Stick diameter decides every refill, and temperature decides every material
A hot glue gun melts a solid stick and pushes it through a nozzle, and it joins foam, card, fabric, wood and many plastics in the time it takes to cool. The stick diameter is the specification that ties a gun to its refills: mini guns and full-size guns take different diameters, and the listing states which. Temperature is either fixed — high for strength or low for delicate foams and fabrics — or switchable, and a dual-temperature gun covers both at the cost of a little complexity. Heat-up time and flow are published on the better listings; flow, in grams per minute, decides whether a long seam can be laid before the start of it sets. Power is a mains cord or a battery with a stated runtime, and a cordless gun is freer on a large model but holds its temperature for a limited time. Nozzle options — long, fine, wide — change what the gun reaches. A stand that keeps the hot nozzle off the bench and a trigger that does not drip decide whether it is pleasant to use. Hot glue and nozzles burn skin, and the maker's guidance on handling and on which materials the glue suits applies. We compare stick diameter, temperature setting, heat-up time, flow, power, nozzles and stand.
7 mm sticks, 60 included · 180–200 °C reached · 2–2.5 min heat-up · trigger feed · 20 W · anti-drip nozzle · stand · 1.5 m cable
A 20 W mini glue gun for 7 mm sticks, sold with 60 of them, reaching 180–200 °C in two to two and a half minutes, with a trigger feed, an anti-drip nozzle, a stand and a 1.5 m cable.
Best for: School projects, crafts and quick household repairs with small sticks.
≈ 7 €
20 W · 30 sticks, diameter not stated · 1–2 min heat-up · constant temperature, no value · trigger with drip-free nozzle · 14.2 × 14.4 × 3 cm · EU plug
A 20 W glue gun sold with 30 sticks, heating in one to two minutes and holding a constant temperature, with a trigger and a drip-free nozzle, whose listing does not give the diameter of its sticks.
Best for: Occasional crafts and school projects where refills will be bought from the same brand.
≈ 9 €
Cordless, 2600 mAh Li-ion · 7 mm sticks, 30 included · 15 s heat-up, PTC element · constant temperature, no value · valve anti-drip nozzle · silicone mat · USB-C · manual in 5 languages
A cordless glue gun on a 2600 mAh lithium-ion battery with a PTC element the listing says heats in 15 seconds, a valve nozzle against dripping, 30 sticks of 7 mm and a silicone work mat.
Best for: Short craft sessions and model making away from a socket, with small sticks.
≈ 15 €
Cordless, 2000 mAh, USB-C · 7 mm sticks, 10 × 125 mm included · 30 s heat-up, MCH heater · auto-off after 5 min idle · up to 100 m of glue per charge stated · brass nozzle, PC safety cap · stands upright
A cordless USB-C glue gun on a 2000 mAh battery that heats in 30 seconds with an MCH element and a brass nozzle, switches off after five idle minutes and, per the listing, lays up to 100 metres of glue per charge.
Best for: Short, frequent jobs around the house and craft table where a cordless gun that stands up by itself is convenient.
≈ 21 €
11 mm sticks, 6 included · about 190 °C · ready in 8–10 minutes · sets in 2 minutes · no drip · dries transparent
A craft glue gun for 11 mm sticks, sold with six, working at about 190 °C and ready in eight to ten minutes, whose glue sets in two minutes and dries transparent.
Best for: A household that already uses 11 mm sticks and does occasional repairs rather than quick bursts of crafting.
≈ 11 €
11 mm sticks, 20 × 150 mm included · switchable 60 W / 100 W · 220 °C · 3–5 min heat-up · PTC ceramic heater · copper insulated nozzle, narrow long tip · stainless steel stand
A switchable 60 W or 100 W glue gun for 11 mm sticks, reaching 220 °C in three to five minutes, with a copper insulated long nozzle, a stainless steel stand and 20 extra-long 150 mm sticks.
Best for: Furniture, shoe and household repairs where 11 mm sticks and extra power are needed.
≈ £19 / 16 €
11 mm sticks, 3 included · 45 W · 16 g/min output · 7 min heat-up · for 200 °C sticks · interchangeable long nozzle, fine nozzle sold separately · folding stand foot · 2 m cable · 0.357 kg
A 45 W glue gun for 11 mm sticks with a published output of 16 grams per minute, a seven-minute heat-up, an interchangeable long nozzle and a folding stand foot.
Best for: Frequent crafting and household work such as fixing skirting boards, where glue output and nozzle choice matter.
≈ 29 €
7 mm sticks, 75 × 130 mm included · constant 165 °C · 3 min heat-up · 50 W · anti-drip nozzle · on/off switch by the thumb · trigger rated for 100,000 presses
A 50 W glue gun for 7 mm sticks, sold with 75 of them, heating in three minutes and holding 165 °C, with an anti-drip nozzle, a thumb-side switch and a trigger the maker rates for over 100,000 presses.
Best for: Crafts, decorations and models where a large supply of small sticks and a moderate temperature suit the materials.
≈ 20 €
Cordless, Makita 18V battery compatible (BL1815, BL1830, BL1840, BL1850, BL1860, BL1415, BL1430) · 11 mm sticks · PTC heater · copper nozzle · no heat-up time, power or stand published
A cordless 11 mm glue gun that runs on Makita 18V batteries, with a PTC heater and a copper nozzle, whose listing names the compatible batteries but no heat-up time, power or temperature.
Best for: A workshop already equipped with Makita 18V batteries that wants a cordless 11 mm glue gun on the same platform.
≈ 30 €
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