So, you got upset at thanksgiving and smashed your cutting board against a wall. It happens. Now, you either have to replace it or fix it. If your cutting board has any sentimental value or costs a fair bit of money, throwing it away is a waste.
With the best wood glue for cutting boards, your butcher block can look as good as new and just as strong as ever. Whether you’re fixing or building a new cutting board, here is a list of the best wood glues and a guide to help you find the right one.
Our Top Picks
Best Wood Glue for Cutting Boards
- Gorilla Wood Glue – Best for Quick Fixes
- Titebond II Premium – Best for Beginners
- Elmer’s E7050 Carpenter’s Wood Glue – Best Value for Money
- Weldbond Multi-Purpose Adhesive Glue – Best for Composite Cutting Boards
- Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max – Editor’s Pick
- Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue – Best for Professionals
- Titebond Polyurethane Glue – Best Polyurethane Glue for Cutting Boards
- Titebond Original Wood Glue – Best for DIY
- Elmer’s E7502 4-Ounce Advanced – Best glue for butcher block countertop
Best Wood Glue for Cutting Boards Reviews
To come up with the best glue for cutting boards, we considered the adhesive strength, ease of use, toxicity, assembly time, food safety, price to quality ratio, and water & heat resistance.
We also researched real customer cutting board wood glue reviews to make sure the products we recommend are well-loved.
1. Best for Quick Fixes – Gorilla Wood Glue
- Complete Projects Fast: Requires only 20-30 minutes of clamp time, fully cured in 24 hours. Quickly creates an incredibly strong bond for wood projects.
- Use Indoors or Outdoors: Passes ANSI/HPVA Type II water resistance. Can be used for all sorts of woodworking projects and repairs as an interior or exterior glue.
- Versatile: Ideal for use on hardwoods, softwoods, and natural wood composites. Is a great wood super glue for a wide variety of wood types and materials.
We start this list with the world’s most trusted glue. While the jury is still out as to whether Gorilla wood glue is the strongest wood glue, what we know for certain is that it is one of the best adhesive glues for cutting boards.
Gorilla wood glue is a water-based polyvinyl acetate (PVA) that was made for carpentry, and construction, so it can handle cooking utensils without a sweat.
It is also one of the most versatile glues because you can use it on softwoods, hardwoods, and natural wood composites and get the same long-lasting result. The application of Gorilla glue is also a pleasant experience.
As it is non-toxic, water-based, and solvent-free, it has a mild and pleasant odor. After you apply it, you only need to clamp your cutting board together for 20-30 minutes before the adhesive sets.
It then needs a further 24 hours before it fully cures. What makes this glue great for cutting boards is that it passes ANSI/HPVA Type II water resistance. It has also been approved by the FDA for indirect food contact.
The only negative about this great product has to do with the design of the bottle – the nozzle can be difficult to clean. However, you have to make the effort to keep it clean, or it would be tricky to open when next you want to use it.
What We Liked Most
- Non-toxic
- ANSI/HPVA Type II water-resistant
- Quick application time
- FDA approved for indirect food contact
What Could Be Improved
- The nozzle is tricky to clean
2. Best for Beginners – Titebond II Premium
- "TITEBOND II" WEATHER PROOF WOOD GLUE
- Heat and solvent resistant
- Sandable, Paintable, non-toxic
If Gorilla glue is the king of all glues, then Titebond is certainly the king of wood glues. Go on any chat group, and 9 out of 10 professionals and DIYers would recommend at least one of their products for repairing glue boards.
What makes Titebond II Premium a great choice is that it is also FDA-approved for indirect food contact. This means that once the wood glue cures.
It doesn’t melt when you apply heat to it (turkey out of the oven, for example), which would otherwise seep into the food. It has also been approved because the chemicals used in its formulation are food safe.
Similar to its primary competitor, this is also a water-based PVA. It is solvent-free and also resists solvents, heat, and water. For best results, you need to clamp the board together for about half an hour.
It will fully cure in 24 hours and will be ready for use. This is yellow wood glue, so it doesn’t dry clear. You can limit it by sanding, and no, it won’t get soft or ruined if you do.
Your best bet is to apply it as thinly as possible so less of the glue flows out. However, you can wipe away excess glue with water before it sets.
