Best Glue For Headliner: Reviews [year] (Recommended!)

Even if you do modify your car to the extreme to make it aesthetically pleasing, with a sagging headliner, all your efforts will go in vain. Aside from the aesthetic factor, it can even be uncomfortable for you to ride a car that has a sagging headliner.

And if you are having the same problem with your headliner and are looking for something that will enable you to quickly fix it, you will need a proper adhesive.

Although getting the best glue for a headliner might seem like an easy task, trust us, it will get pretty tricky for you because of how saturated the market is at the moment.

But as you have found us, you can stay utterly worry-free about that. We are going to make things easier for you.

8 Best Glue For Headliner Reviews

The oversaturated market will undoubtedly make you baffled while you try to choose one of these for yourself.

To make sure that you do not find yourself in such a scenario, we have huddled all the ones that we think are worth the money. They are as follows:

3M – 38808 Headliner & Fabric Adhesive

You might have already heard about the brand 3M. They are one of the leading brands that are offering adhesives in the market. And they are offering one of the units for headliners as well.

To begin with, it comes in three different sizes. Depending on how much re-gluing you need, you will be able to choose from 18.1 oz, 1 oz, and 0.02 oz.

You would not have to buy more than what you are going to need because of all that size options.

Aside from that, the bonding strength of this is quite exceptional. No matter how heavy your headliner is, it will be able to hold it to the surface pretty easily.

And you will not even have to worry about it coming off anytime soon after the adhesive is properly cured.

On that note, the unit is exceptionally versatile. It can create an effective bond to both metal and plastic surfaces. So even if the top of your car has a plastic layer, you will have nothing to worry about.

The 18.1 oz version of the unit comes in an aerosol bottle. That will enable you to control the overall spray of the adhesive. It also has an adjustable nozzle, which will let you apply only the amount you will need.

Alongside that, the formula does not require that much amount of time to properly cure too. It will dry up within just sixty minutes.

Pros

• Three different sizes
• Sticks to both plastic and metal surfaces
• 18.1 oz comes in a controllable aerosol bottle
• Exceptionally strong bonding strength
• Dries within sixty minutes

Cons

• Tends to create a weaker bond if there is any foam on the liner
• Adhesive can dry up while being inside the container

Permatex 27828 Body Shop Heavy Duty Aerosol Can

Usually, when it comes to applying liquid substances, the Aerosol Cans are the ones that make the process much easier. And the same thing goes for applying adhesives too. Well, Permatex kept that in mind when they were producing this unit.

First of all, the canister you will receive will be one of those spray cans. As a result, you are going to the maximum amount of control while applying it. Also, the nozzle is adjustable, which will make applying it much easier for you.

Aside from being easy to apply, the strength of the unit is pretty high. It is extremely effective when it comes to making liners stick back to a car’s upper surface.

For that reason, you can completely rely on it to make your liner stick back to the position as it was before.

Apart from that, the adhesive can withstand high temperatures reasonably well. No matter how hot it gets, it will not melt that easily. For that reason, your liner will come loose after a couple of days.

Other than that, the formulation of the unit is of transparent materials. Once it cures, it will clear, and you will not be able to tell whether you have applied glue or not.

For that reason, you will not have to worry about it harming your interior aesthetics.

Lastly, it is water-resistant too. Because of that, even if liquids do spill on to it, it will not lose the bonding strength one bit.

Pros

• Bonding strength is reasonably high
• Comes in a spray can
• Nozzle is adjustable
• Offers a clear and clean look after drying
• Resistant to water and extreme heat

Cons

• Nozzle tends to clog up pretty easily
• Takes relatively long amount of time to properly cure

Tear Mender Instant Fabric and Leather Adhesive

As you are mostly going to drive under the harsh sunlight in the summer days, you would want to get yourself an adhesive that is UV resistant. Well, Tear Meder is here to offer you exactly that.

First of all, the formulation that Tear Mender implemented creates a double bond rather than the traditional single bond that most creates. For that reason, you can expect to strongly hold your liner in place once it properly cures up.

Apart from that, the formulation also dries up pretty instantaneously. Unlike the regular adhesives, you will not have to wait for an entire day for it to cure up properly.

It bonds in just three minutes, which is an exceptionally low amount of time in comparison.

Aside from that, the formulation is also resistant to UV rays. For that reason, no matter how harsh the sun gets in the summer, the bonding strength will not see deterioration.

Alongside that, it is also resistant to water. That means you can also stay worry-free in winter and rainy days.

Also, the formulation adheres to both fabric and leather. So you will not have to worry if you have a liner with a leather exterior on the outside.

