The best polystyrene glues, compared.
Top pick: LAMXIN 120 ml foam glue Best value: UHU POR, pack of 2 – Best value for POR chemistry when you need two 50 ml tubes: about £11.82, 4.7 from 57 reviews. Not a first scrap-test buy. Updated 22 October 2026.
Polystyrene glue on a UK bench is not one bottle. Expanded polystyrene foam, hard kit plastic and soft craft foam each need a different chemistry, and the wrong one ruins the piece. Foam needs an adhesive that does not dissolve the cells. Hard kit plastic needs a solvent cement that welds the joint. Felt and soft foam sit with a tacky gel. A title that only says polystyrene or plastic is not enough. Name the material first: expanded or extruded foam, hard kit plastic, EVA or sponge, or polypropylene foam. Then match the chemistry and the method on the pack. Those checks are set out in the [polystyrene glue buying guide](/hub/fillers-adhesives-and-sprays/polystyrene-glue/sub/polystyrene-glue-buying-guide). A contact adhesive goes on both faces and waits for tack. A cement is a small weld on hard plastic. Water resistant on a listing is not an outdoor or washable spec. Ordinary superglue, hot-melt and all-purpose solvent glue collapse foam. A craft tube is the wrong class for insulation boards, and it does not make polystyrene ceiling tiles acceptable as an internal lining. Solvent packs are flammable.
Polystyrene glue on a UK bench is not one bottle. Expanded polystyrene foam, hard kit plastic and soft craft foam each need a different chemistry, and the wrong one ruins the piece.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you joining?
The LAMXIN 120 ml foam glue is listed at about £12.99 with a needle tip and a brush, and the star line is 4.8 from six amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing names EVA foam, sponge, pearl wool and foam board, with an initial dry of one hour and a 24-hour full cure, and it tells you to work in a ventilated space. One UK review used it on foam inserts in a gun case and reported little odour. A diorama reviewer said it went tacky quickly on extruded polystyrene and firmer in about five minutes, and preferred it to cyanoacrylate on that foam. One long UK review reads like sales copy. Water resistance is not stated on the listing. Six reviews are not a substitute for the 847-count foam file. Keep it as a scrap-test bottle for EVA and foam board, not as the default expanded-polystyrene pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: EVA, sponge or foam-board craft where you want a needle tip and will scrap-test first.
Less suitable: A default buy for expanded polystyrene when a documented foam contact adhesive already has the deep UK file.
Specifications
Common questions
Which materials does the listing name?
EVA foam, sponge, pearl wool, and foam board. The listing does not name expanded polystyrene in those fields. One diorama review used it on extruded polystyrene.
Is it safe to use indoors?
The listing does not answer yes or no. A bullet says to use it in a ventilated space and to keep the cap on.
How long does the listing say it takes to dry?
Initial dry one hour, complete dry 24 hours. The water-resistance field is not stated.
The WAN2TLK 120 ml clear foam glue is listed at about £12.99 with a brush, a 24-hour cure and a waterproof claim, and the star line is 4.8 from five amazon.co.uk reviews. Specific use names foam board, EVA and pearl cotton. The only UK review text in the file is a single word, and it does not describe a result. Two German notes that praise foam are not a United Kingdom performance pattern. There is no defect described in the three texts, and there is also no UK result you can check against a finished joint. The listing fields do not name polystyrene. Treat the bottle as a scrap-test candidate for foam board craft, and do not let five ratings outrank an 847-count foam file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A scrap test on foam board or EVA when you accept a five-review page.
Less suitable: Anyone buying on the 4.8 alone, or a job that needs a documented expanded-polystyrene contact adhesive.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the pack?
The included-components field says foam glue and a brush. Pieces: 2. Volume: 120 ml. Price in this snapshot: about £12.99.
Does the listing name polystyrene?
The listing fields do not. Specific use names foam modelling, EVA stickers, pearl cotton, and foam board. Two German reviews in the file mention foam. That is not a UK performance pattern.