What We Liked Most
- FDA approved for indirect food contact
- It is solvent-free
- It is non-toxic
- Resists solvents, heat, and water
What Could Be Improved
- It doesn’t dry clear
3. Best Value for Money – Elmer’s E7050 Carpenter’s Wood Glue
- Great for carpentry and home repairs
- Clean up soap and water when glue is wet scrape & sand when glue is dry
- 128 ounce (1 gallon) Carpenter's Wood Glue
Completing the trifecta of the best glue brands in the world is Elmer’s. While this brand is more known for its school glue and Krazy Glue, their wood glue has been trusted by carpenters for over 60 years.
Just like its main competitors, Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue is a non-toxic PVA glue that bonds stronger than wood. The wood was made specifically for furniture repair and household projects, which include fixing or building cutting boards.
Once applied, you only have to clamp down the wood for 30 minutes until it sets. If there are any spills, you can clean them easily with soap and water. However, if you miss out on the spills before they dry, you can easily sand the excess glue.
Just like the others, it takes 24 hours to cure, after which the glue itself is unbreakable. As you would expect from a top-tier PVA when you use this wood glue for cutting boards, there won’t be any fumes, so you can safely make repairs at home with children around.
Sadly, this wood glue should only be applied at temperatures above 55°F. Fortunately, you can apply this in your home or woodshop, so this shouldn’t be an issue.
What We Liked Most
- It is non-toxic
- Easy to clean with soap and water
- Very short clamp time
- It is food-safe once cured
What Could Be Improved
- It is quite thick
- Should only be applied above 55°F
4. Best Glue for Composite Cutting Boards – Weldbond Multi-Purpose Adhesive Glue
- ✅ BONDS MOST EVERYTHING: No need to carry multiple types of glue bottles. This glue has unbelievable strength, is water resistant, weatherproof, dries crystal clear, is permanent and flexible.
- ✅ GREAT FOR CARPENTRY: Bonds stronger than wood! Easy to sand and paintable. No run, no drip. Easily cleans up with water. Fast setting in only 20 minutes, no clamping required.
- ✅ PERFECT FOR MOSAIC PROJECTS: Clear glue, bonds most tiles and hard surfaces such as glass, ceramics, porcelain, pottery, stone, marble, granite, clay, cork, slate, and composite like Corian.
The problem with most wood adhesive glues is that you can only use them for attaching two pieces of wood. That leaves very little room for creativity.
If you want to make a cutting board with wood and another material like polyethene, glass, or metal, you need very versatile glue.
Weldbond Multi-purpose adhesive glue is an absolute beast when it comes to making composite cutting boards. It glues nearly any material to wood.
What’s more, you can mix it with sawdust to fill cracks in your cutting board. As you’d expect, you can sand over this glue when it cures (it needs 24 hours).
However, what you may not expect is that you can apply stain on your cutting board even before the glue fully dries.
Something else we like about this is that it is non-toxic, release low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and was made without animal byproducts. When you’re done applying it, just snap the cap back on.
You don’t have to worry about it drying out or being unable to reopen the cap. You can also buy a convenient size for your project. All of these features come at a slightly steeper price, but it is worth every dime.
What We Liked Most
- It is non-toxic
- It can glue different materials
- It can be stained
- It comes in convenient sizes
What Could Be Improved
- Slightly more expensive than competitors
5. Editor’s Pick – Elmer’s E7310 Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max
- Extra-strength wood adhesive
- Non-toxic, no harmful fumes and easy to clean up with water
- Sandable and Paintable
Apparently, Elmer’s wasn’t happy with being second or third best, so they came up with this absolute monster wood glue! The Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max is a product unlike any other. But first, let’s start with the basics.
Just like the previous version, this is water-based, non-toxic wood glue. You can safely apply it near kids and pets without any major concerns. Even if you eat (please don’t) a tiny portion of this, you’d still be fine.
You can clean this up with water, it sets in half an hour and needs a day to cure. Now, unto the best parts! This is the only wood glue that is certified ANSI Type I water-resistant (which means it is waterproof), and it is sustainable!
As if this wasn’t enough to smash the opposition, this is heat, mold, and mildew resistant. These features make it as close to perfect for cutting boards as possible.
