The 10 Best Headliner Adhesives for Cars – 2021 (Review & Guide)

best headliner adhesive

Wondering which headliner adhesive is best?

When the headliner in your car is sagging, it doesn’t look good and at some point, you know you need to repair it.

There are a few different ways to fix it but the easiest and most cost-effective way is to use a headliner adhesive.

This article provides you with a list of the best headliner adhesives, making it easier for you to determine which one is best.

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IN THIS GUIDE

Top-Pick – Headliner And Fabric Adhesive

3M-38808 Headliner & Fabric Adhesive

What We Like

  • Adjustable nozzle
  • No stains or discolor
  • Resistant to extreme weather conditions
  • Ideal for big trucks
  • Compatible with most fabrics

What We Don’t Like

  • Takes longer to dry

Summary: The 3M-388808 headliner is a unique aerosol spray headliner adhesive well-suited to use on most materials used in your car.

This quality headliner adhesive is resistant to extreme weather conditions like low temperature of up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit or intense heat.

You’ll love using this multi-purpose adhesive as it’s compatible with fabric, foam, and plastic.

Its adjustable nozzle will also impress you, as it makes it easy to apply and reduces the risk of over-saturation.

The headliner adhesive will neither discolor nor stain the headliner material in your car.

Another interesting thing about 3M-388808 is that it’s usable on door panels, upholstery, and mirror repairs. It comes packed in an 18 ounce can, making it ideal for big trucks.

Unfortunately, users reveal that the headliner adhesive takes relatively longer to dry as it requires about 30 to 60 minutes of drying time.


Permatex 27828 Headliner and Carpet Adhesive

What We Like

  • Quite affordable
  • Glues the headliner well
  • Can withstand extreme temperatures
  • Easy to use
  • Dries faster
  • Very durable

What We Don’t Like

  • It’s heavy
  • A bit flimsy

Summary: The Permatex 27828 is a heavy-duty headliner adhesive that’s very effective and reliable for various repair projects in automobiles.

It can withstand high and low temperatures and is resistant to water and additives.

Unlike the 3M 388808 that takes up to an hour to dry, Permatex 27828 spray adhesive dries faster within five minutes after applying it, though it requires 24 hours to cure completely.  

This high-quality fabric adhesive is multi-purpose as you can use it to repair various vehicle parts, including the floor mat and carpet, ceiling, and upholstery cloth.

What’s more beneficial in this headliner adhesive is that it glues the headliner well and will last for a longer time. This will save you the money you would spend on frequent repairs.


Gorilla Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive

What We Like

  • Good for repositioning
  • Non-Yellowing formula
  • Can be applied to different material types
  • Controlled, fine mist formula
  • Water-resistant

What We Don’t Like

  • Flammable
  • Strong odor

Summary: Gorilla is among the most outstanding brands that have a good reputation in the market today for its convenience and high-quality products.

Its Gorilla headliner adhesive is an award-winning product that dries faster after spraying. Depending on the environmental factors like temperature and humidity, it can dry after only   10 minutes.

If used correctly, this glue can be permanent, and you will not have to worry about your interior turning yellowish.

This headliner adhesive is versatile and can be applied to various materials, including wood, plastic, paper, glass, leather, and more. However, it’s not compatible with rubber and vinyl.

Gorilla headliner adhesive requires you to be cautious when applying as it’s highly flammable and may cause respiratory and skin problems if exposed to your body.


3M Foam Fast 74 Spray Adhesive

What We Like

  • Holds the surface very well
  • No staining
  • High strength
  • Easy to use
  • Compatible with more materials

What We Don’t Like

  • The spray nozzle can sometimes be uncontrollable

Summary: If you are looking for a premium industrial grade headliner adhesive that’s designed explicitly for foams and fabric, the 3M Foam Fast 74 is for you.

This adhesive spray delivers professional, industrial-strength that you are looking for to use for demanding applications.

Unlike most glues in the market, 3M Foam Fast 74 is designed to overcome all the obstacles faced when sticking headliners in vehicles’ ceiling.

