First came Play-Doh, then came Gak. Now, kids of all ages are going bananas for homemade slime. And for good reason! Not only is it fun to squish and pop between your fingers, but the best glues for slime allow for endless creative play.
It’s a trend that parents can get behind because it promotes mindfulness through sensory play, strengthens fine motor skills, and has a calming quality — plus, it’s just plain fun!
Over the years, I’ve become an expert on all different types of slime (we’re talking cloud to edible and everything in between!), which means I know a thing or two about which glues work best. I’ve learned that glue can be slightly different, and you may not get the same results with different brands, so make sure to stick to my list. Don’t be tempted to use generic brands – in my experience, they may not work at all!
Find out more about the best glues for slime below, including my favorite from Elmer’s! You’re going to have soooo much fun!
My Top Picks:
- What I Use: Elmer’s White School Glue – $11.99 at Target
- Best Clear Glue for Slime: Amazon Basics All Purpose Clear School Glue – $22.60 at Amazon
- Best Elmer’s Glue for Slime: Elmer’s Washable Clear Glue – $22.99 at Target
- Best for Butter Slime: Amazon Basics All Purpose White School Glue – $21.41 at Amazon
- Best Glue for Gak: Cra-Z-Art Washable School Glue – $6.00 at Amazon
- Best Glitter Glue for Slime: Elmer’s Liquid Glitter Glue – $13.02 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Glue for Slime
1. What I Use: Elmer’s White School Glue
If you’re wondering which option is one of the absolute best glues for slime, it’s the the classic Elmer’s Washable School Glue. It picks up pigment really well, so with just a few drops of food coloring, it can produce a rainbow of color options, which can be super fun.
Pro tip: You can also put a few drops of it in with your clear slime to give it a little bit of a cloudy effect!
Slime made from this glue comes out opaque, fluffy in texture, thicker, and less stretchy. I like using it for Cornstarch Slime. It’s soft but also very workable with the perfect amount of ooze! During the winter, I add a small amount of snow powder to water to watch it transform into a full bowl of fluffy Cloud Slime. It’s so cool! And it makes the slime foamy, stretchy, and super fun to play with!
The Specs:
- Color: White
- Appearance: Smooth
- Best for: Cornstarch Slime, Cloud Slime and Fluffy Slime
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Opaque
- Soft
- Fluffy texture
The Cons:
- Less stretchy
What Others Are Saying
It has a 4.9-star rating from more than 470 reviews at Target.
Buy the Elmer’s White School Glue:
2. Best Clear Glue for Slime: Amazon Basics All Purpose Clear School Glue
When comparing the Amazon Basics All-Purpose Clear School Glue, the first benefit that popped up is that it comes out of the bottle easier and faster than Elmer’s glue. It also produces slime that doesn’t get as sticky as Elmer’s glue can, and I like that the texture is thick and creamy.
The Specs:
- Color: Clear
- Appearance: Glossy
- Best for Mermaid Slime
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Extra creamy texture
- Smooth
- Stretchy
The Cons:
- Slime can rip
What Others Are Saying
It has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 6,600 reviews.
Buy the Amazon Basics All Purpose Clear School Glue:
3. Best Elmer’s Glue for Slime: Elmer’s Washable Clear School Glue
Another one of my favorites is the Elmer’s Washable Clear School Glue. Smooth, stretchy, clear, and easy to mix, this glue is practically a guarantee for a good slime time. Because the glue is transparent, you can add glitter, beads, or charms. Plus, it’s non-toxic and washable, so you can skip the worrying and cut straight to the fun!
The Specs:
- Color: Clear
- Appearance: Glossy
- Best for Mermaid Slime
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Smooth
- Stretchy
- Easy to mix
The Cons:
- Starts a bit sticky
What Others Are Saying
The New York Times suggests Elmer’s Washable School Glue if you want to make affordable crystal-clear slime.