The only limit to this glue is you can’t use it to glue other materials, but that doesn’t matter if you only make or fix cutting boards. By the way, you can paint over this too, but we wouldn’t recommend that for cutting boards.
What We Liked Most
- It is waterproof
- It is heat resistant
- It is mold and mildew resistant
- It is stainable
What Could Be Improved
- Still need to wait 24 hours to cure
6. Best Cutting Board Glue for Professionals – Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue
- Superior waterproof wood glue is ideal for exterior and interior woodworking! One hour clamp time! Cleans up with water.
Next, we have another company trying to better their previous performance. Just like the previous cutting board wood glue on our list, Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue took the plunge to help protect cutting boards even better from damage.
The first major distinction from Titebond II is that this formula passes ANSI/HPVA Type I water-resistance specification, making it waterproof like the previous wood glue on our list.
The next major difference is that you can apply this at temperatures above 47°F, as opposed to 55°F with Titebond Premium. You also get a longer open assembly time of 8-10 minutes.
While this longer time is great for beginners who work a little slower, it is also great for pros working on several projects at the same time. After the glue sets, you can easily wipe off any excesses with just a damp rag, making this the easiest wood glue to clean off.
When it cures, you can sand it down and apply any cutting board finish you desire, just not stain. The only thing to be mindful of is that this glue reacts with metal.
So, if you had planned on using a metal handle for the cutting board, ensure it doesn’t come in contact with the wet glue.
What We Liked Most
- ANSI/HPVA Type I water-resistant
- Easy to clean and sand
- Longer open assembly time
- Works with any cutting board finish
What Could Be Improved
- It corrodes metal
7. Best Polyurethane Glue for Cutting Boards – Titebond Polyurethane Glue
- 100% waterproof
- Versatile performance
- No-run, no-drip formula
Polyurethane glues have a reputation for being versatile, but the Franklin International Titebond Polyurethane Glue takes it to another level.
Unlike the typical wood glue, you can use this on a wide range of cutting boards, no matter the material. You can join wood to wood or wood to plastic, polyurethane, metal, or whatever your heart desires.
Something else we love about this cutting board wood glue is its elasticity. When it joins pieces together, there is a bit of leeway, but the bond is near indestructible. Once cured – allow 1 to 3 days – this is 100% waterproof, making it one of the most durable options for cutting boards and other projects.
Unlike typical polyurethane, this is solvent-free and is food-safe after curing. You also get a long open time of 20 minutes, and your project will begin to harden in as little as 3 minutes. However, you must clamp this down for at least 45 minutes, or there’ll be a noticeable gap between boards.
There is a mild odor when you use it, but it’s all gone once cured.
What We Liked Most
- Great for composite cutting boards
- It has a long open time
- You can sand and stain it easily
- It is 100% waterproof
What Could Be Improved
- It has a bit of an odor
- It is toxic during application
8. Best cutting board glue for DIY – Titebond Original Wood Glue
- This item is a Franklin International 5063 Titebond Original Wood Glue, 8-Ounce
- Purpose of use for Hardware, wood-glues
- This product is manufactured in United States
Now, we have come to the final Titebond product on our list. Many years after it first came on the scene, Titebond original wood glue is still as reliable as ever.
Unlike the newer iterations, this wood glue was made for interior use. This means it lacks the same water-resistance power as the Premium and Ultimate. As such, this version is better suited for building cutting boards than for repairing them.
Indeed, the most outstanding feature of the Original wood glue is that it is heat, solvent, and mildew resistant, which makes it perfect for making a butcher block. The application process is also pretty seamless.
You get an assembly time of 4-6 minutes, so you need to work quickly or close the bottle more often. You then need to clamp it for 30 minutes to an hour before it fully dries.
Once fully cured, it is a food safe glue, although it is not FDA approved for indirect food contact.
You can use this wood glue on softwoods, hardwoods, and a few other porous materials. You can sand it and apply any cutting board finish of your choice when done.
