12 Different Types of Glue You Need to Have on Hand For Home and Garden Projects

Got glue? If not, I'm willing to bet you'll want to keep these adhesives ready to go in your shed or supply closet after reading this.

My dad gifted me a bottle of superglue when I moved out of his house, and it was one of the best things he could have gotten me. I quickly learned how handy it is to have adhesive on hand to make small repairs.

Since then, my glue collection has grown substantially, and I want to share my favorites with you. This list might not include every adhesive you could ever need, but it's a pretty good start for the average home project and garden master.

Hot Glue

You know you need hot glue if you're a crafter. It's a standard element in all sorts of DIY projects.

However, I argue that you should have a hot glue gun and plenty of glue ready to use even if crafting isn't part of your regular routine. You never know when you'll need to fix a piece of holiday decor or put a fake gemstone back on your child's Halloween costume.

Clear Epoxy

Let's say you notice a tiny chip in a glass bowl or plate. If you have some clear epoxy in your glue arsenal, you're set.

Clear epoxy is a favorite for fixing small glass flaws. Just make sure you clean the glass thoroughly before you try to apply it to whatever object you're fixing.

Fabric Glue

I wish I knew how to sew, but it's a skill I've yet to master whether you're like me or a master at the sewing machine, fabric glue can come in handy in your home.

Fabric glue allows you to make quick, no-sew repairs to the fabric. You can hem your pants, stop fraying threads from getting worse, and attach a name label to your child's favorite jacket before they leave it at school.

Wood Glue

Okay, if you never touch woodworking projects, you're probably thinking you don't need to keep wood glue on hand. However, I argue that most homeowners would benefit from owning a bottle.

Wood glue can help you repair common household items. That chair with the rickety leg or the picture frame that's starting to fall apart can all benefit from a bit of it.

All Purpose Cement

According to home repair expert Bob Vila, all-purpose cement is one of the best adhesives for repairing leather. That means it's a must-have for home repairs.

Use it to glue down loose leather pieces on furniture or accents in your home. You can also use it to fix your shoes if the inner sole starts to lift from the base.

Rubber Cement

Rubber cement is a solvent-based glue with several uses, making it a must-have for every homeowner. As it dries, the solvent evaporates, leaving a rubber-like adhesive behind.

The strong but flexible nature of rubber cement and the fact that it's acid-free makes it great for crafting with paper. It's also great for securing pictures to scrapbooks and within mounted frames.

Two-Part Epoxy

Whether you broke a ceramic vase, snapped the handle off a coffee mug, or your favorite serving tray split in half, a two-part epoxy can help you fix it. If you have small children, a clumsy spouse, or have a case of butterfingers yourself, this is a glue you need in your supply closet.

Two-part epoxy usually comes as a dual-sided item with epoxy on one side and a hardener on the other. It sets hard and fast, so odd-shaped pieces won't have to be held together for very long, which is why it works well for ceramics, which often break into ragged edges.

Polyurethane Glue

You might know it as “Gorilla Glue,” and it's a must for certain home and garden projects. However, you should be careful about when and where you choose to use it.

Polyurethane glue is exceptionally strong, and it expands as it dries. My mother learned this the hard way when she tried to use it on a table leg; it created an ugly, yellow line rather than a smooth repair. Only use it on metal, masonry, concrete, or fiberglass, where you need to stick things back together while filling in small gaps.

Spray Adhesive

Spray adhesives have a not-so-great track record. Over the years, many have raised concerns about their harmful effects. However, there are low volatile organic compound (VOC) options available today that help to mitigate problems, and it's hard to say no to a glue that's this versatile.

Spray adhesives allow you to apply a very thin layer of glue, preventing any wrinkling or bleed-through on thin materials. Many are also repositionable, allowing you to make small adjustments before the product sets.

Super Glue

Whether you need to put a broken flower pot back together, fix an acrylic nail, or patch up a shoe, super glue is the go-to option. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's a must-have for home first aid kits, and I'm guessing you'll want a bottle in your toolbox, too.

As its name implies, super glue is super strong, and it works incredibly fast. You'll be able to seal just about anything together within seconds.

Plastic Glue

Like it or not, much of our world is composed of plastic these days. Unfortunately, plastics are difficult to repair when they break. Though superglue can work, plastic types 1,2,4 and 5 (check the number inside the recycling arrows) require a different type of adhesive.

For those items, you'll want polypropylene glue. You'll find these sold as “plastic bonding systems” or “poly adhesives.”

Mulch Glue

I love using mulch on the borders of my yard, but I hate how messy it sometimes looks. Between my child, the dog, and the rain, it can end up all over the place!

I recently came across mulch glue, and my world changed. Available at home and garden supply stores, mulch glue holds mulch and pea gravel in place for up to two years.