Buy the Elmer’s Washable Clear School Glue:
4. Best for Butter Slime: Amazon Basics All Purpose White School Glue
What’s really awesome about the Amazon Basics All Purpose White School Glue is that it’s a lot thicker than Elmer’s white school glue, so it produces super creamy slime. Because it’s on the denser side, it won’t work if you’re trying to get ooey-gooey slimy slime, but it’s perfect for Butter Slime.
The Specs:
- Color: White
- Appearance: Smooth
- Best for: Butter Slime
The Pros:
- Affordable
- Thick
- Dense
- Smooth
The Cons:
- Won’t work for slippery slime
What Others Are Saying
It has a 4.7-star rating from more than 6,400 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Amazon Basics All Purpose White School Glue:
5. Best Glue for Gak: Cra-Z-Art Washable School Glue
Should you be looking to make Gak Slime that’s satisfyingly slimy, reach for a bottle of Cra-Z-Art Washable School Glue. It’s really easy to work with, and you end up with slime that you can stretch into long snakes and roll into homemade bouncy balls!
When using this glue for gak, make sure you don’t leave it on a surface since it’ll completely flatten out. When you’re done playing with it, just store it in a large freezer bag and it will keep for weeks!
The Specs:
- Color: White
- Appearance: Ultra-smooth
- Best for: Gak Slime
The Pros:
- Makes classic slime
- Smooth
- Can be colored
- Makes bouncy balls
The Cons:
- Can make a mess if not properly contained
- Only comes in small bottles
What Others Are Saying
It has a 4.7-star rating from more than 100 reviews on Walmart.
Buy the Cra-Z-Art Washable School Glue:
6. Best Glitter Glue for Slime: Elmer’s Liquid Glitter Glue
Feelin’ fancy and want to make glittery slime? I recommend reaching for Elmer’s Liquid Glitter Glue! It adds a bold, glittery pop to slime, and it comes in pretty colors like pink, purple, and green. Because it only comes in small bottles, you can’t make a boatload of it at a time, but it’s great for small projects if you just need enough to make one batch of slime.
The best part? Since you aren’t actually using glitter, there’s A LOT less mess to clean up afterward.
The Specs:
- Color: Clear with glitter
- Appearance: Shimmery
- Best for: Mermaid Slime and Halloween Slime
The Pros:
- Smooth
- Shimmery
- Easy to mix
- Comes in a rainbow of colors
The Cons:
- Only comes in small bottles
What Others Are Saying
It has a 4.7-star rating from more than 3,200 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Elmer’s Liquid Glitter Glue:
Other Glue for Slime to Consider:
Clear Glue by Craft Smart
While this used to be a tried-and-true option for many slime connoisseurs, rumor has it they changed their recipe and increased their pricing drastically last year. Buyers have also found that slime made with this is crystal clear, but it comes out “jiggly” and not as stretchy. The Clear Glue by Craft Smart is available at Michael’s for $19.99.
Darice School Glue
This pick seems similar to one of my favorites from Amazon Basics, but it doesn’t have any reviews, so it’s hard to tell whether or not it would actually be a good option. This makes it hard to vouch for, despite its quick drying, no-run formula. Plus, it’s only available in a two-pack that’s pretty pricey. Because of all this, I recommend opting for one of my top picks instead. The Darice School Glue is available at Walmart for $39.99.
Fun Express Clear Glue
It’s a great glue for getting things to stick, but it’s not a great glue specifically for slime. Multiple reviewers said they were disappointed to see how watery it is and how it creates a crumbly mess instead of slime. The Fun Express Clear Glue is available at Amazon for $19.99.
Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue
Although it comes from a line of supplies made by a slime expert, reviewers found that slime made with this glue doesn’t activate like it should, so it comes out chunky and stiff. The Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue is available at Amazon for $24.99.
Colorations Washable Clear Glue
You can use this glue for DIY crafts, but we don’t recommend using it for slime. Buyers said that when it’s combined with Borax, a necessity in many slime recipes, it starts to smell bad. It’s also yellowish compared to Elmer’s, and it doesn’t clear up. The Colorations Washable Clear Glue is available at Amazon for $23.99.
