[Tried and True] 10 Best Glue Guns in 2023

The Workpro cordless hot glue gun can be used for 25 minutes on a single charge and features a nozzle that reduces dripping during use. In our test, preheating was a speedy one minute and seven seconds, allowing for a smooth work experience with minimal waiting. The glue gun is a comfortable size that fits well in your hand. The trigger is easy to pull with hardly any force, allowing you to adjust the amount of glue precisely for detailed work like making accessories or attaching small items. There were no glue drips from start to finish, which helps to prevent messes on your clothes or project.

For safety features, the glue gun is equipped with a power indicator light and an automatic shut-off function to help prevent fires or burns. Also, the nozzle cools down faster than any other product we tested, so we feel it's one of the better ones for use with children. Other features include a preheat light that makes it easy for beginners to know when to start working, and a convenient power switch.

While the 25-minute continuous use time is slightly shorter than other products, it shouldn’t have a significant impact on your work. This glue gun’s focus on safety features and ease of use make it our recommended option for beginners and children.

This is a cordless glue gun by Dremel that can be used for 30 minutes on a single charge. It has a pen-like shape and boasts a preheating time of just 15 seconds, which we confirmed through our testing. However, despite its lightweight and compact design, the protruding lever makes it somewhat difficult to grip and hold. Also, the glue came out inconsistently at times, so it was tough to apply even amounts.

However, there was no dripping for the duration of use, reducing the likelihood of accidentally dirtying your work area or project. It comes with a power indicator light and an auto-off function for safer use. The nozzle cools down in about 12 minutes, making it user-friendly even when working with children.

Other features include a preheating indicator light and a power switch. The light indicates when the glue has reached the appropriate softness, and the power switch on the body makes it easy to operate even for first-time users.

The Surebonder Cool Shot is a corded glue gun that comes with 12 glue sticks. In our test, the preheating time was two minutes and 31 seconds, which is on the slow side. You may want to prepare or work on other tasks while waiting for the glue gun to heat up.

But we rated it highly for its ease of use. It's compact and lightweight, with a curved handle that fits comfortably. The trigger has a light touch that makes it easy to adjust the amount of glue. Glue flow was also consistent and stable, providing a reliable experience. However, when it comes to safety features, the Cool Shot lacks a power indicator light and auto-off. Additionally, the nozzle takes 21 minutes to cool down, which makes it hard to consider it a safety-conscious design.

On the other hand, it does feature a power switch for easy control. The corded design means there's no limit on usage time, so it’s a great choice for large projects or professional use.

The Gorilla Dual Temp Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit is a corded glue gun featuring two temperature settings. It took over three minutes to heat up on the high-heat setting in our test, so it's best to do some other tasks while waiting for the nozzle to warm up. This glue gun is lightweight and fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The trigger can be pulled with minimal force, so it’s easy to control the amount of glue, and the glue flow is precise and consistent, ensuring a hassle-free experience. There was no dripping during preheating or use, reducing the chances of dirtying your workspace or projects.

Regarding safety features, the glue gun has a power indicator lamp that allows you to see whether it's turned on at a glance, helping prevent accidental contact with the nozzle area. However, it took 23 minutes for the nozzle to cool down, so if you have small children, make sure to let the glue gun cool in a place out of their reach. We were fans of the dual temperature settings, which make this glue gun convenient for jobs such as gluing things which need strong adhesion, such as heavy objects or handles on cups.

Arrow's Dual Temp Glue Gun is a corded glue gun that can switch between nozzle temperatures of 302 and 380 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for woodworking and general household repairs. During our test, we set the nozzle temperature to 380 degrees Fahrenheit, and it had a quick preheating time of one minute and 59 seconds.

Although the glue gun is compact and lightweight, the trigger is stiff and requires a firm pull, so it’s difficult to control the amount of glue when doing detailed work. In addition, significant dripping occurred during use, and the grip area became uncomfortably hot after extended use. There aren't really any safety features worth mentioning, except for a simple stand on the body to prevent glue backflow. The nozzle also took over 21 minutes to cool down, so it's best to let the glue gun cool in a place out of reach of children after use.

The temperature switch allows high-heat glue to be used, which can be great for attaching heavy items or areas prone to stress. But there’s no power switch, so you’ll have to plug it in and unplug it to turn it on and off. It also lacks a preheat light, making it hard to tell whether the glue gun is ready or not.