What cure time is printed?
24 hours. Water resistance on the listing is waterproof.
The UHU POR twin pack is listed at about £11.82 for two 40 g / 50 ml tubes, with a 4.7 from 57 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK notes describe polystyrene and foam work, including RC planes and insulating foam used as aircraft material, and they repeat the contact method: let each side dry, then stick. The listing excludes PP, PE, PET, PTFE, POM and SI, states a waterproof colourless film, and prints a 24-hour full-cure field that must not be averaged with the 20-minute field on the single 50 ml tube. Open time is slower than a 30-second grab, and the smell needs ventilation even when reviewers call it manageable. Several reviewers had not used the tubes yet. It is the best value POR pack in this set when you need more than one 50 ml tube, and the 57-count file is still thinner than the single-tube page.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already know you want POR for expanded polystyrene and you will use more than one 50 ml tube.
Less suitable: A first buy when you only need a scrap test, or any plastic on the exclusion list.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this pack waterproof on the listing?
Yes. Water resistance is waterproof, and a bullet says the film is waterproof and colourless. That is a listing word. It is not an outdoor specification, and it is not a washable claim.
Which plastics does the listing exclude?
PP, PE, PET, PTFE, POM and SI. EPP is a polypropylene foam, so that exclusion still applies.
How many tubes are in the pack?
Two. The title says 40 g / 50 ml each, the volume field is 100 ml, and the price in this snapshot is about £11.82.
Across 847 amazon.co.uk reviews the UHU por 50 ml tube, about £6.75, is the foam contact adhesive people use on foamboard, polystyrene scenery and RC foam when they want a bond that does not dissolve the cells the way ordinary solvent glue does. Reviewers describe a flexible, colourless film and say a small tube goes a long way on foamboard. The listing names hard foam such as Styrofoam, also with other materials, and prints a waterproof film with a 20-minute full-cure field. The paste is greasy on fingers, the smell is not like everyday UHU, and several reviews say a solid bond takes an hour or more, not a few seconds. At least one UK review still reported foam attacked, and shed insulation sheets that were pressed wrong did not hold. The pieces field says 3 while the title is one 50 ml tube. It is the top pick in this set for expanded-polystyrene craft and model foam, and it is not a wall adhesive for insulation boards.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Expanded polystyrene, foamboard or RC foam where you will coat both faces and wait for tack before joining.
Less suitable: Insulation boards, polypropylene foam (EPP), or anyone who needs a non-toxic craft glue claim.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the listing say this tube bonds?
Hard foam such as Styrofoam, also in combination with other materials. The compatible-material field says expanded polystyrene.
Does the listing say it dries clear?
A bullet says the elastic film is colourless, and the colour field is Clear. The listing full-cure field says 20 minutes. Do not average that with the 24-hour field on the twin pack, or with the 72-hour final strength on the technical sheet.
Does the listing say it is non-toxic?
The listing asks that question and stores no answer, so it is not stated. Do not treat this tube as non-toxic. Only the felt-and-foam maker page in this set uses that word, and only for that gel.
Across 13,778 amazon.co.uk reviews the Revell Contacta Professional 25 ml needle bottle, about £6.47, is the kit cement people use on hard plastic models and tabletop miniatures when they want a cold weld rather than a foam bond. Reviewers praise the fine needle for small parts and say a little goes a long way compared with a shop bottle. The listing names plastic, prints a plastic-welding effect, says not water resistant, and states a 24-hour full cure. The metal needle clogs, sometimes arrives blocked, can pull out when the cap comes off, and light pressure pushes out too much glue. One reviewer states it is only for plastic model kits. That review count does not make it safe on expanded polystyrene foam. It is the clear pick in this set for hard styrene kits, and the wrong bottle for white foam scenery.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hard polystyrene kit parts and miniatures where you want a needle weld, not a foam contact film.
Less suitable: Expanded polystyrene foam, foamboard scenery, or any job that needs a waterproof foam adhesive.