What We Liked Most
- It sets quickly
- It is mildew-resistant
- Easy clean up with water
- Non-toxic
What Could Be Improved
- It has limited water-resistance
- It is not FDA approved for indirect food contact
9. Best glue for butcher block countertop – Elmer’s E7502 4-Ounce Advanced ProBond
- Professional-strength, all-purpose, and multi-surface glue
- Bonds metal, glass, ceramics, wood, stone, concrete, and more
- 100% weatherproof, non-toxic, no foam, and less mess
Our last product is another cheat code – it isn’t exactly wood glue but works like it. Elmer’s Advanced ProBond is a multi-surface adhesive for stacking wood, ceramics, glass, metal, concrete, and so much more.
This highly versatile adhesive is 100% weatherproof and is non-toxic, making it perfect for composite cutting boards that will be put through their paces, like in a restaurant kitchen.
Advanced ProBond was designed to compete against the versatility of polyurethane wood glues, and it excels at it.
One advantage of this butcher block glue is that it does not foam nor make a mess during application. A little drop of this goes a long way on any material. You also don’t need to wet the surface before it sticks.
Once applied, you should clamp this butcher block glue down for 20 to 30 minutes and let it cure for at least 24 hours. It will dry translucent, but you can clean up any excesses with water.
You can also paint over this or apply cutting board finishes.
Although this butcher block glue is non-toxic, it should only be used to join the parts of the cutting board that won’t touch food, i.e., it is not suitable for fixing cracks.
What We Liked Most
- It works on different surfaces
- 100% weatherproof
- Short clamp-time
- Non-toxic
What Could Be Improved
- Not suitable for fixing broken cutting boards
- Premium pricing
Best Glue for Cutting Boards Comparison Table
Types of Cutting Board Glue
Of all the different woodworking projects, cutting boards are one of the most delicate. Because they come in contact with food, not every type of glue is suitable for cutting boards.
The last thing you need when making Sunday roast is to ingest a bit of poison. So, here are the five types of wood glue and what makes each one suitable or unsuitable for cutting boards.
Polyvinyl Acetate Glue (PVA)
When you see a product labeled as “wood glue,” chances are the manufacturers are referring to polyvinyl acetate.
So, what is PVA glue?
PVA is a synthetic resin that forms a very strong bond very quickly. It is the most common glue used for woodworking projects.
Besides forming a strong bond, it is often water-resistant, heat-resistant, non-toxic, and easy to clean with water. PVA can either be yellow like Titebond Ultimate Wood Glue and Elmer’s or white like Weldbond and Gorilla Wood Glue.
As you would have noticed from our list, PVA is the best wood adhesive for cutting boards. Being water and heat-resistant glue, it won’t melt when you place hot foods on it or when you wash it. Some PVA glues are also mildew resistant.
A few brands have also gotten FDA approval for indirect food contact, which is also rare for wood glue.
Cyanoacrylate Wood Glue (CA)
Next is cyanoacrylate wood glue, or as laymen call it, super glue. Yes, we all know and love super glue because it is strong, fast, and versatile. Once stuck, it is a nightmare to undo.
Users also like it because of its thin viscosity (sometimes medium viscosity), which makes it very quick to apply. Unfortunately, CA glue can indeed be removed, which is why it isn’t recommended for cutting boards.
Just like how you can get super glue off your skin with nail polish remover, so can it come off when in contact with heat.
Once it melts and gets in contact with food, you can get Cyanoacrylates Poisoning. So, while it is great for household repairs, keep products like Krazy Glue and Super CA.
Epoxy
Epoxy glue is a two-part glue that is a mixture of a resin and epoxy polymer, called a hardener. It forms a strong bond, durable and waterproof bond on wood and a wide range of materials.
Epoxy glue is also handy at filling cracks in wood and, of course, beloved river tables. However, as great as epoxy resins are, they are not common options for woodworking because they require two parts and are slightly tricky to apply.
In its liquid state, epoxy glue is not food safe. However, once it fully cures, it has the same properties as plastic, so it is technically food safe.
So, why didn’t we include any on our list? One problem is that epoxy needs to cure at least 30 days before it is food safe.
The second and more important is that manufacturers are unwilling to say that it is food safe, probably because they are concerned about beginners applying it incorrectly and getting plastic casting resin poisoning.
Epoxies are also difficult to sand and are quite expensive compared to PVA glue. That said, if you’re a professional and have experience with epoxy, this could be a great option for cutting boards.
Polyurethane
Just like epoxy, polyurethane glues are strong adhesives that perform just as well as their topcoat counterpart. Poly glue is a synthetic plastic resin that forms a strong yet slightly flexible bond.
