Best Glues For Cardboard [Reviews+Buyer's Guide]

We often use cardboard for DIY projects and other artistic endeavors, and we often need glue to stick it together.

Children, especially, need to get crafty for school projects, and they need a good adhesive for that purpose. But how does one decide which is the best glue for cardboard? There are many adhesives available, but it is a tough job to decide which is the best one.

It is pretty frustrating to get glue that isn’t effective, and since cardboard is a little thicker than most materials, you need strong glue for it. This is why we have prepared this review of the best adhesive available for cardboard online, so read on to know more!

Best Glues for Cardboard

Contents

Best Glues for Cardboard
Best Glues for Cardboard Comparison Table
Buying Guide for the Best Glue for Cardboard
- 1. Kind of Glue
- 2. Method of Application
Can I use hot glue on cardboard?
What type of glue is best for cardboard boxes?
Can I use wood glue on cardboard?
How do I glue cardboard to paper?
Can I use super glue on cardboard?
Can I use a spray adhesive on cardboard?
Conclusion

These adhesives have been tested and proven to work well with cardboard, giving you the confidence to create your next masterpiece with ease. So, without further ado, here’s the list of the 6 best glues for cardboard.

1. Adtech – Best for Fast-Acting Bonding

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Another highly-rated product, this glue works very well with cardboard and other light materials. This is perfect for any craft or DIY project where a strong bond and less curing time are required. It is locally manufactured in a quality-controlled environment and is perfect for a multitude of uses.

We like how this product comes in the form of a hot glue stick that can be used with pretty much any full-size glue gun. It is fast-acting and can form strong bonds in less than 30 seconds, which lets you get back to your work as soon as possible.

This glue can bond together wood, plastics, PVC, polycarbonate, and even aluminum. Another remarkable thing about this product is that it is crystal clear once applied. This means that you can read through it, and it won’t leave any color.

Moreover, it is essential for a glue that may be used by a younger age demographic to be non-hazardous. And the Adtech 220-115-5 is non-toxic and safe for people of all ages to use.

What’s more, it has a tensile strength of 377 PSI and is resistant to reasonably high temperatures, which makes it a winner in our book!

Though this product excels in terms of performance, we did notice some scope for improvement. It emits an unmissable, strong smell that can get a bit overpowering when using it. We believe that resolving this odor problem would improve the product even more.

What We Like

Compatible with a glue gun of any size
Can be used with a variety of materials
Non-toxic
Crystal-clear
High tensile strength

What We Don’t Like

Emits a strong smell

2. Books By Hand – Best for Eco-Friendly Crafts

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The following product on our list is the adhesive from Books By Hand, a quality product that can be used with various materials. Books by Hand is one of the best businesses in the field of crafts and other art supplies and makes art supplies that are intuitive to their customers’ needs.

One of our favorite features of this product is that it is soluble in water. This implies that it can be mixed with water to thin it out, extending its drying time. This, however, does not compromise on its efficiency, and its tensile strength remains unchanged.

Furthermore, the adhesive is solvent and acid-free and is made of polyvinyl acetate. This indicates that it is environmentally friendly, non-hazardous, and suitable for people of all ages to use.

Most glues tend to lose their strength over time and need constant re-application, but the Books By Hand BBHM217 doesn’t grow brittle with time. It is additionally fast-drying and clear and leaves no color once it dries. According to us, it also adheres to most porous surfaces and is a great choice.

Even though it is compatible with most materials, we noticed that it wasn’t as effective with metal. It wouldn’t stick properly and needed a lot of quantity to stick things together.

Additionally, thinning the glue can also be tricky because there isn’t any clarity on how much water will extend its binding time.

What We Like

Can be mixed with water to extend its drying time
Eco-friendly
Non-hazardous
Fast-drying
Doesn’t grow brittle with time

What We Don’t Like

Doesn’t work as well with metals
No clarity on the amount of water needed for thinning

3. Aleene 17843 – Best for Quick Dry Projects

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This adhesive from Aleene is ideal for people who use adhesive generously and need it to dry super fast. Hence, this glue is a hot-selling product and is well-known among artists who need fast-acting tacky glue for their work. Moreover, it is pretty affordable and measures 8 ounces.

