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.
Full-size glue gun · dual temp · precision nozzle · built-in stand · 120 V · 7/16 in sticks
The full-size version of Gorilla’s dual-temperature gun, with a precision nozzle and wide base, sold without sticks.
Best for: A DIY user who works on larger surfaces.
≈ $17
Mini glue gun · 20 W · 30 sticks · heats in 1–2 minutes · drip-free nozzle
A cheap 20 W mini gun with 30 sticks, heating in 1 to 2 minutes, for school crafts and small repairs.
Best for: A student or casual crafter.
≈ $11
Mini glue gun · 30 W in the title, 20 W in the table · 30 sticks · 1-minute warm-up · fold-up holder · on/off switch
A low-cost mini gun whose title says 30 W and table says 20 W, with a 1-minute warm-up, a heat-resistant cap and an on/off switch.
Best for: A budget buyer who wants a switch.
≈ $11
Mini glue gun · dual temp · 30 mini sticks (0.27 in) · 12 W in the table · 120 V · weather-resistant sticks, 45-second working time
A dual-temperature mini gun with 30 Gorilla sticks that resist weather, offering a 45-second working time and a safety fuse.
Best for: A crafter who wants a low-heat option for delicate materials.
≈ $21
Full-size glue gun · 60 W · 380 °F · cordless up to 3 minutes · heating base · glue pad
A high-temperature full-size gun reaching 380 °F that lifts off its base for up to 3 minutes of cordless work, with a heating base.
Best for: A DIY user bonding wood, metal and ceramics.
≈ $19
11 mm (0.43 in) sticks, 3 included · 45 W · 16 g (0.6 oz)/min output · 7 min heat-up · for 200 °C (392 °F) sticks · interchangeable long nozzle, fine nozzle sold separately · folding stand foot · 2 m (7 ft) cable · 0.357 kg (0.8 lb)
A 45 W glue gun for 11 mm (0.43 in) 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.
Full-size glue gun · 60 W at 300 °F or 100 W · 21 sticks (7/16 in) · Oxford case
A full-size set with 60 W and 100 W settings, 21 high-viscosity sticks and a carry case, with the top score on this shelf.
Best for: A serious crafter or DIY user.
≈ $25
Full-size glue gun · 150 W PTC · 284–428 °F dial · 6 copper nozzles · heats in 1–3 minutes
A 150 W PTC gun with a temperature dial from 284 to 428 °F and six interchangeable copper nozzles, for faster, hotter work.
Best for: A workshop user who needs high flow and precise heat.
≈ $40
Published stick diameter says so. Two common formats exist and do not substitute for each other.
The heating regime announced: low, high or dual depending on the model. It is published on every listing.
Published heat-up time is a manufacturer figure. This site reports it without measuring it.
The quantity of glue delivered, published by the manufacturer. It counts on long assemblies.
Published nozzles say what is supplied and provided for. They decide the fineness of the bead.
Resting the hot gun between two applications. Its presence and type are published.
Published power explains the temperature rise and the sustained flow. It says nothing about the glued result.
That depends on the stick used and on its manufacturer. This site publishes gun specifications, not glue ones.
Choose the stick size first, then decide if you need two temperatures. Most guns here run on 120 V; check before you buy elsewhere.
There is no table here, and the reason is in the listings. The figure published most often across these 8 products is power, given by 6 of them — short of the four in five a column needs to compare rather than to display gaps. Each product page says what its own maker published.
Specifications: manufacturer sheets for maker machines and tools and the matching Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa.
Most recent revision in this category: November 1, 2026.
A price quoted in the text of a MakerVerdict page dates from the day that page was written; the live figure beside each product is fetched while you read and replaces it.
