The 10 Best Wood Glue of 2023

Best Overall

Titebond III 8 oz. Ultimate Wood Glue

4.8

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No matter what project you work on, Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is sure to provide unbeatable results. It’s the most comprehensive wood glue offered by the well-regarded brand, offering strong initial tack and a stronger overall bond. The manufacturer claims that this product is waterproof, making it ideal for outdoor applications. Plus, you can clean it up with water, unlike other waterproof wood glues.

The Titebond Ultimate Wood Glue offers an open assembly time of up to 10 minutes, and you can apply it in temperatures as low as 47 degrees. It dries down to a light brown color, and wood finishes don't affect it. This wood glue is even FDA approved for indirect food contact, making it safe to use in the kitchen. You can buy it in a variety of container sizes, ranging from 8 ounces up to 1 gallon. But it seems thinner than other wood glues, so be careful when applying it.

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 237 milliliters (8 ounces) | Color: Light brown | Clamp Time: 60 minutes | Application Temperature: 47+ degrees}

Best Budget

Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue

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For small projects, Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue is an inexpensive option for furniture repair and general household use. You can use it on soft and hard woods, particleboard, and other porous materials, and it sets quickly. You can easily clean it up with water. 

When Elmer’s Wood Glue dries, it turns a yellow color that may displease some, but you can paint or stain it to achieve the look you want. This wood glue is only suitable for indoor projects, but it’s a good inexpensive choice for those who don’t do much woodworking. 

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 4 ounces | Color: Off-white | Clamp Time: Not listed | Application Temperature: Not listed}

Best for Interior Projects

Titebond 16 oz. Original Wood Glue

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For interior woodworking projects, you can’t go wrong with Titebond Original Wood Glue. While it isn’t waterproof, like Titebond Ultimate, this original formula is ideal for indoor projects, as it is translucent when dry and bonds with a variety of materials. In addition to wood, you can use this glue on hardboard, particleboard, leather, and cloth. However, be aware that is a fairly short open assembly time of 4 to 6 minutes.

Titebond Original sands extremely well, and finishes or solvents, such as paint thinner, don't affect it. It cleans up using just water, and it’s also FDA-approved for indirect food contact. You can buy this product in a variety of container sizes, ranging from 8 ounces to 5-gallon pails, and it costs less than other types of Titebond wood glue. 

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 16 ounces | Color: Translucent | Clamp Time: 30-60 minutes  | Application Temperature: 50+ degrees}

Best for Outdoors

Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue

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If you work on an outdoor project requiring strong bonds, select a product such as Gorilla Ultimate Wood Glue, which, according to the manufacturer, is rated ANSI/HPVA type 1 water resistant. Once dry, this wood glue can withstand exposure to water, sun, and extreme temperatures, making it a top choice for outdoor applications. It’s incredibly strong and durable, and the glue dries down to a natural color you can sand or paint as needed. 

When working with Gorilla Ultimate Wood Glue, you have the benefit of an open assembly time of up to 15 minutes, and the glued-up project needs only 20 to 30 minutes of clamp time. You can apply it in temperatures as low as 50 degrees, and it cleans up easily with water. Plus, it can bond materials besides wood, including plastic, metal, ceramic, rubber, leather, and more. The only downside is you have to keep the bottle’s nozzle clean during use; otherwise, it clogs easily.

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 8 ounces | Color: Natural | Clamp Time: 20-30 minutes | Application Temperature: 50+ degrees}

Best for Furniture Repair

Gorilla Wood Glue

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You can patch up indoor or outdoor furniture easily with regular Gorilla Wood Glue. While not quite as heavy-duty as the brand’s Ultimate Wood Glue, this product is ideal for small repairs around the house, as it dries to a natural color and is easy to sand. Use this glue indoors and out; the manufacturer says this is rated ANSI/HPVA type II water resistant. It is even approved for indirect food contact, so you can use it on cutting boards or salad bowls. 

This wood glue is best for use on hardwoods, softwoods, and natural wood composites, and it needs only 20 to 30 minutes of clamp time for the bond to take hold. Clean up any excess glue with water. But note: This product has a fairly high application temperature, functioning best at 55 degrees or higher.