One of the key highlights of this product is that it binds 50% faster than some of its competitors in the market, which is why it’s always in high demand. Another reason for its soaring popularity is that it maintains its color even after a long passage of time and doesn’t yellow with age.

Another major point in its favor is its superior flexibility, which ensures that there’s no thickening around the joints. We also like how the adhesive is non-toxic and suitable for adults and children alike to use.

Efficient and multipurpose, this glue is great for use with crafts, art projects, and other DIY endeavors. It can bind materials like wood and plastic in addition to cardboard and takes only 30 seconds to dry.

We liked pretty much everything about this product, but we also felt that there were some things that the manufacturer could work upon. The tip of the container isn’t very conducive to squeezing the glue, which makes it hard to pour. This, unfortunately, leads to occasional wastage, and a brush is needed to bypass the issue.

What We Like

Multipurpose
Fast-drying
Doesn’t yellow with time
Flexible
Non-toxic

What We Don’t Like

Difficult to squeeze glue through the tip

4. Lineco

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Lineco is a reputed company that is well-known for making multipurpose and efficient adhesives. You can use it for various purposes and a wide array of projects, including DIY art and craft and even office work and filing. Overall, the Lineco LIN-901-1008 has many features that make it a bestseller online.

This is a permanent PVA adhesive that doesn’t leave any color once it dries. We believe that a transparent finish is vital in an adhesive because an odd splotch of color on a piece of art looks out of place. In addition to this, it remains flexible even upon drying and has excellent lay-flat properties.

The manufacturers have also buffered the adhesive to add an extra layer of protection. These features ensure that the adhesive works effectively and that artists maintain their aesthetic standards.

Interestingly, the glue doesn’t wear out or becomes brittle with age. It remains just as strong after years and ensures that any project stands the test of time. We also like how the glue is acid and solvent-free and can be used with materials other than cardboard, for instance, wood.

Lineco is known for making quality products that are widely used and well-appreciated by artists. However, when we received the package, we saw that the glue inside was solidified and refused to come out from the nozzle. It’s unclear whether this was a one-off defect, but we do believe that the manufacturers should take note of this.

What We Like

Soluble in water
Sticks to most surfaces
Doesn’t wear out or become brittle with age
Clear and transparent finish
Flexible after drying

What We Don’t Like

Some users received defective/solidified glue

5. Elmer E461

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Next is the Elmer E461, a multipurpose glue packaged in an 8-ounce bottle that is ideal for home decor projects, holiday decorations, and handmade gifts. Elmer’s glue can be used for sticking together cardboard and other materials like light wood and paper.

This locally manufactured glue is an excellent product with a strong, wet tack and can be used for various projects. You can use it to stick photos into an album, and it is sure to last long and not weaken over time.

Another thing we like about it is that it is clear and transparent once it dries. This means that using it doesn’t ruin the look of your DIY project. In addition to that, it is convenient to use as it doesn’t run, and is excellent for porous and semi-porous surfaces,

According to us, this glue is ideal for dry indoor use because it can be easily cleaned up with water. You can even use it with fabrics if you’ve got a blow-dryer with a cold setting on hand!

As we mentioned, this product is great for use with cardboard and paper. But it isn’t as versatile as some of the other options on the list and is incompatible with metal.

Note that the product was designed keeping school and other light-duty work in mind, and thus it isn’t strong enough to bind metal.

What We Like

Multipurpose
Easy to clean with water
Non-toxic
Clear and transparent

What We Don’t Like

Incompatible with metal and other hard surfaces

6. Gorilla

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Gorilla is a well-known adhesive brand, and it makes glue for a variety of projects. This Gorilla glue can bind not just cardboard but also paper, foam board, fabric, and some light plastic, making it ideal for school use. Since it is marketed toward young children, it does not contain any hazardous substances, and thus, is safe for use.

The last entry on our list is the Gorilla 274201, which weighs 8 ounces and can bond with various materials. Paper, wood, cardstock, felt- you name it, and the glue can work with it. It can also be used to glue cardboard to sequins and glitter, which makes it ideal for craftwork.

One of the key highlights of this product is that it dries clear and doesn’t leave any color behind. This means that the transparent finish makes it easy to read words and see any designs on the surface.