When fully cured, polyurethane also forms a plastic-type finish. What many woodworkers love about polyurethane is that it is highly versatile and can be used on different materials.
You can also apply a stain over cured poly pretty easily. The problem with polyurethane glue for cutting boards is that it releases harmful fumes before it cures.
As such, many people don’t want it in contact with food even when it fully dries. That is why it is best for making boards as opposed to fixing broken ones.
Hide Glue
The last type of glue was actually the first type of wood glue ever made. Hide glue or leather glue is made from animal collagen and is sold in liquid or crystal form.
Because of its natural-looking color, hide glue is often used for antique restorations. Hide glue is also food safe and so is sometimes used in cereal boxes.
However, hide glue melts when exposed to water. As such, it wouldn’t do much good when used on a cutting board. Otherwise, this would have been the perfect choice, no contest.
How to Choose the Best Wood Glues for Cutting Boards
Now that we’ve covered the different types of glues and you’ve seen our list, how are you going to find the right one? Here are the factors to consider in relative order of importance.
Water and heat-resistance
Cutting boards go through a lot of abuse from knives, cleavers, falling food, pots, pans, and so much more. As such, it is easy to want to prioritize strength first. However, the most abuse they come under is what we rarely notice.
No matter how strong the wood adhesive is, it is useless on a cutting board if it isn’t water-resistant. Therefore, the strongest glue for wood must be excellent in this regard.
This is where Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue and Elmer’s Carpenter’s Glue Max excel, as they are waterproof and heat resistant. In contrast, Titebond Original is great but not as water-resistant.
Adhesive strength
Once you have a product that won’t melt underwater pressure, you can now consider its bond strength. A thin glue line should be enough to hold your cutting baord together. This is an area in which all of the products on our list excel.
However, if you’re looking to make a composite cutting board, some are better than others. Weldbond, Elmer’s Advance ProBond, and Titebond Polyurethane are great for mixed materials.
For strictly wooden cutting boards, Gorilla wood glue and the max versions of Titebond and Elmer’s glue are your best options.
Related: The best adhesive for glass to wood
Ease of use/assembly time
This feature is more subjective. Some people like a long assembly time, while others are happy with a few minutes. In reality, a long assembly time allows you to make a mess and clean it up before the glue sets.
This will prevent the need to sand the dry wood glue afterward. If it has a short assembly time, it should be easy to sand. The Titebond III glue gives a generous time allowance, which makes it great for beginners as well as professionals.
If you want to reduce the amount of glue you use on your cutting board, consider buying a glue bottle dispenser to help you get the right amount of glue out without squeezing too hard and making a mess.
Toxicity
This has been covered in the previous section, but it is worth mentioning again. In order to prevent glue poisoning, you need to ensure that you are either using non-toxic glue or glue that is non-toxic when it fully cures.
All of the PVA glues on our list are non-toxic. The Poly glue is toxic during application but harmless when fully cured. If you are going to apply the wood glue indoors or near children and pets, stick with PVA.
Finishing preference
What do you want the finished cutting board to look like? Will you be applying stain or a cutting board finish? Or will you just sand it and be ready for use?
The type of finish you can use will depend on the wood glue you choose. Elmer’s Max glue is the most welcoming to sanding, staining, and painting. You can also apply stain on the poly and Weldbond.
Price
Finally, it’s good to also consider your budget. However, don’t prioritize it over other factors like adhesive strength or waterproofness. When the products are indistinguishable, there is no need to go for the more expensive option.
If you’re only working with wood, you don’t need to spend extra on Elmer’s Advanced when you can get Elmer’s Wood Glue Max.
Related Post: How to Glue Wood Without Clamps
The Ultimate Wood Glue for Cutting Board
It is so easy to understate how important cutting boards are until they break. Even though some are inexpensive to replace, fixing them back together is still much cheaper. Ensure you use wood glue with all the right qualities.
And so, it is no surprise that the best wood glue for cutting board is Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Glue Max. Besides being very strong, it is heat, mold, and mildew resistant. Just for good measure, it is also waterproof and priced right!
As you pick your adhesive glue for the next project, you should also invest in the best cutting board wood.