The Difference Between Contact Cement and Rubber Cement

Photo: Joni Hanebutt (Shutterstock)

Walk into any hardware, big-box, or craft store, and you’ll find an aisle (or at least part of an aisle) full of different types of adhesives. Having so many options can be overwhelming, and it may be tempting to use super glue for everything, and hope it works. And maybe, so far, it has. But there’s no reason to limit yourself to a single glue.

Though we’re not going to talk about all of them here, we will be looking into two common adhesives: Contact cement and rubber cement. Here are some of the key differences between the two, and when to use each.

What’s the difference between contact cement and rubber cement?

Let’s start with the basics:

Contact cement, also known as contact adhesive, creates a flexible, permanent, water-resistant, heat-reistant bond when it dries, and can be used on most materials. This solvent-based adhesive must be applied on both surfaces being bonded together.

Rubber cement creates a strong, flexible, semi-permanent bond between flexible materials (e.g. vinyl, fabric, rubber), or on more delicate projects involving paper. This water-based adhesive can be applied on one or both surfaces being bonded together.

When to use contact cement vs. rubber cement

Not sure which adhesive is the best choice for your project? Here’s when to use each:

Contact cement

• Projects with a large surface area (e.g. adhering vinyl flooring or linoleum to subfloors)
• Metal-to-metal bonding
• Reattaching a tile to the wall or floor
• Sealing leaks
• Bonding veneer or laminate to wood surfaces
• Minor shoe repairs
• Leather-working
• Bonding glass to other materials
• Attaching upholstery and trim in car interiors
• Adhering laminate, metal, or solid surface countertops to base cabinets
• Use it in liquid form for connecting porous materials like wood or cork
• Use it in paste form for non-porous materials like plastic or metal

Rubber cement

• Most arts & crafts projects (e.g. attaching two paper items)
• Minor household repairs involving plastic, metal, wood, or rubber
• Working with delicate materials like foil and fabric
• Bookbinding and book repair
• Mounting photographs
• Building small plastic or paper models of cars, planes, buildings, etc

When in doubt, ask a staff member at a hardware or craft store what type of adhesive would be best for your project.

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