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7 mm or 11 mm glue gun

Updated: 23 October 2026

You already have a bag of glue sticks, or you are about to buy refills that will not enter the gun you own. Choosing a 7 mm or 11 mm glue gun is stricter than the wattage on the box. In this amazon.co.uk set the minis take 7 mm sticks and two full-size guns take sticks of about 11 mm. The diameters do not interchange. The [hot glue gun comparison](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/hot-glue-gun) ranks the kits. Peter F. used those listings on 20 October 2026 and did not melt sticks in a lab. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You already have a bag of glue sticks, or you are about to buy refills that will not enter the gun you own. Choosing a 7 mm or 11 mm glue gun is stricter than the wattage on the box.

Our top picks

BEEWAY BEEWAY 100 W full-size glue gun

Best overall

BEEWAY BEEWAY 100 W full-size glue gun
8.8/10about £22.99
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MAXDONE MAXDONE 50 W mini glue gun kit

Rank 2

MAXDONE MAXDONE 50 W mini glue gun kit
8.8/10about £7.39
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MAXDONE MAXDONE 20 W mini glue gun

Best value

MAXDONE MAXDONE 20 W mini glue gun
8.5/10about £6.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What 7 mm is for
  2. 2.What about 11 mm is for
  3. 3.11 mm is not automatically 12 mm
  4. 4.Which guns in this set take which stick

What 7 mm is for

A 7 mm stick is the precision size. Leitz, writing about Rapid tools for the UK, points smaller guns at small amounts of glue rather than at a long structural bead. That matches cards, flowers when the material can take the heat, school models, and a short repair on trim or fabric. Ten guns in this set are 7 mm: the KATSU, both MAXDONE minis, the RUNSAI, both DEKO kits, both Tilswall kits, the Assark, and the Haltons. Prices on that side run from £5.99 to £11.99. A 20 W mini and a 50 W mini can share those sticks. Extra watts do not let a 7 mm stick feed a larger gun. A standard mini can still scorch foam and petals, which is covered on the hot glue gun for crafts page.

What about 11 mm is for

A stick of about 11 mm puts more glue down on each squeeze, which helps a long bead on wood or thick cardboard. You give up the fine line, and the BEEWAY is listed at 1.1 kg. The 7 mm packs in the drawer will not feed it. The BEEWAY at £22.99 is listed as 100 W and 230.01 V, with 30 sticks of about 11 × 150 mm and a hard case. The FAHEFANA JQ at £19.99 takes 30 sticks of 11 × 150 mm. Its title says 200 W and the wattage field says 100 W, and it does not state a voltage. A 100 W claim does not make a 7 mm hole.
BEEWAY BEEWAY 100 W full-size glue gun

Testsieger

BEEWAY BEEWAY 100 W full-size glue gun
8.8/10about £22.99
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11 mm is not automatically 12 mm

Cromwell treats 7 mm, 11 mm, and 12 mm as sizes that do not swap. Glue Guns Direct notes that Tecbond 12 mm sticks often measure about 11.3–11.7 mm and will run in many 11 mm guns, while some imported sticks sold as 12 mm measure about 10.8–11.3 mm and can melt back instead of feeding forward. That is a tolerance problem, not a trick you can fix with more trigger pressure. The BEEWAY title says 11.2 mm and a bullet says 11.0 mm. Treat both as about 11 mm. Do not buy 7 mm sticks for it, and do not assume every 12 mm pack will fit. Try one stick of the stated diameter before you buy a box of fifty.

Which guns in this set take which stick

If your sticks are 7 mm, the full-size pair is the wrong refill. The RUNSAI, both DEKO kits, both MAXDONE guns, the KATSU, Haltons, Assark, and both Tilswall kits take 7 mm. Both Tilswall rows state 120 V, so a matching stick is not a reason to plug them in until the nameplate says 220–240 V. The hot glue gun buying guide puts that check second. If you choose the BEEWAY, the next purchase is sticks of about 11 × 150 mm, not a 7 mm craft pack. The FAHEFANA takes the same stated size, with the wattage lines in conflict, so match the stick first. Cards and small repairs stay on 7 mm. A long bead on wood or thick card moves you to about 11 mm. Mixing the two in one gun jams the heater.

Common questions

Can I put a 7 mm stick in an 11 mm gun?
No. A 7 mm stick is too thin for a gun built for about 11 mm. It will not seal and feed the way the gun expects, and the glue can melt back around it. Keep 7 mm sticks for the minis in this set. Buy about-11 mm refills for the BEEWAY and the FAHEFANA.
Is 11 mm the same as 12 mm?
Not as a promise. Some trade 12 mm sticks measure about 11.3–11.7 mm and run in 11 mm guns. Some imported sticks sold as 12 mm measure closer to 10.8–11.3 mm and can melt back. Cromwell lists the sizes separately. Try one stick that matches the gun before you stock up.
Are high-street 7 mm refills right for the RUNSAI, DEKO, and MAXDONE guns?
Yes. Those three brands in this set are 7 mm guns, so a normal 7 mm refill is the matching pack. Check the length if your gun is fussy, but the diameter is the part that must match. Their wattage differences do not change the stick.
What do I buy next if I choose the BEEWAY?
Buy sticks of about 11 mm, close to the 11.0–11.2 mm wording on that listing, in a length near 150 mm. Do not buy 7 mm craft sticks for it. Do not assume a cheap 12 mm pack will fit until one stick has fed without melting back. The gun is £22.99 with 30 sticks in the kit.
Does a higher wattage change the diameter?
No. A 100 W listing and a 20 W listing can only use the stick their body was moulded for. Wattage affects how fast the glue melts and how long a session feels easy. The hole at the back decides the refill. If the stick will not enter, more power will not help.

Related pages

Best hot glue gun

Hot glue gun

Hot glue gun buying guide: stick size, then voltage

Hot glue gun for crafts, cards and artificial flowers

How to use a hot glue gun: heat, bead, then unplug

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. NHS, burns and scalds (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. BS 1363-1:2023, 13 A plugs (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Dremel UK glue-gun manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. Glue Guns Direct, safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Cromwell Tools, glue guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  9. Amazon.co.uk Best Sellers, Glue Guns (retrieved 19 October 2026)