Super glue can be worth its weight in gold for DIY repairs around the home. One tiny bottle creates lasting bonds across many materials, whereas many other types of glue are costly with specialty uses. But what’s the best super glue for your project?
Our in-depth buying guide covers the essentials, including highlighting our top picks and helpful education so you can get the best results with your selected pick.
DIY Gear Reviews’ best super glues:
- Best all-purpose super glue: Gorilla Glue Super Glue Gel
- Best application versatility: Loctite Super Glue Gel
- Best for brushable application: Krazy Glue Brush On
- Best for glass: Loctite Glass Glue
- Best for fabrics: Aleene’s Fabric Adhesive
- Best for instant glue adhesion: Mitreapel CA glue and activator
- Best thin super glue: Starbond Super Fast Thin CA Glue
- Air-tight cap prevents glue drying out
- Doesn't run
- Bonds many materials
- Thick viscosity isn't a fit for some needs
Bottom line: Gorilla Glue Super Glue Gel checks the boxes if you’re looking for one super glue to handle the array of projects that may pop up around the home. It’s gel formula means it’ll stay put without runs. The air-tight anti-clog cap ensures a long shelf life. But most importantly, it can bond plastic, wood, metal, ceramics, leather, and more.
- Precision applicator tip
- Easy to dispense glue in different orientations
- Air-tight cap prevents glue drying out
- Doesn't run
- Thick viscosity isn't a fit for some needs
Bottom line: Loctite Super Glue Gel goes toe-to-toe with Gorilla Glue Super Glue Gel for its versatility. Where it differentiates itself is with a more precise applicator and ease of control using its side-squeeze design. That means the applicator can get into hard-to-reach areas and apply the necessary glue. The side-squeeze bottle also allows you to dispense the liquid right side up or upside down.
- Brush applicator is great for crafts projects
- Bonds many materials
- 30-second set time
Bottom line: Krazy Glue Brush On gets high marks for its versatility to bond an array of materials. But where it stands out from other super glues that are equally strong and versatile is the brush on application. This applicator is a good fit for crafting projects when excellent surface coverage is critical. Other application methods apply a coat of super glue with less consistency in thickness.
- Glues glass to multiple materials
- Locking cap prevents glue drying out
- Dries clear
- Lacks versatilty
Bottom line: Specialty formula super glues are needed to bond together non-porous materials like glass, as well as bonding glass to other materials. Loctite Glass Glue should be your go-to super glue for these uses. Since it dries clear, it can also be used for both clear and colored glass without visible signs of glue remaining. That said, no super glue will make cracks disappear.
- Flexible bond
- Machine washable
- Clear drying color
- Lacks versatility of a common super glue
Bottom line: When glue and material flexibility is needed, Aleene’s Fabric Adhesive is a good choice. Most super glues have low shear strength and buckle under pressure when flexed. Aleene’s Fabric Adhesive doesn’t. Its heavy-duty bond, machine washability, and clear drying color make it the go-to solution for bonding fabrics, whether that’s a quick DIY repair or for crafting by adding embellishments to the fabric.
- Instant adhesion
- Versatile viscosity
- Super glue and activator included
- Cap may be prone to drying out the super glue when stored for a long time
Bottom line: While most super glues can bond materials together quickly, Mitreapel CA glue with activator creates an instant bond. Just apply a few dabs of glue to one piece of your material, give the other piece a few mists of activator, and then hold the pieces together for a fast bond. While there are many versatile CA glue and activator options on the market, this all-in-one package is the best CA blue since it’s priced competitively.
- Includes extra precision applicator tips
- Includes a clog remover tool
- Thin viscosity is perfect for getting into cracks and crevices
- Thin viscosity runs easily
Thin super glues are common adhesives for model makers and for use in woodworking. Starbond Super Fast Thin CA Glue is a good choice for these instances. Its thin formula is absorbed into wood pores making it a good option for stabilizing the wood, among other woodworking uses. But where this CA glue shines is what’s included in the package. This CA glue comes with an extra applicator, several precision extension microtips, and a clog stopper. Starbond also stands behind the product with a 30-month shelf-life warranty.
