particularly impressed by their mini 60 Watt glue gun. Even though it’s only small, this is a well-designed tool that doesn’t topple over when it’s on its stand.

It’s, as you might have guessed, a very small and portable little glue gun. Made from glass fibre-reinforced nylon plastic, it’s rugged and not flimsy at all though. The trigger is big enough, even if the handle is small for large hands like mine.  

The heating-up process is made quick and kept stable by a clever PTC transistor hidden inside the gun. It means you can get up to temperature and then stay there for however long your glueing job takes you. And with 50 glue sticks to play with, it’s ideal for a beginner. It’s a wholly capable little glue gun that will tuck into your pocket if you need it to.

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Also Good
  • The dual power system means you can use 60 Watts for low flow, delicate jobs, and 100 Watt full power when you need a ton of glue, fast. It’s great to have this range of heats.
  • The shape of the handle base and flip out metal stand makes this one of the rare hot glue guns that stands up quite well. Compared to the Tilswall gun it’s rock solid.
  • You get the superior 150 cm long power cable with this glue gun. It’s not miles long, but it’s better compared with the 140 cm one found on the Beeway hot glue gun.

  • This hot glue gun is really let down by the lack of onboard power switch. You need to reach over to the socket and turn it on and off there. It’s frustrating compared to most other guns.
  • I love that you can switch between 60 and 100 Watts of power, but the switch isn’t labelled! You need to work out that left is 100 Watts and right is 60 Watts for yourself.
  • For such a premium looking hot glue gun, I was disappointed that it doesn’t come with a bag or case of any sort. Compared with the plastic case the Voyaux gun comes in, it’s not great.
Type
Mains
Power
60 / 100W
Warm Up Time
3-5mins
Stick Diameter
11mm
Glue Sticks
20 transparent
Carrying Case
No
On-Off Switch
No
Overall Score 4.7
Durability
4
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
5

A popular choice for hot air guns, SEEKONE also make one of the best dual power hot glue guns for the UK market. Capable of putting out two different heat levels means it can deal with different material glue sticks and work for longer than a low Wattage unit.

What sets this hot glue gun apart from most of the other ones on my list is the ergonomically designed handle. It’s more like something off a combi drill than a remarkably affordable hot glue gun! It’s comfortable to use and the heat selector switch is easy to get to as well.

Boasting a quality copper nozzle surrounded by a plastic heat shield, it certainly feels like a premium hot glue gun. SeekOne have also included 20 “full size” 11 mm diameter transparent glue sticks to help you get to work straight away.

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4. Beeway 100 Watt Hot Glue Gun [ SAVE 15% ]

Best heavy duty glue gun with case

best glue guns Beeway 100 Watt Hot Glue Gun
  • You get a decent pile of 30 transparent glue sticks with this hot glue gun. They should keep you going for a good while before you need to re-load.
  • The 100 Watt heating element melts the glue to an impressive 180° – 200° C. In comparison with the Voyaux hot glue gun, you can melt all sorts of glue stick types.
  • The carry case is a genuinely premium feeling item. It’s not too big, you can fit plenty of spare glue sticks in it, and it looks good too!
  • The trigger isn’t flimsy, and it helps to give you more control over the flow of hot glue. Plenty of users have agreed that when you take your finger off the trigger, the glue stops flowing.

  • The stiff power cable combined with the extremely light weight gun means that the little metal stand is almost useless. It’s difficult to keep the glue gun standing up.
  • As well as being stiff, the power cable could be a lot longer. At just 140 cm, it’s only really good for benchtop use. If you need to plug it into a low socket, you’ll need an extension.
Type
Mains
Power
100
Warm Up Time
3-5 mins
Stick Diameter
11mm
Glue Sticks
30 transparent
Carrying Case
Yes
On-Off Switch
Yes
Overall Score 4.3
Durability
4
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
4

One of those companies that seems to make just about everything, Beeway also happen to make one of the best small hot glue guns I’ve tested out. It’s powerful, easy to use, and comes in a smart case.

