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How to glue magnets to plastic, wood and metal
For most jobs, two-part epoxy is the best choice. The right glue makes all the difference, but how you prepare and fit the magnet matters just as much.
What is the best glue for magnets?
Two-part epoxy
The best all-rounder. Choose a toughened epoxy where the magnet takes knocks or keeps snapping onto another magnet.
Best for most jobsTwo-part acrylic
Can be as strong as epoxy and often sets faster. Check the pack says it suits your plastic.
Plastic to metalSuperglue
Quick, but the standard kind is brittle and can let go when knocked. It needs a close fit. Toughened superglue copes better.
Small, tight fitsPolyurethane glue
Stays more flexible, but isn't better than epoxy overall. Some types foam as they cure, so clamp the magnet and use very little.
Wood that movesWhich glue for which material?
| Material | Glue | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic kits | Two-part epoxy, two-part acrylic or a superglue that suits the plastic | Plastic cement won't hold a magnet: it only fuses plastic to plastic. Test on a hidden spot first. |
| 3D prints (PLA, PETG) | Two-part epoxy or two-part acrylic | Print a close-fitting recess and leave room for a thin layer of glue. Add a lip on PETG. |
| Wood | Two-part epoxy | Cut the recess into sound wood and blow out the dust. |
| Steel and other metals | Two-part epoxy or two-part acrylic | Remove oil, rust and flaking paint. On paint or powder coating, the bond is only as strong as that coating. |
| Polypropylene and polyethylene | A glue made for these plastics, with its primer | Most glues won't hold. Trap the magnet with a recess, lip or cover if you can. |
Don't use hot glue. It creeps, its grip on smooth coatings is unreliable, and the heat can weaken the magnet. Each product page lists its maximum temperature.
Wait for the full cure. Set isn't cured. Leave the glue for the full cure time on its pack before you load the magnet, or it can pull loose.
How to glue a magnet so it stays
Choose the right coating
Glue bonds to the coating, not the magnet. Pick one that suits the job and where the magnet will live. Each product page lists its coating, and our guide to magnet coatings compares them.
Clean, never sand
Clean both faces with isopropyl alcohol, or a cleaner that won't harm the part. Never sand, scratch or file any coating. It protects the magnet, and bare neodymium corrodes.
Use a recess if possible
A close fit, never forced: the magnet is brittle. A flush or slightly sunk magnet is less exposed to knocks, and glue alone shouldn't fill a big gap.
Poles, then hold still
Test the poles and mark the outward face before you mix the glue (our polarity guide shows how). While it sets, keep other magnets and steel away or hold the magnet with tape.
Glued a magnet in the wrong way round?
- Don't drill, grind or cut the magnet. Neodymium is brittle and can break apart.
- Push, don't lever. If there is a hole behind the recess, press the magnet out evenly.
- Careful with solvents. Glue removers can damage the magnet's coating.
- Damaged coating? Don't reuse it. The bare magnet underneath will start to corrode.
Questions people ask
Why does my magnet keep coming unstuck?
Work through the checks above: the right glue for the material, clean faces, a close fit and a full cure. On polypropylene or polyethylene, most glues won't hold at all.
Why does my magnet pull out of its hole and stay on the other magnet?
The magnets pull on each other harder than the glue holds. Use two-part epoxy in a recess so the magnet can't be levered out.
Can I use wood glue (PVA)?
Not on its own. Wood glue is made for porous materials like wood and paper, and it doesn't grip a metal-coated magnet.
Does glue weaken a magnet?
No. A glue used as directed won't change the magnet. But a layer of glue between the magnet and the steel it holds acts as a gap, and any gap reduces the hold. Glue the back or sides, not the face that touches the steel.
Why doesn't my magnet stick to stainless steel?
Many stainless steels are only weakly magnetic, and some aren't magnetic at all. See Is stainless steel magnetic?
Rather not glue?
Can't find what you need?
If you can't see the grade or size you require, get in touch for a custom manufacturing quote.