The One+ hot glue gun by Ryobi is a cordless model with a battery that’s compatible with other Ryobi power tools. In our test, the preheating time was relatively long at two minutes and 55 seconds, which is inconvenient if you realize you missed a spot after turning off the device and want to quickly go back.

The glue gun is quite large and heavy, which can be tiring during extended use. In addition, the trigger requires a lot of force to pull, making it difficult to control the amount of glue that comes out. It also dripped continuously from preheating to after use, so you’ll need to be careful to avoid getting your workspace or project messy. The safety features for this glue gun include a power indicator light and an automatic shut-off function, which are nice to have.

However, it took a considerable 41 minutes for the nozzle to cool down, which is less than ideal. If you’re working around small children, we recommend letting the glue gun cool down in a place out of their reach after use.

The power switch is located on the body of the glue gun, so it’s easy to turn on and off. Among the cordless glue guns we tested, the One+ offers the longest continuous use, lasting an impressive three and a half hours. On the downside, it doesn’t have temperature settings or a ready indicator light, making it less versatile compared to other options.

Chandler Tool's Standard Size Glue Gun is a corded glue gun that you can put down directly on a table without the need for a stand. In our test, it took three minutes and 11 seconds to heat up, which is a bit slow. This can be inconvenient if you want to glue something right away after realizing you missed a spot. While it’s not compact, it is lightweight and easy to handle, with an easy-to-pull trigger.

There was no dripping during use, but the glue didn’t flow very smoothly, resulting in strings of glue that needed to be cut. We also found the balance to be poor, making it prone to tipping over when set on a table. In terms of safety and additional features, the only notable aspect is its self-standing design. There is no automatic shut-off, indicator light, or power button. Additionally, it takes 45 minutes for the nozzle to cool down, so it may not be the best choice for inexperienced users or doing crafts with children.

The AdTech Cool Tool is a corded glue gun with a compact and cute design that's advertised as easy for children to use. During our test, preheating took a lengthy four minutes and 36 seconds, so you'll want to attend to other tasks while waiting for it to heat up. The compact shape provides a good fit even for small hands, and the trigger can be easily pulled with just the index finger, making it simple to control the amount of glue.

There's no dripping from start to finish, so your workspace and projects stay clean. On the downside, the glue's adhesive strength felt somewhat weak, making it more likely for items with smaller surface areas to come off. When it comes to safety and extra features, you won't find a lot besides a stand. But the nozzle cools down in just 11 minutes, allowing you to clean up quickly when you’re done.

This Surebonder is a corded glue gun that can be used cordlessly for about two minutes after heating up. In our test, preheating was time-consuming, taking five minutes, which can be annoying. The gun is large but lightweight, and there was no dripping from the start to finish.

However, the distance between the handle to the trigger is far, making it cumbersome to work with and hold naturally. Additionally, the trigger requires a hefty amount of force to pull, so it’s tough to control the amount of glue that comes out. For safety features, it has an indicator light to show when it's powered on, which is convenient for those not familiar with the tool.

On the other hand, it took 38 minutes for the nozzle to cool down, so if you have small children, you'll need to let the glue gun cool in a place that is out of their reach to prevent accidental burns. As for other features, while there is no preheat light or temperature adjustment, the glue gun has a power switch on the body for convenient control.

The Monvict is a corded glue gun that allows you to switch between 80-watt and 120-watt power settings, changing the nozzle temperature accordingly. In our test, we used the 120-watt setting, and it took five minutes and nine seconds to heat up, the longest among the products we tested. The lengthy heating time can be stressful if you just want to make a quick fix to your project.

Although the glue gun is large, it is lightweight and easy to hold. There was no dripping from the beginning to the end of the task, keeping the workspace and project clean. The trigger is easy to pull, but the distance between the handle and the trigger is far, making it difficult to control the amount of glue it dispenses.

In terms of safety, it only has an indicator light that shows it's on, and it took more than 37 minutes for the nozzle to cool down, so if you have small children, you'll need to place the glue gun in a hard-to-reach area to prevent them from accidentally touching it. Additional features include a power switch for easy control, and the temperature switching function is helpful when gluing heavy items or areas prone to stress.