This hot glue gun makes use of a 100 Watt heating element to melt the glue. It takes 3 – 5 minutes to heat up and takes full size 11 mm hot glue sticks. I’m a big fan of the 3 mm precision nozzle on this tool – it means you can place glue precisely and without it dripping too much.

What makes this a particularly safe hot glue gun to use is the integrated LED light. It’s simple, but when the heating element is switched on, so is the light. It should go a long way to reminding you not to leave it switched on when it’s not in use.

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5. GoFriend 20 Watt Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun [ SAVE 6% ]

Best for number of glue sticks

best glue guns GoFriend 20 Watt Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun
  • You get a massive pile of 80 7 mm transparent glue sticks. That’s a lot of ammunition to get you started. Unless you’re using it all the time, you won’t need to buy more for ages.
  • Hot melt guns with LED working lights on them are much safer and more convenient than those without. Compared with the premium Bosch PKP18E, you know when it’s on.
  • Although you don’t get as much glue per stick with a 7 mm one, they’re ideal for precision glue jobs. Unless you need large amounts of glue, they’re much more convenient to use.

  • This is another hot glue gun with the enormously irritating on/off switch. It’s ideally situated for accidentally knocking during use. Before you realise, you’ve turned it off by mistake!
  • You get the shortest power cable length of all the hot melt guns on my list. GoFriend haven’t pushed the boat out here with just 115 cm to play with.
  • This hot glue gun is rather underpowered in comparison with the Beeway. It’s got 80 Watts less power to play with. It won’t ever heat up the glue as fast, or as hot.
Type
Mains
Power
20W
Warm Up Time
3-5mins
Stick Diameter
7mm
Glue Sticks
80 transparent
Carrying Case
No
On-Off Switch
Yes
Overall Score 4.7
Durability
4
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
5

If you’re looking for a small hot glue gun, then the GoFriend mini hot melt gun is just the ticket. It really is tiny, so it will happily fit into the tightest spots that need glueing. Add to that the ultra-fine nozzle tip and you’ve got a tool that’s built for fine work.

The solid trigger makes this gun easy to control, and the 20 Watt heating element gets the 7 mm “medium” size glue sticks up to melting temperature within 3 – 5 minutes. The rated temperature you can heat up to is 180 – 200°, which isn’t bad for such a small device.

Although you don’t get anything to carry the glue gun around in, there’s an inline on/off switch that’ll save you from reaching for the plug when you want to turn it off. The LED light tells you when it’s running too, so you know if it’s turned on from a distance.

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6. Tilswall 60 Watt Mini Melt Gun

Best glue gun with coloured sticks

best glue guns Tilswall 60 Watt Mini Melt Gun
  • I like the nozzle on this hot glue gun. Tilswall have added a protective silicone sleeve to it, which should help you to avoid burning your fingers on the hot tip. Very useful.
  • Compared with the Voyeux gun, the switch is placed at the bottom end of the handle. This means it’s well within reach to turn on and off, but you won’t accidentally knock it.
  • The trigger has a handy hook on the end that allows you to use your finger for better control. The trick to good hot gluing is all in the control, and this makes it easy.

  • This hot glue gun suffers from one of the worst stands I’ve used on a similar tool. The cord is stiff and the flip down plastic stand is all but useless. It is detachable though.
  • Compared with the 150 cm power cord on the SeekOne hot glue gun, you get a 10 cm shorter cable on this one. It’s a bit stingy for anything but benchtop work.
  • Most hot glue gun users will be more familiar with the 11 mm diameter sticks. This gun takes the smaller 7 mm ones that aren’t hard to find, but it’s not compatible with 11 mm ones.
Type
Mains
Power
60W
Warm Up Time
3 mins
Stick Diameter
7mm
Glue Sticks
60 coloured
Carrying Case
No
On-Off Switch
Yes
Overall Score 4.3
Durability
4
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
4

Tilswall make a whole range of power tools, measuring devices and other useful kit. They’ve turned their hand to making a decent little 60 Watt hot glue gun as well. Featuring a brilliant range of clear and coloured glue sticks, this is the perfect little glue gun for all the clever crafters out there.