We also like how the adhesive has a thick consistency, which doesn’t create a mess. Interestingly, the glue is easy to extract and can be done through a convenient anti-clog nozzle.

What’s more, it can even be used to make slime, which is a plus for people of a younger demographic.

Though the glue is perfect for cardboard and other basic materials, it dries slower than its competitors. This means that it takes longer to complete a project because not waiting long enough would lead to the materials not sticking properly.

What We Like

Dries clear
No mess formula
Non-toxic
Ideal and safe for children

What We Don’t Like

Dries slowly

Best Glues for Cardboard Comparison Table

Product	Type	Drying Time	pH level	Available Sizes	Waterproof	Heat Resistance	Non-Toxic	Solvent-Free	Acid-Free
AdTech Hot Glue Sticks	Hot Melt	30 sec	N/A	4, 10, 24	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Books by Hand pH Neutral PVA Adhesive	PVA	1-2 hours	7	4, 8, 16	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aleene 17843	Tacky Glue	30 min	4	4, 8	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive	PVA	1-2 hours	7	8, 16	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Elmer E461	School Glue	30 min	7	4, 7.625, 128	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gorilla Kids School Glue	School Glue	10-15 min	7	4, 9	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Buying Guide for the Best Glue for Cardboard

We believe that two major points must be kept in mind while buying cardboard glue. These are:

1. Kind of Glue

There are different adhesive types, such as tacky glue, PVA, etc. PVA glue is a water-based resin glue, and tacky glue is super-thick and sticks to surfaces easily. We also have spray adhesives that cover large areas and are usually not too precise for application.

However, when it comes to cardboard, we believe that PVA is the best kind of adhesive, and thus, we recommend the Lineco LIN-901-1008.

2. Method of Application

The glue can be applied on the surface in a variety of ways. It can be sprayed using a spray top, applied using a hot glue gun, or simply squeezed out through a nozzle. However, a nozzle provides the most accurate application, and hence we recommend the Gorilla 2754201.

Can I use hot glue on cardboard?

Hot glue can be used on cardboard, but it is not the best choice for all applications. Hot glue is great for bonding two surfaces quickly, but it may not hold up well over time if the cardboard is exposed to moisture or high temperatures. For a stronger bond, consider using PVA glue or a two-part epoxy.

What type of glue is best for cardboard boxes?

For cardboard boxes, strong and durable glue is recommended. PVA glue or a two-part epoxy are good choices for this application. You may also want to consider using a tape dispenser or stapler for added strength.

Can I use wood glue on cardboard?

While wood glue is designed for use on wood, it can also be used on cardboard in some applications. However, it may not be the best choice for all projects, as it can be difficult to work with and may not dry clear. PVA glue is a better option for cardboard projects.

How do I glue cardboard to paper?

To glue cardboard to paper, you can use PVA glue or a glue stick. Apply a thin layer of glue to the cardboard and press it firmly onto the paper. Be sure to smooth out any air bubbles or wrinkles. Allow the glue to dry completely before handling the project.

Can I use super glue on cardboard?

Super glue can be used on cardboard, but it may not be the best choice for all applications. It dries quickly and forms a strong bond but can become brittle over time and may not hold up well under stress. Consider using PVA glue or a two-part epoxy for a more flexible bond.

Can I use a spray adhesive on cardboard?

Yes, spray adhesive can be used on cardboard. It is a good choice for larger projects where a lot of glue is needed, as it is easy to apply and provides an even coating. However, it can be difficult to control and may not be the best choice for small or detailed projects.

Conclusion

From the list of 6 best glues for cardboard, here are the top three expert recommendations. For a fast-acting glue, Adtech is the ideal choice. Its crystal-clear finish and versatility make it perfect for a range of crafting needs. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly, non-hazardous glue that doesn’t become brittle over time, consider Books By Hand. Its PVA formula is buffered for extra protection and adheres well to most porous surfaces.

Lastly, if you need an all-purpose glue that is safe for even the youngest crafters and ideal for basic materials, Gorilla Kids School Glue is a great option. With a thick consistency to minimize mess and a clean dry finish, it’s perfect for school projects, crafts, and more. Choose the glue that fits your needs and complete your project without worry.

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