Rhinestones, beads, and other similar details can transform the look of your clothing by adding a personal touch.

However, it’s difficult to get smooth surfaces like these to stick to malleable fabric or shoes constantly exposed to various weather conditions.

This article will give you a comprehensive list of the best adhesives for this job.

Whether you need to fix an old piece of clothing or work on your DIY projects, you’ll need high-quality glue to take your craft to the next level.

You want a glue that dries clear, offers a durable bond, and is compatible with all sorts of materials.

You don’t have to go through trial and error to find what you’re looking for.

Keep reading for more versatile rhinestones glues and some useful application tips!

Suitable Glue for Rhinestones

Rhinestones are usually made from either glass or heat-sensitive acrylic plastics.

They have smooth surfaces that are hard to adhere to other materials, even porous ones like fabric or leather.

For the best results, you’ll need a versatile glue compatible with many materials and surfaces.

Some of the best multi-purpose options include:

Hot Glue

Hot Glue is a great choice if you’re using glass rhinestones. This adhesive is easy to apply; it dries quickly and forms a high-strength, long-lasting bond.

Thanks to the glue gun application, you can get great precision, so you can use hot glue to trace intricate patterns on clothing and shoes.

This glue works on all types of surfaces, both porous and non-porous, and it’s compatible with all materials.

However, when using heat-sensitive plastics, you risk damaging the materials because of the high temperature of the glue.

The same concerns apply to plastic, rubber, or imitation leather shoes.

Super Glue

Super glue is another multi-purpose adhesive with great bonding strength.

It’s easy to apply and dries almost immediately, so you can move quickly if you’ve no time to spare.

This glue works with almost all materials, including most plastics. The only exceptions include polypropylene and polyethylene.

You can safely use it on fabric, leather, rubber, glass, and many more.

Depending on its consistency, it could also be formulated to be non-runny and non-soaking, which is great for fabric materials.

Super Glue also works well for shoes because it’s waterproof and has decent resistance to extreme temperatures.

Polyurethane Glue

Polyurethane Glue is a type of thermoplastic glue that works on various materials, including plastic, glass, leather, fabric, wood, stone, metal, and more.

It can bind to porous and non-porous surfaces and create strong, durable bonds.

When fully cured, this adhesive is also resistant to most damaging factors.

This glue works great for gluing rhinestones on fabric or shoes, albeit the application can be messy.

It’s important to only use a minimal amount, especially for small details like jewels and stones. PU glue tends to expand as it cures.

Check out my guide on the best glues for jewelry for more tips.

This is great for filling in rough, uneven surfaces but could create an undesired effect on smooth surfaces.

Epoxy

Epoxies are two-part adhesives that require mixing before application. They come with one part resin and one part curing agent.

What’s great about this adhesive is that you won’t have to worry about the glue drying out.

That’s because the curing process doesn’t begin until the two components are mixed.

In terms of versatility, this glue does it all. You can safely use epoxy glue on all materials, including plastic, glass, fabrics, leather, rubber, and more.

It works equally well on porous and non-porous surfaces to bond smooth rhinestones to porous fabric or leather shoes.

Moreover, epoxies are some of the strongest glues on the market.

They have longer curing times but offer permanent, high-strength bonds with great weight-bearing capabilities.

When fully cured, epoxies resist water, moisture, impact, and extreme temperatures.

They work for both indoor and outdoor applications and can bind rhinestones to shoes and washable textiles.

Glues that don’t work for such applications include standard fabric glue, gorilla glue, mod podge, standard fabric adhesive, and epoxy resin.

Best 7 Glues for Rhinestones on Fabric and Shoes

Here is my recommendation for the best glue for rhinestones on fabric and shoes.

1. E6000 Bundled Brands Industrial Strength Crafting Adhesive

The E6000 Bundled Brands Industrial Strength Crafting Adhesive is a clear, washer-safe adhesive suitable for all DYI rhinestones applications.

This glue is great when you want quick, long-lasting, and discreet results. It has a very thick consistency so it won’t soak up into thin fabrics.

It also dries flexible and without becoming brittle.

It works on a wide range of materials, including glass, most plastics, and fabrics, as well as metal, wood, and ceramics.

You can use this adhesive on porous and non-porous surfaces, and you’ll always get a tight, permanent, yet flexible bond.

This industrial-strength glue doesn’t crack when dry, and it’s also photo-safe, washable, and dryable when fully cured.

This product is incredibly easy to apply, thanks to its accompanying tools. In one purchase, you’ll get four snip tip applicators and a set of dabbing tools for clean, mess-free application.

Spreading the glue could be challenging due to its thick consistency, but it’s also unlikely for the adhesive to run or drip.

2. Gem-Tac Permanent Adhesive

The Gem-Tac Permanent Adhesive bonds rhinestones, gems, sequins, and glitter to a long list of materials, including fabric, leather, metal, glass, and more.

This adhesive is also non-toxic, which makes it pet-safe and a child-friendly option.

Thanks to the precision applicator tip, you can easily measure and apply the product all mess-free.

The glue comes out white, so you can see exactly how much and where you apply it.

As it dries, it becomes clear, creating a subtle result. This product offers a strong, permanent bond, but it’s worth mentioning that this glue isn’t waterproof.

Because it’s easily washable, it’s best to use it on art and craft projects rather than on shoes or clothing.