Lastly, the formula is entirely non-toxic and completely natural. For that reason, it will not cause any irritation or cause allergic reactions to occur if you do get it on your skin.

Pros

• Creates a double bond
• Bond strength is pretty praiseworthy
• Bonds in about three minutes
• Resistant to UV rays and water
• Made of natural latex

Cons

• Shelf life is not that long
• Tube container that it comes in is not that easy to work with

Gorilla Heavy Duty Spray 

Are you in the search for an adhesive that has a heavy-duty bonding strength? Then look no more because Gorilla is here to offer you exactly what you were looking for all this time.

To start with, the formula that Gorilla implemented is completely toxins free. Because of that, you will not have to worry about it causing any skin irritations or causing rashes once your fingers come into contact with it.

Aside from that, the formulation is pretty advanced too. It contains heavily engineered components that will allow it to achieve an extremely high bonding capability.

For that reason, it is going to dry up permanently and will not loosen up over time.

Apart from that, the unit comes in a sprayer can. For that reason, you will have full control over the amount that it is going to disperse.

Also, as the nozzle is adjustable, applying it on top of surfaces will be a pretty task for you too. One can contain about 11 ounces of glue, which is more than enough for re-gluing liners.

Other than that, the glue bonds with most of the materials. It will settle down easily on plastic, leather, metal, and foams. For that reason, you can expect a hassle-free application process.

And as the formulation is non-yellowing, it will not feel like that you have reattached the liner with any glue. It will be clean and clear after drying up.

Pros

• Offers a heavy-duty bond
• Sticks on most of the material
• Comes in a can of 11 ounces
• Formula is non-yellowing
• Easy to apply

Cons

• Tends to leave an obnoxious smell
• Might need multiple layers of coating for thick liners

3M Super 77 Multipurpose Permanent Spray Adhesive

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The glue manufacturer 3M has a wide range of adhesives that are reliable and strong. And this one that we are going to have a look at is not an exception in those regards.

To start with, it is exceptionally versatile. It bonds pretty easily with a wide range of materials. From fabrics to plastic to metal, you will have no trouble at all in the case of making it bond with all of them.

Aside from that, the bond that it can offer is truly industrial grade. No matter how demanding the re-gluing work you are carrying out is, it will offer you the required bonding strength. You are sure to get a long-lasting bond out of it.

Other than that, it does not take that much amount of time to cure too. Depending on how much is applied, it will take somewhere between 15 seconds to thirty minutes. Yes, it will sometimes dry up in fifteen seconds.

Also, the glue lines that it is going to leave will be non-dimpling. For that reason, you will be able to reposition the liner if the initial alignment is not accurate. It will also not leave any marks after drying up.

Also, it will ship in a 16.75 oz sprayer can. That amount of glue is more than enough to stick heavy liners back to the surface. And because of being a sprayer can, you will have no trouble at all in the case of applying it.

Pros

• Has an industrial-grade bonding strength
• Dries up in fifteen seconds for some scenarios
• Exceptionally versatile
• Sprayer is easy to operate
• Leaves no mark after curing

Cons

• Not that resistant to extreme heat
• Not water-resistant

Scotch Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive Spray

Another manufacturer that you are probably familiar with is scotch. They also have an extensive range of adhesive products that are well-performing. And this unit can illustrate the performance factor of their products perfectly.

Unlike some of the regular glues that are out there, this one offers a strong and long-lasting bond.

For that reason, the bond that you are going to get will be exceptionally durable. You can expect your liner to stay in its place after you attach it back to its place with this.

Other than that, the formulation has a VOC percentage that is less than 30. That means the amount of toxins in the formula is relatively low.

It will not cause harm to your skin, nor will it initiate an allergic reaction if you accidentally spray it on your skin.

Aside from that, the unit is exceptionally versatile. It sticks on most of the surfaces.

Even if your car’s upper surface has a plastic layer, you will have nothing to worry about. Also, it can even create an adequate bond on foams as well.

Besides that, the glue comes in a spray can. The nozzle of the can is fully adjustable.

As a result, you will be able to control how much amount of spray is dispersing. That will ensure that you use all of the 10-3/4 ounces of glue efficiently.

Lastly, because of coming in a spray can, the application procedure will be pretty easy.

Pros

• Creates a strong and long-lasting bond
• Works on plenty of surfaces
• Fewer than 30% VOC
• Comes in an easy to use sprayer can
• Nozzle of the can is fully adjustable

Cons

• Does not cure that quickly
• Has a weird smell to it

Design Engineering 010490 High-Temperature Spray Adhesive

Even though there are a plethora of glue sprays out there, there are hardly a few that can withstand extremely high temperatures. And this one that is from Desing Engineering is among those few.