Why You Can Trust Us
Hi, I’m Debbie Chapman! I’m the author, photographer, and creator behind One Little Project. Back in 2012, I started photographing the things I created and sharing them online. Since then it’s become a huge passion of mine! I love getting to develop crafts, try out fun new art projects (like slime!), and posting them on my blog.
My work has even been featured on popular sites like Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, Food Network, and more!
The first time I tried to make slime, I was hooked. This stuff is SO COOL! Of course, I had to try out all the trends and make them my own. We’ve made a ton of different slime recipes over the years, and by testing these slimes I discovered which glues work the best.
What to Know When Shopping for the Best Glue for Slime
Things to Consider When Choosing a Glue for Slime
Both clear glue and white glue are popular choices for crafting DIY slime, but each one produces slightly different results. They both have different properties, so the type of glue you choose will affect the final result of your slime. Here are some other factors to consider when choosing the best glues for slime:
Color
- Clear glue: It’s often referred to as transparent glue and yields a slime with a transparent appearance that you can add glitter and beads to for a fun effect.
- White glue: Produces an opaque or white slime that you can add color to.
Formula
- Clear glue: Clear glue is also known as PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue. It gives the slime a smooth and glossy appearance with a stretchy, slippery texture.
- White glue: Is also made of PVA and is known as school glue. It’s used to make opaque slime.
Texture
- Clear glue: Gives the slime a smooth and glossy appearance with a stretchy, slippery texture.
- White glue: Makes fluffy slime with a thicker, less stretchy texture.
How Do You Make Slime?
Making slime is a fun and simple DIY project that’s perfect for kids and adults alike. Most recipes don’t require many ingredients, like my Slime Without Borax recipe, which only uses four ingredients! Other recipes, like my Butter Slime how-to, require more ingredients like lotion and baking soda, but the steps are pretty much the same.
- First, grab a bowl and fill it with the various ingredients. You’ll need an activator (like contact lens solution) that you will stir in until the slime starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
- Next, once it pulls away from the bowl and clumps together, you can immediately begin to knead and play with the slime. You can also add extras like glitter, beads, or sequins.
- To store it, you’ll want to find an airtight container or resealable bag to keep it from drying. Generally, as long as you do this, your slime can last for weeks!
Is Elmer’s Glue All Good for Slime?
Yes, you can use Elmer’s Glue-All to make slime. Glue-All is a strong, multi-purpose glue that’s very similar to Elmer’s White School Glue. It’s good for making thick and glossy slime.
All types of Elmer’s glue are great for different types of slime. If you use any of the glues I’ve picked out, you shouldn’t have any problems. In fact, we highly recommend using Elmer’s, or another name brand, since cheaper dollar store glue doesn’t work well, in our experience.
Is Clear Glue or White Glue Better for Slime?
In the world of slime, it really depends on the kind of slime you want to make.
If you want slippery, gooey slime or want to be able to add glitter, clear glue is better.
But if you want stretchy slime that’s denser and more pillowy that you can dye all sorts of colors, white glue is best.
Is PVA Glue Good for Slime?
Yes, PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue is an excellent choice for making slime. In fact, both clear and white glue are made from PVA. It’s the primary ingredient that makes slime, well, slime!
All in all, an activator like contact lens solution is added to the mix, it starts a chemical reaction that produces the stuff we know as slime.
What Glues Are Best for Slime?
All of the glues in my roundup are some of the best glues for slime. The only caveat is that they’re NOT edible.
You can check out my Edible Slime recipe made with Starburst candy. It tastes great, is safe for consumption, and is kid-friendly! And it’s also SO EASY to make! Our recipe for Metamucil Slime is another great taste-safe option!
More Great Slime Tutorials
Check out some of my favorite slime recipes — they’re all SO much fun!
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
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