The Best Glues For Slime Of 2024 One Little Project

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:

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! $11.99 at Target 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: $11.99 at Target $11.97 at Walmart 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

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! $22.99 at Target 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: $22.99 at Target $21.88 at Walmart $22.36 at Michael’s 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

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 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

Fun Express Clear Glue

Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue

Colorations Washable Clear Glue

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.

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!