Let us start by describing the bonding strength that it has. It features a heavily engineered formula that makes it provide a reasonably high amount of bonding strength.

For that reason, it will be able to provide a long-lasting adhesion that will let you permanently set the headliner back to its original place.

Other than that, the formula bonds with a large variety of materials. It will stick to metal and plastics.

Also, it will be able to create an efficient bond on top of leather liners too. You will not have to worry about the compatibility that much for this.

Aside from that, it dries up relatively faster than the regular glues that are available in the market. That means you will not have to wait that long for it to cure after you reattach your liner with it.

Alongside that, the formula is also highly resistant to water and heat. Even if it gets toasty inside your car, the glue will not melt, nor will it lose adhesion power. So you can stay worry-free in the heatwave filled summers.

Besides that, the unit comes in a 10 ounces spray can that is pretty easy to maneuver. Also, as it is a spray can, controlling the dispersion amount will be an easy task.

Pros

• Strength of adhesion is pretty high
• Bonds with most of the materials
• Dries comparatively fast
• High heat resistivity characteristics
• Creates a water-tight bond

Cons

• Sprayer head clogs pretty quickly
• Relatively low spraying pressure

Loctite 37312 Loctite Spray Adhesive

Heat resistance is one of the key factors for best headliner glues. And Loctite had factored that in when they were producing this unit.

First of all, the formulation that Loctite has utilized for this adhesive is heavily engineered. It is highly resistant to extreme heat. For that reason, it will not lose the bonding strength even on the hottest summer days.

On that note, this glue’s bonding strength is up to par with the rest of the high-end adhesives that are out there. It is capable of creating a substantially strong bond between the surface.

For that reason, you can expect your liner to stay in place for a long amount of time after you reattach it.

Aside from that, the formula is resistant to water as well. So you will have nothing to worry about even if you do manage to spill water on top of the liner after it is reattached.

Other than that, just like some of the glues that are out there, this one also comes inside a spray can. The nozzle is also adjustable.

For that reason, the application process should feel pretty effortless for you to carry out. You will not have to go through any hassles at all for applying it.

Lastly, it creates an efficient bond on most of the material. Whether your liner is of fabric or leather, it will be able to create a strong bond between it and the upper surface of your car.

Pros

• Has the ability to withstand relatively high temperatures
• Creates a strong and durable bond
• Can efficiently create bond most of the materials
• Able to resist water
• Application process is pretty straightforward

Cons

• Leaves a weird chemical smell
• Can cause irritation to skins

What to Look for While Buying Glue for Headliner?

If you want to get the most out of the money you would have to spend on one of these, only going through the review section would not be enough.

You will also have to keep some factors in your mind. Wondering what factors are we actually talking about? Well, the factors that we are specifying here are stated below:

Quantity 

Before anything else, you will have to consider how much adhesive you are going to actually need.

If the liner is sagging too much, you would need about 10 oz of glue. On the other hand, if it is sagging just a bit, something that is close to 5 oz should be enough.

But whatever you do, do not get a small amount of adhesive because if you can not properly coat the upper surface at one go, you will not be able to properly restick the headliner.

Container

Other than the quantity, you need to consider the container too. Most of the ones that come in a small quantity will come in a tube.

And handling glue in a tube can be a bit of a hassle for resticking the headliner. That is why we would recommend staying away from those.

Instead, you should opt for the ones that come in a spray can. With those, you will have full control over how much glue you are going to disperse.

Alongside that, most of them will have an adjustable nozzle. By adjusting it, you will be able to use the glue efficiently without any wastage.

Bonding Strength

Once you have factored in both of the factors that we have mentioned, you should consider the glue’s bonding strength.

If you do happen to get one that does not have that much strong bonding strength, the headliner will fall right off after some time.

And you would not want to repeat the resticking process multiple times in a span of a few months would, you? That is why you should steer away from those.

The ones that you should shoot for are the ones that have a relatively strong bonding strength.

Those will be able to offer you a long-lasting bond. And you will not have to worry about your liner falling off anytime soon if you re-glue it with those.

Curing Time

Apart from the bonding strength, you need to consider the curing time of the adhesive. Even though many will have a label “dries instantly,” that “instantly” can be hours sometimes.

And even if you do get the ones that take that much amount of time, you would have to hold the liner in place for the entire time. And that would be pretty inconvenient.