This product is also an amazing glue for shoes.

3. G-S Hypo Cement

For extra-precise detail work, G-S Hypo Cement is the glue you need. This cement adhesive comes with the thinnest applicator tip of all the glues on the market.

The needle-like tip helps you use small amounts of glue for details like rhinestones, sequins, or tiny gems.

With such insane precision, there’s no chance you could ever get a messy application.

This glue is great for all rhinestone applications, DYI crafts, and jewelry. It’s some of the strongest adhesives on the market.

The insane bond this glue offers is highly similar to many super glue types. Besides high strength, this glue dries extremely fast and is fully clear.

The only downside to this product is that it’s not 100% waterproof and is therefore not washer-safe.

It’s also worth mentioning that this glue is rigid when dry, so it is better for use on thick, inflexible materials and surfaces.

4. Loctite Ultra Gel Control Super Glue

The Loctite Ultra Gel Control Super Glue has an innovative, rubber-toughened formula.

This makes this super glue incredibly resistant to extreme temperatures, shock, impact, and vibration and 100% waterproof when dry.

This glue works on all materials, including plastic, glass, leather, fabric, rubber, metal, paper, wood, ceramic, and more.

You can use it to bond rhinestones to both clothing and shoes and any other surface, both porous and non-porous.

You’ll get a strong, permanent, and flexible bond in seconds, all with no clamping required!

This adhesive also dries clear, and thanks to its thick gel-like consistency, it doesn’t drip, runoff, or soak into thin fabrics.

The special squeeze design and thin application tip make this glue suitable for high-detail work, especially for small pieces like decorative rhinestones, pearls, and sequins.

5. Better Ultimate Adhesive

Better Ultimate Adhesive is an odorless, non-toxic, slow-drying super glue that’s great for adults and children.

Because this glue takes 10 minutes to set, you get a lot of wiggle room to correct errors or modify material placement.

But just because this glue has a gentle formula doesn’t mean it doesn’t have great adherence power.

This glue forms strong and highly durable bonds. Moreover, once it fully cures, this glue is also 100% weatherproof, so you can safely use it on shoes and other outdoor applications.

This adhesive is specifically designed for art and craft projects, but it also makes a great universal glue for low-weight materials.

You can use it to bond rhinestones to fabric, leather, plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, paper, and more.

This adhesive dries clear and spotless, offering discrete, long-lasting results.

Thanks to the applicator tip accompanying this product, the Better Ultimate Adhesive is also very easy to work with on small-scale projects.

Tips for Choosing Rhinestones Glue

When buying adhesive for rhinestone applications, you can answer a few questions beforehand.

You’ll need to watch out for a few characteristics before settling on a suitable adhesive:

• Drying time – A proper rhinestone glue needs to dry quickly, and you shouldn’t need to clamp it down. That’s because rhinestones are a bit too small, and they can’t be clamped properly. Most likely, you’ll break them by trying. The setting time needs to be fast (about 5-10 seconds) for this to work.
• Precise Application – Rhinestones and crystals are tiny and hard to work with. You need patience and precision glue to finish in due time. Apply only a tiny quantity of adhesive because too much will cause a mess
• Clear drying – Bonding rhinestones to fabric and shoes is done purely for the aesthetic effect. So, you’ll need an adhesive that dries clear. The result will look decent enough if you know what you’re doing. At least, the adhesive will be invisible.
• Resistances And Bond Strength – Naturally, you’ll want a glue that creates strong bonds. Epoxy adhesives are much stronger than other types of adhesive, for instance. The bond they create is permanent, but they’re also somewhat flexible. You’ll need flexibility and plenty of resistance (impact, shock, and water resistance)
• Application – What is the glue used for? Many types of adhesives are specific to certain materials, and the products on our list are made for beads, rhinestones, jewels, fabric, metal, plastic, leather, and more. To know what each glue is for, read the instruction labels.
• Viscosity – Is the adhesive thick or thin? Depending on its viscosity, it works better on specific applications. You need a thick glue that remains stable upon application for rhinestones applications. But it shouldn’t be too thick either.
• Toxicity – Non-toxic adhesives should be first on your list if you want to glue rhinestones to fabric or shoes. You don’t want the adhesive to smell bad, after all. It’s better to be safe than sorry since you’re going to wear the jewels yourself.

If you make sure your adhesive meets these standards, then you’re left with the best of the best. This list should contain everything you need!

How to Use Rhinestones Glue

To glue rhinestones to fabric or shoes, you need a proper adhesive and some technique.

If the adhesive has a precision applicator, you only need to press the rhinestone on it, squeeze some glue, and let it dry out.

If the glue bottle has no applicator tip, pour some glue on a sheet of cardboard, take a needle, dab it in the adhesive, and apply it to the rhinestone.

Super glue is a superb choice if you want to finish quickly. The instant drying time is specific to super glues!

You’ll also want to take precautions when gluing rhinestones to fabric and shoes.

Safety gloves, eyewear, and a respirator if the glue is toxic are all necessary when using industrial glues.

Wrap-up

It’s interesting to work with rhinestones and other crystals, and if you’re into this sort of application, you’ll need a proper adhesive.

Bonding rhinestones to shoes or fabric doesn’t need to be hard, though.

With 6000 Bundled Brands Industrial Strength Crafting, you should have everything you need!