The 60 Watt heating element melts the glue sticks within about 3 minutes up to a temperature of 165° C. You can get away with this slightly lower temperature because this gun takes the “medium” sized 7 mm glue sticks. It features a nice bright LED light as well, so you know when the gun is turned on and hot.

Although it doesn’t come in a protective case, the huge pile of 60 different hot glue sticks makes this an attractive craft set for anyone who wants to put some sparkle into their projects. You get 12 glitter hot glue sticks, 12 coloured ones, and 36 standard clear glue sticks for any situation.

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7. Voyaux 50 Watt Hot Glue Gun

Best general purpose glue gun with case

best glue guns Voyaux 50 Watt Hot Glue Gun
  • You’re supplied with 30 transparent hot glue sticks. That’s a generous amount of ammunition to keep you gluing for a long time unless you use it a lot.
  • For this price, you don’t need to be a committed hot glue gun enthusiast to have this tool in your arsenal. It’s at the right price point that you could even buy it “just in case”.
  • The fast warming up time is a welcome feature. Even compared to the more expensive hot glue guns like the Bosch PKP18E, this heats up lightning fast!

  • This hot glue gun takes the “medium” size 7 mm hot glue sticks, rather than the more familiar 11 mm ones. They don’t last for as long because they contain a lot less material.
  • The position of the on/off switch is perfectly situated to accidentally turn the gun off while you’re using it. An inline switch is useful, but I don’t know why they’d put it there.
  • Even though it’s a common fault on lightweight hot glue guns, the stiff cable and tiny plastic stand don’t work well together. It’s a real pain trying to keep this gun standing upright.
Type
Mains
Power
50W
Warm Up Time
1-2 mins
Stick Diameter
7mm
Glue Sticks
30 transparent
Carrying Case
Yes
On-Off Switch
Yes
Overall Score 4.7
Durability
4
Ease of Use
5
Value for Money
5

If you want a hot glue gun that heats up quickly and costs a lot less than most of the other ones on my list, check out the Voyaux 50 Watt hot glue gun. With one of these on your workbench, you can take on just about any glueing task quickly and efficiently.

Delivered in a handy plastic case, this glue gun heats up to 160° C in just 1 – 2 minutes and maintains that temperature for as long as you need it. You can switch it on and off directly on the gun as well, so you don’t need to bend down to switch it off at the plug.

Making use of medium width 7 mm hot glue sticks, the nozzle is 6 mm wide and the whole device can be propped up with the little plastic stand on the bottom of the gun. It’s an ideal inexpensive hot glue gun for any crafty DIYer that doesn’t want to empty their wallet.

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Harry's Smart Buying Tips

  1. Hot glue guns are one of the most precious possessions of crafters around the world. They’re versatile, convenient, and can create seriously strong bonds between a wide range of materials.
  2. For delicate work choose a lower-powered option of 15-20W, but if you’re gluing large pieces and need high volumes of glue quickly go for a model rated 50W or more.
  3. The most common widths of glue sticks are 7 mm and 11 mm. The 7 mm sticks are ideal for fine work whilst 11 mm are more DIY and larger craft-oriented.
  4. If you need a lot of glue quickly, use the 11 mm ones.
  5. The glue sticks can also come in different lengths.
  6. Although most hot glue sticks are transparent and almost invisible when applied, you can get a huge range of colours and finishes as well, great for creative crafts.

Compare Product Features

Use the dropdown to sort the table by the feature you want to see.

