7 Best Wood Glues for a Superior Hold
The best wood glue depends on whether you’re gluing indoors or outdoors, need to fill large holes, and what you’re gluing your wood to. For example, a simple water-based PVA glue is sufficient for fixing furniture and completing most indoor projects. If you need to fill a large hole, epoxy wood glue is your better bet.
Here’s a look at the highest-rated wood glues for different scenarios.
Best Wood Glue
- Top Choice: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue
- Best for Furniture: Titebond Original
- Best Exterior: Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue
- Best Hide Glue: Titebond Genuine Liquid Hide Glue
- Best Hot Wood Glue: Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks
- Best Epoxy-Based: JB Weld Clear Weld
- Best Polyurethane: Original Gorilla Glue Polyurethane
Best Wood Glues, Ranked by Category
We’ve reviewed the most popular wood glues on the market, narrowing down the seven best based on each applicable category.
Top Choice: Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue
Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue is affordable and works for most interior wood glue needs. It bonds stronger than wood and is paintable and sandable. It works for softwood, hardwood, particle board, and other porous materials. Plus, it cleans up with soap and water if you use too much.
To use this product, apply the glue to your wood, clamp for 2-3 hours, and then wait 24 hours for the adhesive to cure. Afterward, you can paint, sand, or use your item as usual.
Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue is one of the highest-rated wood glues, with a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from over 11,000 users. Most users rave that it provides excellent adhesion and holds up with time. Negative reviews state the product doesn’t dry with a clear finish, and the cap is hard to remove.
Pros:
- Works on most types of wood, particle board, and porous materials
- Non-toxic
- Cleans up with soap and water
- Excellent adhesive that dries stronger than wood
Cons:
- Many users state the cap glues shut
- For interior use only
Best for Furniture: Titebond Original
For easy wooden furniture repairs, try Titebond Original Wood Glue. It’s easy to apply, safe for indirect food contact, and a top choice for woodworking projects.
Titebond is popular for indoor projects because it becomes tacky fast, allowing a better grip. After applying glue, clamp your project for a couple of hours and allow the adhesive to cure before sanding or using your furniture. Clean up excess glue with soap and water while it’s still wet. To clean up dry glue, you’ll need to scrape it off.
Titebond Original Wood Glue has a 5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from over 400 reviewers. Users love this glue for its reliability. The few negative reviews complain of receiving damaged or out-of-date products.
Pros:
- The tacky texture allows for easy woodworking
- Non-toxic and safe for indirect food contact
- Soap and water clean up
- Fast drying
Cons:
- For interior use only; not waterproof
Best Exterior: Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue
Exterior wood applications require waterproof wood glue that can withstand the elements. Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue stands up to temperature fluctuations, rain, and snow.
The waterproof formula from Gorilla Glue is also fast drying. It only requires 20-30 minutes of clamp time and cures in 24 hours. You can use it when temperatures are as low as 50°F. Use the formula indoors anywhere you need an extra strong hold or moisture resistance.
Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from more than 3,000 users. Reviewers report using it on wooden doorbell covers, chairs, tables, and outdoor furniture, all with high degrees of success. Some negative reviewers complain the formula is too thick, making it hard to squeeze out of the applicator tip.
Pros:
- Stands up to moisture and temperature fluctuations
- Dries a natural color
- It only requires 20-30 minutes of clamp time
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor projects
Cons:
- Some users dislike the thick formula and the bottle’s applicator tip
Best Hide Glue: Titebond Genuine Hide Glue
Hide glue is made of animal hides – a much different formula than other options. In traditional settings, woodworkers would heat hide glue in a pot and apply it when warm. Titebond’s Liquid Hide Glue removes the mixing and heating step, allowing woodworkers to use it right out of the bottle.
The biggest benefit of using hide glue is that it’s reversible. You can deactivate the adhesive with hot water. Woodworkers also use it to create a “crackle” effect on rustic or antique-style furniture.
Titebond Liquid Hide Glue is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars from 1,900 users. Reviewers love that glue comes in liquid form, and popular uses include antique furniture and musical instrument fixes. Unfavorable reviews indicate a slow dry time, sometimes taking days.
Pros:
- Reversible wood glue that deactivates with hot water
- No mixing or heating required
- Works for many types of wood repairs
- Sandable and suitable for creating a “crackle” effect
Cons:
- Slow dry time
- Not waterproof or ideal for exterior use
Best Hot Wood Glue: Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks
If you’re working on a craft or woodworking project, Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks provide strong adhesion and sticks to multiple surfaces, including wood, glass, metal, fabric, leather, foam, and more.
You can use Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks for indoor and outdoor projects – the formula is moisture-resistant. To use them, place a glue stick in your hot glue gun and operate as usual. The glue sticks have a 45-second working time before they start to dry. You can get them in multiple lengths for full-size and mini hot glue guns.
Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks have a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from 4,700 reviewers. Many top reviewers claim these are the best on the market, with outstanding adhesion and quick dry times. Some negative comments claim the glue sticks melt too fast.
Pros:
- Hot glue sticks work on many materials, including wood
- Paintable and sandable
- Moisture-resistant formula suitable for indoors and outdoors
- Works with your existing hot glue gun
Cons:
- A few complaints of the glue sticks melting faster than regular glue sticks
Best Epoxy-Based: JB Weld Clear Weld
If you need an extra-strong hold or are filling in large holes, epoxy-based wood glue is your best bet. JB Weld Clear Weld, an epoxy glue, works on wood, metal, plastic, concrete, glass, and more.
JB Weld Clear Weld is a two-part epoxy system that’s beginner-friendly. After prepping the areas you need glue, use the applicator to squeeze out equal amounts of the product in a disposable container and then mix. Apply the glue to your wood. It will set in five minutes and cure within one hour.
JB Clear Weld is one of the highest-rated epoxy wood glues, with 7,200 user reviews and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Many users claim it works on almost everything and is easy to apply. A few negative reviews complain of the strong fumes and mixed results.
Pros:
- Ideal for a stronghold or deep gluing needs
- Easy-to-use application
- Sets within five minutes and cures in an hour
Cons:
- Complaints of strong fumes
Best Polyurethane: Original Gorilla Glue Polyurethane
The biggest benefit of polyurethane wood glue is its flexibility, which leads to fewer cracks and a wider range of uses. One of the highest-rated options is Original Gorilla Glue Polyurethane. It works on multiple surfaces, including wood, plastic, metal, glass, and stone.
To use this product, first, dampen the surface you’ll be gluing. Next, apply a layer of glue, clamp it for two hours, and allow it to cure for 24 hours. You can use this glue on indoor and outdoor surfaces as it’s temperature and moisture-resistant.
More than 9,800 users have given Gorilla Glue Original Polyurethane a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Most users rave about the superior hold of this product, calling it “super, super glue.” A common complaint is that it’s easy to use too much since the glue expands three times its size.
Pros:
- Superior hold to other wood glues
- Works for indoor and outdoor use; moisture resistance
- Glues multiple surfaces, including wood
Cons:
- The product expands three times, making it easy to overuse
- Hard to remove from skin
Why Trust Homedit Reviews
Homedit has delivered impartial product reviews and home improvement tips since 2008. Our reviewers consider dozens of top products considering ratings, ease of use, and price before compiling a list. Katie Barton, a home improvement freelance writer with over ten years of experience, wrote our Best Wood Glue review.