That is why you should only opt for the ones that take a small amount of time to dry. Many will take as less as thirty seconds. And those the ones that we would suggest you to opt for.

Formulation

One of the important factors that you need to consider is the formulation of the glue. It is highly likely that it is going to get into contact with your skin during the application process.

And if the formulation contains too many toxic compounds, it can cause rashes and allergenic reactions.

For that reason, we would recommend getting the ones that are made of natural latex. Alongside that, you can also pick the ones that have an exceptionally low amount of VOC. Those do not have that much of the toxic compounds.

Heat and Water Resistivity

Last but not least, you will have to consider whether the glue is resistant to water or not. Also, do factor in whether it can withstand high temperatures or not.

If both of the factors are checked by one of the glues, it will not show any signs of loosening up the bond over time.

Types of Headliner Adhesives

The types of headline adhesives basically depend on the container that they come in. Considering that, there are two main types of headliner adhesives. They are:

Aerosol Spray

This is the most common type of headliner glue that you will stumble upon. Just like the name suggests, it will come in an aerosol can. The capacity of these will range from 5 ounces to 18 ounces.

On the top, these come equipped with a spray nozzle. That nozzle will distribute the adhesive to the surface in an even manner.

These sprayers can generally make even coatings on the surface, which will enable you to get a good amount of glue on the surface. Alongside that, most of these will have an adjustable nozzle.

By fiddling around with the adjustable mechanism, you can make these distribute the amount of glue that you prefer in one spray. You will basically have total control over how much glue it is going to distribute.

Roll-on or Contact

These are the ones that will come in a tube. For most of these, you would require a brush to coat the surface. It is just like painting, but instead of colors, you will be using glue.

However, with these, it is a bit difficult to get an even coating on the surfaces.

You are going to have to pay close attention to how much adhesive is getting picked up by the brush if you want to coat it evenly on the surface.

On the other hand, some of these will have a roller on the top. Those are called the roll-ons. With those, you would not need a paintbrush to coat the surface.

Instead, you will have to hold them upside down and make them roll on the surface. Getting an even coating with these is a bit easier than the tube ones.

How to Fix a Falling Headliner?

Even though there are many ways of fixing a sagging headliner, the most efficient and most permanent way would be to use an appropriate adhesive. And we are going to focus on that only.

The steps that you would have to follow if you want to fix a falling liner with adhesive are as given:

Step 1: Get Yourself an Appropriate Glue

It goes without saying that if you want to reattach your liner with an adhesive, you would have to get yourself one of the appropriate ones.

By appropriate, we are basically implying the ones that have a strong bonding capability.

You should not attempt the process without getting one of those. Alongside that, we would suggest picking up the ones that take a relatively low amount of time to dry up.

Step 2: Check the Amount of Sagging and Make Room for Applying the Glue

Usually, the sagging will occur on the front of the vehicle because that is the place that is most exposed to sun rays. If that is the case, you will be able to easily get access to the upper surface.

However, if the sagging is in the middle, you need to remove the liner from one of the corners to access the surface.

Step 3: Apply the Coating of Adhesive

Once you can access the surface of the roof, you need to coat it with the glue that you have.

If you are using a spray can, it would be pretty easy for you to coat the surface. But if you are using a paintbrush, try to get an even coating on the surface.

Step 4: Stick the Liner

After you have applied the glue, you should hold the liner with the surface for a bit.

Once it dries up a bit, you can let it go because the glue will be able to hold it. After the glue cures up properly, it should be able to permanently hold the liner in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cans of adhesive do I need?

It is always better to have more than you are going to need. In this case, if the sagging is relatively high, you should get at least two to three cans of adhesive.

Is it possible to remove 3M adhesive?

Yes, there are many adhesive removers in the market. You can also remove these without any remover. All you are going to need is a cloth and warm water.

Does headliner glue leave marks?

Most of the headliner glues will be clear and transparent. As a result, they will not leave those annoying yellow marks like the other glues.

Can I use pins to fix a falling headliner?

Yes, you will be able to fix a falling headliner with pins temporarily. But if you are looking for a permanent solution that will not ruin the interior’s aesthetics, you should opt for glue.

Will heat ruing the bonding strength of the headliner glue?

Most of the glues are quite resistant to extreme heats. However, the bonding strength will deteriorate substantially for the ones that can not withstand high temperatures.

Final Words

If you want a permanent fix for a sagging headliner, there is basically no other alternative than to get the best glue for headliner. And we hope we were able to make it easier for you to choose one.

To conclude, we wish you a dash of good luck and hope that no matter which one you decide to purchase, you can easily fix the headliner issue that you have.