Specifications
Common questions
What material is this bottle for on the listing?
Plastic. The special-feature field says plastic welding effect. Revell describes a cold weld of kit plastic. One UK review says it is only for plastic model kits. It is not a foam adhesive.
Is it water resistant?
The listing says not water resistant. Full cure on the listing is 24 hours.
Does the listing say it is non-toxic?
That question is on the page and is not answered in the stored listing. Do not treat this bottle as non-toxic.
Across 1,860 amazon.co.uk reviews Aleene's Felt and Foam Glue, about £12.99 for 118 ml, is the high-viscosity gel UK buyers use on felt and craft foam when they want a tacky craft glue rather than a solvent contact film. Reviewers who like it describe instant grab on felt, little bleed-through and a flexible dry film, and some say it dries clear even though the listing colour is white. The maker names STYROFOAM brand foam and felt, about an hour before handling, water resistant rather than waterproof, and not washable. Other UK reviews say it was not tacky, left wet marks, or never grabbed the felt, and the bottle is hard to squeeze. A note in the file said washed work came apart. It is the pick in this set for felt-and-foam craft with a large review file, and it is not a substitute for a foam contact adhesive on structural foam scenery.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Felt, craft foam and soft foam pieces where you want a tacky gel and will accept a non-washable bond.
Less suitable: Washable felt toys, kit plastic welds, or RC foam that needs a contact adhesive.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it dries clear?
No. The colour field is White, and the title also says Multi-Colour. UK reviews in the file say it dries clear. One review says it dries white.
Is it waterproof?
The listing says water resistant, not waterproof. The maker says the bond is not washable. A review in the file said a washed piece came apart. Non-toxic is the maker's own claim for this gel, and it is not stored as an answered listing field.
What size is the bottle?
4 fl oz, with a unit count of 118 ml. Price in this snapshot: about £12.99. Compatible material: foam.
Six amazon.co.uk polystyrene glue listings were scored on a 0–100 scale. No laboratory test. Amazon stars and review count are 45 points. A 4.6 from hundreds of reviews sits above a 4.8 from five. Kit cement with more than ten thousand reviews still scores for its own job, not as a foam adhesive. Whether the listing states the duty is 25 points. Named expanded polystyrene, kit plastic, felt and foam, or EVA and foam board counts. A title that says plastic glue while the bullets name foam is only a partial statement. Price against this set is 20 points. A single tube around £6.50 to £7 scores higher here than a bottle near £13 with almost no UK review text, unless the pack states a clear foam duty the singles leave blank. Deductions cover a review count under 30, a pieces field that disagrees with the title, water resistance left blank, and a UK review file that is only a word or sales copy. The method sheet allows up to 15 points for those deductions. The fourth weight below is 10 so the four weights total 100. The highest score is the top pick: a foam contact adhesive with the deepest UK review pattern in this set, not an insulation-board adhesive and not kit cement. The best value is the twin pack of the same chemistry when you need two tubes. The kit cement has the deepest kit file and does not receive a second award, because it is the wrong bottle for foam. Prices are the amazon.co.uk shelf prices in the 19 October 2026 snapshot. The score sheet is dated 21 October 2026. This order is the listing score order. It is not a laboratory test.
Amazon stars and review count
45%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, read with the review count. A 4.6 from hundreds of reviews sits above a 4.8 from five. A large kit-cement file scores that job, not foam.
Stated duty
25%Named expanded polystyrene, kit plastic, felt and foam, or EVA and foam board score higher. A title that says plastic glue while the bullets name foam is only a partial statement.
Price against this set
20%A single tube around £6.50 to £7 scores higher than a bottle near £13 with almost no UK review text, unless that pack states a clear foam duty the singles leave blank.
Listing deductions
10%A review count under 30, a pieces field that disagrees with the title, water resistance left blank, and a UK review file that is only a word or sales copy. The method sheet allows up to 15 points. This weight is 10 so the four weights total 100.
