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7mm vs 11mm glue gun

Updated: 23 October 2026

You are holding a bag of sticks from an old gun, or choosing between a mini kit and a full-size one, and the packet says standard. On a 7mm vs 11mm glue gun decision, that word is the problem. The gun you should buy matches the sticks you will keep. The seven tools on our [hot glue gun 7 mm comparison](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/hot-glue-gun-7mm) are all 7 mm guns. If you want the thicker stick, the [11 mm hot glue gun comparison](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/hot-glue-gun-11mm) is the other list. We used UK trade notes, the Dremel manual and amazon.co.uk buyer comments. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You are holding a bag of sticks from an old gun, or choosing between a mini kit and a full-size one, and the packet says standard. On a 7mm vs 11mm glue gun decision, that word is the problem.

Our top picks

TILSWALL Tilswall W101 hot glue gun

Best overall

TILSWALL Tilswall W101 hot glue gun
8.3/10about £9.99
View offer
MAXDONE MAXDONE NL-310 mini hot glue gun

Rank 2

MAXDONE MAXDONE NL-310 mini hot glue gun
9.0/10about £7.39
View offer
RUNSAI RUNSAI RS601 mini hot glue gun

Best value

RUNSAI RUNSAI RS601 mini hot glue gun
7.9/10about £7.59
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What 7 mm is for
  2. 2.What 11 mm is for
  3. 3.What happens if the stick is the wrong diameter
  4. 4.How to check the sticks you already own

What 7 mm is for

A 7 mm gun lays a fine bead for a card, a model joint or a small repair. Leitz Rapid’s UK guide points precision work at the 7 mm gun and heat-sensitive materials at a separate low-temperature tool. Stick length in this set is about 100 mm, 130 mm or, on the cordless Tilswall, about 140 mm. Length is time before a reload, not a second diameter. Dremel pairs its 7 mm guns with 165°C and its 11/12 mm gun with 195°C on high. That is one brand. A 7 mm listing with no temperature is not the cooler gun. A long heavy bead on a 7 mm nozzle means more reloads and glue strings if you squeeze hard.

What 11 mm is for

An 11 mm gun is for volume: a wider bead along cardboard, fabric or wooden trim. The same size is sold as 12 mm. Glue Guns Direct notes Tecbond sticks labelled 12 mm measure about 11.3–11.7 mm and fit many guns marked 11 mm or 12 mm. That overlap is not a bridge to 7 mm. A thicker stick delivers more adhesive per squeeze. Higher wattage helps keep that mass molten. It does not name the diameter, and a thicker stick is not automatically hotter. If the page prints no temperature, that field is n/a.
TILSWALL Tilswall W101 hot glue gun

Testsieger

TILSWALL Tilswall W101 hot glue gun
8.3/10about £9.99
View offer

What happens if the stick is the wrong diameter

A 7 mm stick in an 11 mm gun is loose. It can slip or let molten glue creep back. An 11 mm stick will not enter a 7 mm nozzle, and cutting it lengthwise wedges it in a hot gun. Buyers on the Tilswall W101 and RUNSAI pages already had the larger sticks. Shaving a stick down leaves a flat that leaks. Change the gun to the diameter you will keep, or accept a thinner bead and more reloads. Do not mix the two sizes in one melt chamber. After a jam, unplug and cool the gun. A normal session is on the how to use a hot glue gun page.

How to check the sticks you already own

Ignore mini, standard and craft on the packet. Measure across the cut end. About 7 mm is the mini class. About 11 mm to 12 mm is full-size, including a 12 mm label closer to 11.5 mm. Multiply 0.275 in by 25.4 and you get about 7 mm. The cordless Tilswall lists 0.275 in × 5.51 in, about 7 mm × 140 mm. Match a 7 mm stick to a gun from this comparison. Match an 11 mm or 12 mm stick to a gun that takes it. Choose 7 mm for dots and cards. Choose 11 mm for more glue per squeeze. Heat-sensitive materials are a third choice.

Common questions

Should I buy a 7 mm or an 11 mm glue gun?
Buy 7 mm for a fine bead on cards, models and small repairs. Buy 11 mm for more glue per squeeze on wood, cardboard or longer fabric runs. If you already own sticks, buy the gun that matches their diameter. A 7 mm kit does not become an 11 mm gun because the listing says 50 W.
Will 7 mm sticks fit an 11 mm gun if I push them?
They sit in the opening and then fail. The stick is loose, so it can slip, stop advancing, or let molten glue leak back. Use 11 mm sticks, or 12 mm sticks measured at about 11.3–11.7 mm, in an 11 mm gun. Keep 7 mm sticks for a 7 mm gun.
Are 11 mm and 12 mm the same?
They are close enough that many guns accept both. Glue Guns Direct puts Tecbond 12 mm sticks at about 11.3–11.7 mm, which is why an 11 mm gun and a 12 mm gun often share a refill. That overlap stops well above 7 mm.
Is 0.275 inch the same as 7 mm?
Yes, as a conversion. Multiply 0.275 by 25.4 and you get about 7 mm. The Tilswall cordless listing uses that inch size for mini sticks. The conversion does not tell you the temperature, and it does not make an 11 mm stick fit.
Do longer sticks mean a bigger gun?
No. A 7 × 130 mm stick and a 7 × 100 mm stick are the same diameter. The longer one lasts longer before you reload. RUNSAI lists 7 mm sticks without a length in the spec block. Only the millimetres across the stick tell you mini or full-size.
If I want more glue, do I need more watts or a thicker stick?
You need the thicker stick, in the gun built for it. An 11 mm stick delivers more adhesive per squeeze than a 7 mm stick. Higher wattage helps a full-size gun keep a larger mass molten. It does not turn a 7 mm nozzle into a wide bead. Do not shave an 11 mm stick to fit.

Related pages

7mm glue gun buying guide

Hot glue gun for crafts

Hot glue gun 7mm

Best 7mm glue gun for cards, refills or cordless use

How to use a hot glue gun without burning yourself

Sources

Public UK sources used for this comparison. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 19 October 2026.

  1. Electrical Safety First: glue guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Great Britain (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. British Red Cross: burns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Dremel glue gun manual (910/930/940) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Bostik UK cool-melt glue gun (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. NSEAD: adhesives and fixatives (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Leitz Rapid: choosing the right glue gun (retrieved 19 October 2026)