The Best Fabric Glues For Furniture And Upholstery

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Staples, tacks, and nails should provide most of your upholstery's support, but a glue can help smooth down edges and add extra security. Fabric glue is usually designed to help fabric pieces stick together, but a good upholstery glue also needs to be able to bind fabric to other materials like wood or even metal. Whether you're repairing a favorite furniture piece or dressing up an outdated thrift store find, a high-quality fabric glue is one of the supplies you'll want to consider before reupholstering furniture (especially if it's vintage). Because upholstery tends to be denser and heavier than typical decor fabric, you'll need a strong glue that can bear the material's weight. At the same time, it needs to blend seamlessly into the piece of furniture and offer some flexibility once dried, lest you find yourself in a sticky situation.

As an avid thrifter, sewist, and DIYer, I've had a handful of experiences working with upholstery and fabric glue. From those experiences, I've learned that it's much easier to upholster something correctly the first time than it is to remove, reposition, or replace old, crusty glue spots. In sum, it's worth investing in a good fabric glue that will live up to the daily wear and tear your upholstery receives, even if that means spending a few extra dollars on your project. After scouring customer reviews, checking out ingredients, and recounting my own experiences, I can tell you about the best fabric glues for upholstery and the key factors that make them great.

A spray adhesive is one of the types of glue you should always have on hand for home upkeep. It's important for achieving an even application and smooth look when attaching upholstery to a surface like wood or foam cushions. 3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive has a high solids content that prevents it from soaking through upholstery fabrics.

This clear, drip-free spray effortlessly binds upholstery and carpet materials to wood, foam, metal, plastic, cardboard, and more. With a dry time between 10 seconds and 20 minutes, you'll be able to adjust and reposition your upholstery to ensure a smooth, wrinkle-free finish. Once dry, the bond is water-resistant and extremely tough to pull apart.

When working with furniture and upholstery, it can be a pain to have to clamp and secure fabric as it dries. As the name might imply, Speed-Sew allows just enough time to reposition your upholstery as needed before it dries to a strong hold in as little as 30 minutes (or up to two hours).

Speed-Sew is best for attaching fabric to foam or other fabrics, and it even works on velvet, suede, and the soft side of leather. Plus, it'll hold up in the washing machine and is easy to clean off of hands and table surfaces. While it has plenty of great indoor applications, Speed-Sew isn't ideal for outdoor use, as it shouldn't be exposed to below-freezing temperatures.

If you're working with a really dense fabric like velvet, suede, or leather, you need a glue that can handle the heavy lifting, and E6000 won't let you down. This glue is available in a precision-tip tube and has a thick, clear formula that dries to an incredibly strong hold. E6000 can become stiff if you apply too much, however, so use just a small amount to secure your upholstery and maintain flexibility.

For the best results, use sandpaper to roughen any wood or plastic surfaces. Spread the glue in a thin layer on both surfaces, then press them together once the glue becomes tacky. Once cured, E6000 holds strong through rough weather and temperatures between -40 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hot glue isn't usually the best for fabrics, but it can be used on upholstery, especially in places where the fabric meets wood. Standard hot glue may weaken and peel on fabric, but Surebonder Fabric Stiks are designed to work on everything from leather to cotton to lace and more. Unlike other hot glue sticks, Surebonder Fabric Stiks can work in high- and low-temperature glue guns and are available in white or black, so the glue won't stand out on dark fabrics.

Once dried, this glue stays flexible and is even machine-washable. Hot glue tends to dry quickly as it cools, which can be an advantage when tucking upholstery corners, adding details like rhinestones, or making a beautiful DIY pleated lampshade.

Most of the adhesives on this list will survive outside, but if you're looking for something that works on tricky outdoor fabrics and holds up in tough weather, look no further than Loctite Vinyl, Fabric & Plastic Flexible Adhesive. This spectacular glue works on a wide range of materials including fabric, canvas, vinyl, rubber, plastic, metal, wood, glass, and more.

Perfect for recovering and repairing outdoor upholstery, cushions, hammocks, umbrellas, and other furniture pieces, this transparent adhesive is totally waterproof after 24 hours, endures through freezing and scorching temperatures, and won't weaken under UV rays.

Usually, investing in a high-quality fabric glue for furniture and upholstery is worth the price, but if you're attempting to reupholster a whole furniture set or achieve an affordable thrift flip, Aleene's Fabric Fusion will give you sturdy results without breaking the bank. While it's available in larger bottles and generally cheaper per ounce than our other top-rated picks, Fabric Fusion still provides a strong hold once cured.

With a precision tip and smooth-flowing consistency, Fabric Fusion is easy to use, easy to clean up, machine-washable, and dry clean-friendly. Fabric Fusion can bleed through some materials and may not be the most heavy-duty glue available, but it's a good pick for light projects, crafters, and those who are experimenting with furniture upholstery for the first time.