Super glues at a glance
| Product | Initial set time | Viscosity |
| Gorilla Glue Super Glue Gel | 10-45 seconds | Thick |
| Loctite Super Glue Gel | 15-30 seconds | Thick |
| Krazy Glue Brush On | 30 seconds | Medium |
| Loctite Glass Glue | 15-60 seconds | Medium |
| Aleene’s Fabric Adhesive | 2-6 hours | Thick |
| Mitreapel CA glue and activator | Instant | Medium |
| Starbond Super Fast Thin | 30 seconds | Thin |
What’s the best super glue for my project?
Picking the best super glue for your project comes down to several essentials.
Firstly, you should consider the materials you’ll be adhering together. All-purpose super glues Like Loctite Super Glue and Gorilla Glue Super Glue can bond an array of materials, including plastics, metal, wood, ceramics, and more.
But specialty super glues are best for bonding glass and some fabrics.
Secondly, determine if you need a certain viscosity. Thin super glues are ideal for filling small cracks since the glue can work its way into tight voids.
A medium viscosity super glue is the most versatile option and is a good choice for gluing chipped items back together, among other uses.
A thick super glue won’t run and is great if you want to avoid super glue accidentally running onto visible surfaces..
The next thing to understand is bonding time. Most all-purpose super glues create a lasting bond within 30 seconds of consistent pressure and when left alone for several hours to fully cure. Applying a spray activator to the work surfaces creates an instant bond, which can save time not having to wait for the glue to otherwise fully cure for hours.
Lastly, consider the applicator and application method. Many types of super glue have a nozzle to apply dabs of glue. Some even include long thin nozzles to get into hard-to-reach areas. Some other super glues include brush applicators to spread a layer of glue across a bigger surface.
Is CA glue the same as super glue?
Cyanoacrylate glue (or CA glue) is the same adhesive as super glue. CA glue is the name most hobbyists use, whereas super glue is the name that is most commonly known by everyone else.
What’s the best super glue brand?
Loctite is the top super glue brand for most people. It has a deep lineup of super glues with different formulas for specialty and all-purpose uses, viscosities, and application methods. Loctite is also well-known for its bonding strength.
This isn’t to say that it’s the only super glue brand you should use. Gorilla Glue, Starbond, Mitreapel, and Krazy Glue all produce high-quality super glues for various uses at a competitive price.
What’s the strongest super glue?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Loctite Super Glue is officially the strongest super glue. Loctite set the record in 2011 for the heaviest vehicle lifted with glue at 5.02 tons.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the strongest and best super glue for every project. Several factors determine the strength of the bond, including the materials being glued together and the surface preparation.
A weak super glue applied to a clean surface sanded with 180-grit sandpaper will create a strong bond for most needs. A strong super glue that was hastily applied won’t create a lasting bond.
Super glue tips and tricks
You can follow a few simple steps to ensure the best bond when using super glue.
- Clean both surfaces with a damp cloth.
- Lightly sand smooth surfaces with 180-grit sandpaper.
- Apply a thin layer of super glue to only one surface. Applying too much super glue on both surfaces will result in poor adhesion. Most all-purpose super glues can create a strong bond with anywhere from one to three dabs per square inch.
- Hold both surfaces together for 30 seconds to get a secure bond.
- To remove super glue, you can soak the item or your finger in soapy water for several minutes.
- Tightly secure the cap and store the super glue in an airtight bag to extend the shelf life.
How we picked the winners
We first dove in by understanding the landscape of available super glues for general-purpose uses and for special needs. This research resulted in a list of 16 super glues for varying uses, application methods, and viscosities.
We then checked user ratings and reviews across several popular online shopping and home improvement store websites. The selection of final picks was then purchased to review and test.
In-house testing mostly consisted of using the products for their intended uses to understand their performance. Research time was also spent on reviewing the quality of each super glue’s application and bottle. The best super glues should be easy to apply and don’t clog up after each use. A tightly fitting lid is also critical to increase the shelf life.
The user ratings, user reviews, and in-house testing were combined with the glue’s cost to find the right balance of performance for the price.