This article will give you a detailed guide on gluing cardboard, what glues are best for this, and what safety precautions to take.

In other words, before this guide is over, you’ll know everything about the best glues for cardboard.

For some, cardboard can be hard to work with. But for professionals using the right glue type, cardboard is just another material.

It can be tough to glue it because of how rough and rigid cardboard is.

Keep reading for more juicy tidbits on cardboard glues!

Types of Cardboard Glues

There isn’t just one glue fit for bonding cardboard. There are many types, and each has unique characteristics you should know. Here they are:

PVA

Polyvinyl acetate is a water-based resin that can easily bond cardboard, paper, light wood, and other similar materials.

The drying process is very quick, and it’ll remain flexible once it sticks. Though, PVA is not that good for gluing weighty objects to one another. Its tensile strength is not superhuman, after all.

Rubber Cement Glue

Rubber cement will most likely contain latex, being an adhesive polymer and all that. The glue contains acetone or another solvent that maintains the glue fluid enough for extensive use.

Once you apply it, rubber cement will dry quickly and won’t shrink either.

This makes it ideal for gluing soft materials like cardboard onto one another. It’s good for school projects and Arts and Crafts.

After it dries and cures, the glue layer has rubber’s consistency and resilience!

Spray Adhesive

Do you want to glue cardboard quickly, or do you want to wait longer? If you have no time to wait, then a spray adhesive is the right choice. It has one of the fastest gluing times among all other glues.

Spray adhesives are great for larger areas but are not very precise. If you only care about sticking cardboards together, though, it’ll suffice.

Don’t glue any heavy materials with a spray adhesive, though. Its tensile strength is not great.

Tacky Glue

Instant stickiness and a thick texture, tacky glues are multi-purpose adhesives used for various applications.

They can glue hard and soft materials, making them ideal for cardboard-to-anything.

Hot Glue

Lastly, hot glues are another great idea for bonding a cardboard box. This is a thick, quick-drying glue type with great tensile strength.

But things can get messy if you don’t know how to use them!

Other options that work with cardboard include super glue, fabric glue, white glue, wood glue, craft glue, contact cement, and liquid glue.

Hot glue is also efficient as glue for ceramic repair.

Best Glues for Cardboard

Check out my recommendations for the best cardboard glues.

1. Lineco Books by Hand pH Neutral Adhesive

Lineco Books by Hand is the number one glue most professionals and photographers use. It provides an acid-free fast-drying formula that bonds cardboard to any material quickly and efficiently.

Lineco is also water-soluble, which means you can thin it out by adding water into the mixture. Its tensile strength is superb, allowing you to glue paper to cardboard without soaking it.

However, I wouldn’t recommend using Lineco Books on thicker cardboard. This is a sophisticated and precise tool for professional jobs, not industrial applications.

That being said, in my option, it’s still the #1 best glue for cardboard.

2. 3M General Purpose Spray Adhesive

3M Adhesive is a pH-neutral and fast-drying glue perfect for cardboard and other soft adhesives but also on harder materials like metal, plastic, foam board, and cork.

Moreover, this is a spray adhesive, so the application is easy and efficient.

Craft projects will be done in no time after using 3M Spray Adhesive! It’s a photo-safe glue that dries without issues.

It’s flammable, so you should keep it away from sources of fire. Don’t breathe it in either!

3. Gorilla Clear Glue

Gorilla Glue is a well-known adhesive brand known for its high-quality adhesives. This specific glue is water-resistant, weather-resistant, and offers high tensile strength, perfect for gluing most materials.

I strongly recommend it for gluing cardboard and other soft materials, thanks to its sandable, paintable, and stainable characteristics.

The resealable bottle allows you to store the glue for long periods even after you use it.

Gorilla Clear Glue also works as a glue for porcelain toilet repair.

4. Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue, And Finish

Mod Podge is a perfect adhesive for the job when you want to glue cardboard to other materials. Its tensile strength is decent enough to ensure a long life for most bonds.

It’s also non-toxic and easily sand-able after it dries!

Most importantly, Mod Podge Adhesive dries clearly with a subtle sheen, and you can easily clean it up using soap and water.

It may not work with all materials, so watch out for this. Still, cardboard bonds are not a problem!

5. Elmer’s X-TREME School Glue

You must have heard of Elmer’s arts and crafts glue. X-TREME School Glue is an improved variant, with higher tensile strength and a long-lasting bond.

It works on thin and thick cardboard but also glues other materials, porous or non-porous.
Its non-toxic formula makes it great for school projects, and the glue is so easy to use that even your kids can apply it.

It doesn’t make a mess either, but even if you do, the glue can be cleaned easily. Soap and water are enough to clean it all up.

I wouldn’t recommend using Elmer’s X-TREME School Glue for weighty materials, though.

6. Scotch Quick Drying Tacky Glue

Easy to use, affordable, mess-free, and quick-drying, Stoch Tacky Glue is an excellent option for most cardboard gluing jobs.

This is a tacky glue, which means it’s very thick and bonds quickly to anything it touches. No clamping is required either.

This glue doesn’t need extra help to stick to materials. The no-run formula ensures the glue stays where you put it without moving an inch!

Moreover, the fine tip-applicator offers a simplistic and comfortable application experience.

No wrinkling on paper and cardboard either, as Scotch Tacky Glue dries clearly and cleanly.

It may be too thick for some applications, but I recommend it for small-scale cardboard jobs!

Scotch Quick Drying Tacky Glue can also be used as glue for pottery.

7. Syntrific Hot Glue Sticks

While these hot glue sticks may not work with all glue guns, they’re still one of the best adhesives for cardboard.

Their quick melting point allows for an efficient setting and a long-lasting bond. When they dry, the sticks are transparent and cold-resistant, allowing for increased resistance.

Syntrific Hot Glue Sticks work with most materials aside from cardboard, including glass and jewelry. These glue sticks are a good starting point if you want to do a good job gluing cardboard.

8. Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue

Another tacky glue that sticks instantly, Aleene’s Glue, is great for most craft projects involving cardboard.

With this thick and non-toxic glue, you’ll be able to glue metal, foam, wood, cardboard, and many more materials quickly and efficiently.

Once bonded to a material, the glue is still flexible, so you can sand it, paint over it, and work with it however you want. It doesn’t work on all plastics, though.

How to Glue Paper and Fabric to Cardboard

Gluing paper to cardboard may seem simple, but it’s not. Many adhesives will make the paper soggy and unusable. Use a water-based adhesive, a spray adhesive, or tacky glue for best results.

You’ll be able to bond the paper and cardboard together without sogging the paper or soaking the cardboard. 3M General Purpose Spray Adhesive is a good choice for paper-to-cardboard jobs.

As for fabric-to-cardboard bonds, I recommend a thicker glue, so it doesn’t soak through the fabric. A water-based adhesive may work, but the drying times are usually long, and the fabric may be ruined in the meantime.

Safety Precautions:

• Read the instructions on the label. Many types of glue are toxic and require you to wear gloves and a mask.
• Wear gloves when using any spray glue because it can easily stick on your fingers.
• Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent intoxication from the toxic fumes of some glues.

Wrap Up

Bonding cardboard to other materials is easy if you know what you’re doing. With this guide, you should have everything you need to finish the job.

My best recommendation is Lineco Books by Hand pH Neutral Adhesive. Its high tensile strength and water-based formula provide plenty of versatility.