  • Bosch Home and Garden PKP18 Hot Glue Gun
    best glue guns Bosch Home and Garden PKP18 Hot Glue Gun
    • 4.7
    • Mains
    • 16W
    • 3-5mins
    • 11mm
    • 1 transparent
    • No
    • No
  • Rhaegon Mini Size 60 Watt Glue Gun
    best glue guns RHAEGON Mini Size 60 Watt Glue Gun
    • 3.7
    • Mains
    • 60W
    • 1-2 mins
    • 7mm
    • 50 transparent
    • No
    • Yes
  • SeekOne Dual Power 60/100 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    best glue guns SeekOne Dual Power 60/100 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    • 4.7
    • Mains
    • 60 / 100W
    • 3-5mins
    • 11mm
    • 20 transparent
    • No
    • No
  • Beeway 100 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    best glue guns Beeway 100 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    • 4.3
    • Mains
    • 100
    • 3-5 mins
    • 11mm
    • 30 transparent
    • Yes
    • Yes
  • GoFriend 20 Watt Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun
    best glue guns GoFriend 20 Watt Mini Hot Melt Glue Gun
    • 4.7
    • Mains
    • 20W
    • 3-5mins
    • 7mm
    • 80 transparent
    • No
    • Yes
  • Tilswall 60 Watt Mini Melt Gun
    best glue guns Tilswall 60 Watt Mini Melt Gun
    • 4.3
    • Mains
    • 60W
    • 3 mins
    • 7mm
    • 60 coloured
    • No
    • Yes
  • Voyaux 50 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    best glue guns Voyaux 50 Watt Hot Glue Gun
    • 4.7
    • Mains
    • 50W
    • 1-2 mins
    • 7mm
    • 30 transparent
    • Yes
    • Yes

How to Choose The Best Glue Gun

The crafter’s best friend, the hot glue gun, has more uses than you could shake a stick at. It’s versatile, convenient, and can create seriously strong bonds between a wide range of materials.

Power

The power rating of most hot melt glue guns is measured in Watts. The higher the Wattage, the faster it will melt the glue and the hotter the glue will become. Inside the casing is a heating element, and when electricity is passed through it, it gets hot.

The best hot glue gun isn’t necessarily the most powerful one though. If you’re involved with delicate crafts or work with heat-sensitive materials, you don’t want a whopping great 100 Watt element spreading molten glue all over your work.

On the other hand, if you’re sticking together big models and you need high volumes of glue quickly, a 20 Watt micro glue gun just isn’t going to cut it. Think about how quickly you need the glue gun to work and how much glueing you’ll be doing.

Sizes of Glue Stick

The glue sticks you use in hot glue guns come in lots of different diameters depending on manufacturer, but the most common two sizes are 7 mm and 11 mm. The 7 mm sticks are ideal for fine work and delicate crafting, where the accurate placement of glue is more important than volume. 11 mm are more DIY and big craft oriented. If you need a lot of glue quickly, use the 11 mm ones.

All diameters of glue sticks are also available in different lengths. If you use a lot of glue, you’ll want the longest hot melt sticks you can find. The longest I’ve used are 255 mm, but are only compatible with heavy duty hot glue guns.

Different Types of Hot Glue Stick

Although most hot glue sticks are transparent and made to be almost invisible when applied, you can get a huge range of colours and finishes as well. For creative crafts, there’s an entire rainbow of bright colours and each of them are available with glitter embedded in the glue.

You can also get low melt and hot melt glue sticks. Like the names suggest, they melt at different temperatures, depending on the materials you’re working with. Low melt glue sticks are also much safer to use, causing fewer burns or damage to delicate materials. High melt sticks melt at a higher temperature and can be used to stick a wider variety of materials together.

Glue Gun FAQs

The first thing to check when you want to load your hot glue gun is the size of the glue stick itself. There is no standard stick size, but most of the best glue guns take 11 mm glue sticks. Don’t try and use the wrong thickness glue stick as they will likely clog up the gun and ruin it.

When you’re sure you have the right stick, simply load it into the rear port of the glue gun until the feed mechanism operated by the trigger grabs hold of it.

Operating a glue gun is easy, but made easier by a large and accurate trigger, like the one on the Bosch PKP 18 E. Once the glue gun is loaded with a glue stick and up to melting temperature (anything from 60 seconds to five minutes, depending on the brand) you can pull the trigger to send out the hot glue.

Always consult your user manual before operating your glue gun. Glue at 220° C can cause serious injuries. Always treat a hot glue gun with the respect it deserves. Always ensure that the nozzle is clear of glue residue- if the nozzle is blocked, the hot glue can be forced back towards your hand through the loading port.

The harder you pull the trigger; the more glue comes out. The trick is to pull gently until you know how fast the glue will ooze out of the nozzle to gain greater control of it. Practise on scrap materials before you go to the workpiece.

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