Name the material before the brand. Expanded foam, hard kit plastic, EVA and felt need different chemistry. A waterproof field is not an outdoor or washable spec, and a listing cure clock is not the technical-sheet final strength.
Polystyrene glue on amazon.co.uk covers two jobs, and mixing them up ruins the work. Expanded polystyrene foam needs a glue that does not dissolve the cells. Hard kit plastic needs a solvent cement. Felt and soft craft foam sit with a tacky gel. Name the material before the brand: EPS or XPS foam, hard kit plastic, EVA or sponge, or EPP. EPP is a polypropylene foam, so an exclusion list that names PP still applies. Match the chemistry to that material.
Hard-kit cement welds plastic. It is the wrong bottle for white foam, however large the review count. Read the material the listing actually names.
Ordinary superglue, hot-melt and all-purpose solvent glue are how foam usually collapses. A foam contact adhesive goes on both faces. Pressing while it is still wet fails the method.
Do not average a 20-minute listing field with a 24-hour pack field, or with a 72-hour final strength on the sheet. Sticking polystyrene tiles to a ceiling does not make them acceptable under Part B.
Name EPS or XPS foam, hard kit plastic, EVA or sponge, or EPP before you compare bottles. POR-type foam contact adhesive is for expanded polystyrene and, on the twin-pack listing, excludes PP, PE, PET, PTFE, POM and SI. EPP is a polypropylene foam, so that exclusion still stands. 3M UK says dispersion adhesives can bond rigid polystyrene foam and that solvent all-purpose adhesives dissolve it. A maker sheet for the foam contact adhesive says the solvent blend is chosen not to attack the foam.
Foam contact adhesive goes on both faces. Firm adhesion is about 5 to 20 minutes, and the technical sheet puts final strength at around 72 hours. The 50 ml listing says 20 minutes. The twin pack says 24 hours. Do not average the clocks. The sheet also says good water resistance, about −30°C to +70°C, and not below +5°C. Aleene's is about an hour before handling, water resistant, and not washable. Contacta's listing says not water resistant.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a contact adhesive for foamboard, scenery or RC foam, and a UK review file that describes that job. UHU por 50 ml is the top pick: about £6.75, 4.6 from 847 reviews. Coat both faces and wait for tack. At least one review reported melted foam. The twin pack is the best value when you need two tubes. It is not a wall adhesive for insulation boards.
You are welding hard polystyrene kit parts, not white foam. Revell Contacta Professional is the needle cement in this set: about £6.47, 4.5 from 13,778 reviews. Reviewers use it on plastic kits. The needle clogs, and the listing says it is not water resistant. That review count does not make it a foam adhesive.
You want a tacky gel for felt and soft craft foam, not a solvent contact film. Aleene's Felt and Foam is about £12.99, 4.4 from 1,860 reviews. The maker names foam and felt, about an hour before handling, and says the bond is not washable. UK reviews split on whether the felt grabbed.
The top pick is UHU por 50 ml at about £6.75. It is 4.6 from 847 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the highest score in this set for a named foam contact adhesive. Reviewers use it on foamboard, polystyrene scenery and RC foam. The paste is greasy, at least one UK review reported melted foam, and the pieces field says 3 on a single tube. It is not a wall adhesive for insulation boards, and it is not kit cement. The best value is the UHU POR twin pack at about £11.82, 4.7 from 57 reviews: two 50 ml tubes of the same chemistry. That file is thinner than the single tube, and the pack prints a 24-hour cure field against 20 minutes on the single. Revell Contacta Professional at about £6.47 scores 91 and has no award. It is 4.5 from 13,778 reviews, and it is the wrong bottle for foam. This order is the listing score order. It is not a laboratory test.
UHU POR, pack of 2
Best value for POR chemistry when you need two 50 ml tubes: about £11.82, 4.7 from 57 reviews. Not a first scrap-test buy.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK and maker sources used for this comparison. amazon.co.uk prices, stars and review counts were taken from the listings on 19 October 2026. The score sheet is dated 21 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