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 8 ounces | Color: Natural | Clamp Time: 20-30 minutes | Application Temperature: 55+ degrees}

Best Hot Glue

Surebonder WS-12 4" Wood Hot Glue Sticks

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For craft projects or other applications where you don’t necessarily need a crazy-strong bond, the Surebonder Wood Hot Glue Sticks are a convenient option. These 4-inch hot glue sticks have 7/16-inch diameters, and you can use them in high- or low-temperature glue guns. The sticks come in packs of 12, and they’re specially formulated for use on wood, providing a better bond than regular hot glue. 

All you have to do to use the hot glue is load them into a hot-glue gun and press the trigger. The gun melts the glue to the perfect temperature for bonding, and you then can apply it right to your project. Work fairly quickly, as the glue sets fast. It dries to a natural tan color that blends in with your project. While the glue isn’t as strong as traditional wood glue, its easy application makes it a useful tool for drafters and DIY enthusiasts.

_{Type: Hot-melt adhesive | Volume: twelve 4-inch sticks | Color: Tan | Clamp Time: Not applicable | Application Temperature: N/A}

Best Multi-Surface

Titebond Quick & Thick Multi-Surface Glue

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If you need to bond wood to another material, Titebond Quick & Thick Multi-Surface Glue adheres to most porous or semi-porous materials with a bond stronger than wood. Use it when combining wood with pottery, ceramic, stone, glass, fabrics, leather, and most craft supplies. This product is significantly thicker than most traditional wood glues, offering superior initial tack to keep your materials in place. 

This glue is easy to sand, and it dries clear, so you can paint it to match your project. Wood finishes don't affect it, and you can even use it to fill in small gaps and cracks in wood or other materials. You can clean up the non-toxic formula with water. But a downside is its short open-assembly time, just 3 to 5 minutes, so you need to work quickly while using it.

_{Type: Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) | Volume: 8 ounces | Color: Clear | Clamp Time: 15 minutes | Application Temperature:  50+ degrees}

Best Hide Glue

Titebond Liquid Hide Wood Glue

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Traditional hide glue isn't the most convenient to use, as you must mix it and keep it warm during application. To make this process easier, Titebond offers its pre-mixed hide glue, which is ready to use straight out of the bottle—no mixing, heating, or stirring. In particular, this type of wood glue is ideal for fine furniture repair, as its slow setting time allows for precise assembly. The bond can be dissolved with steam or water if needed to correct mistakes. However, that makes this hide glue impractical for objects exposed to moisture.

Another major benefit of Titebond Hide Glue is it offers better "creep resistance" than other wood glues. This means the bond is less likely to stretch, a result that can leave the glue visible. Additionally, we like that you can use this product to create an antique-looking crackling effect on wood when applied over latex paint. The hide glue also offers excellent sandability, and you can apply it at temperatures over 50 degrees.

_{Type: Hide Glue | Volume: 8 ounces | Color: Clear | Clamp Time: 60 minutes | Application Temperature:  50+ degrees}

Best Epoxy

J-B Weld 50151 WoodWeld Epoxy Syringe

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J-B WoodWeld is a two-part epoxy system used to bond virtually any type of wood. When using this product, you dispense equal parts from each of two syringes—one containing resin and the other hardener—then mix the liquids and apply them to your project. This fast-setting glue requires no clamping, making it beneficial for awkwardly shaped items, and it sets in just six minutes and fully cures within one to three hours. This quick setting time also means you need to work quickly. Otherwise, the product sets before it's applied.

Epoxy wood glue, such as this product, features numerous benefits. The glue doesn't shrink or foam, as often happens with PVA wood glue, and you can apply it in temperatures as low as 40 degrees. You can sand down squeeze-out or paint it in as little as one hour. We like the J-B WoodWeld tube's resealable cap, which allows you to dispense just a little bit at a time to reduce waste. You can use it on rotted wood, and its waterproof bond is ideal for outdoor applications.

_{Type: Epoxy | Volume: 0.85 ounces | Color: Light tan | Clamp Time: Not applicable | Application Temperature: 40+ degrees}