Its non-yellowing formula makes it a unique headliner adhesive. It distributes quickly in a lace-spray pattern without messing up with your car’s aesthetics.

You can use this adhesive spray for various applications, such as installing acoustic panels and any other project in your vehicle that requires adhesive glue.

However, some users claim that the spray nozzle could be better, as it can sometimes be uncontrollable.


Tear Mender Instant Fabric and Leather Adhesive

What We Like

  • Features a non-toxic formula
  • Very durable
  • Easy application
  • Affordable
  • Resistant to extreme weather conditions

What We Don’t Like

  • It’s a small option
  • Doesn’t include a spray

Summary: Are you looking for the best adhesive with a natural, non-toxic formula that will offer a long-lasting bond? If yes, you can’t go wrong with this Tear Mender adhesive.

The Tear Mender Instant Fabric and Leather Adhesive features a safe formula invented in 1923 and hasn’t changed yet. It won’t deteriorate your car’s headliner material.

What’s more exciting about this liquid adhesive is that it’s highly flexible, UV resistant, and waterproof, which means that it forms a bond that will last for years.

The Tear Mender Adhesive takes a few minutes to dry. It’s usable on almost anything made of leather or fabric.

This headliner adhesive is virtually a perfect product, except that it doesn’t include a nozzle, and it’s too small.


3M Spray Trim Adhesive 08074

What We Like

  • Dries faster
  • Easy to use
  • Usable on most interior parts
  • Reasonably priced
  • Suitable for multiple coats
  • Provides an invisible waterproof seal

What We Don’t Like

  • Toxic when inhaled

Summary: The 3M 08074 Spray Trim Adhesive is an excellent headliner adhesive that’s complete to work with almost all materials.

It’s mainly used by engineers and mechanics in NASCAR to fix racing cars quickly. This is because the adhesive is highly versatile and applicable in most interior parts.

You can use it when installing your car carpet, headliners, door lining, as well as seat material.

This spray dries faster within five minutes, and you can add multiple coats after drying to enhance durability.

The 3M 08074 Spray Trim Adhesive is compatible with most materials from metal, rubber, plastic, and vinyl to fiberglass.

When using this adhesive, you will want to wear gloves, goggles, and a mask because the liquid can be harmful.


37312 Loctite Spray Adhesive

What We Like

  • Provides an invisible sealing
  • Resistant to high temperatures
  • Adjustable nozzle
  • Multi-purpose adhesive

What We Don’t Like

  • Very thick

Summary: If your car has a white headliner, you must be very picky when buying a headliner adhesive. Fortunately, the 37312 Loctite Spray Adhesive will readily cater to your needs.

This spray adhesive is a clear option, and so it won’t ruin or stain your white headliner.

It’s designed to withstand high temperatures of up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit, but you should store it in cool conditions.

When it dries after application, the 37312 Loctite Spray Adhesive is tolerant to water and UV rays.

 Along with tolerance to extreme factors, this adhesive is also compatible with many materials, such as rubber, foam, fabric, and carpet.

Its biggest drawback is the extra thickness, which can sometimes make it hard or even impossible to spray the adhesive via a straw.


Permatex 81731 Super Adhesive

What We Like

  • It’s economical
  • Temperature tolerant
  • Highly versatile
  • Doesn’t dissolve in kerosene and gasoline
  • Dries faster

What We Don’t Like

  • Corrodes the paint
  • No spray nozzle

Summary: Permatex 81731 Super Weatherstrip Adhesive is very versatile as it’s not only used to fix headliners, but is also used to fix door panels, auto carpets, and gaskets.

When it comes to temperature resistance, this headliner adhesive tops the list. It’s tolerant of high temperatures and low temperatures too.

This headliner adhesive is easy to use and takes about ten minutes to dry. It’s a good option when you have many other projects at hand.

Since it’s a glue and not a spray, you have to apply more to be effective.

The most significant downsides of this adhesive is the absence of a spray nozzle and the fact that it can corrode the paint. You must be careful while spraying to prevent it from touching the paint.


Scotch Super 77 Multipurpose Adhesive Spray

What We Like

  • Bonds strongly
  • Easy to use
  • Dries quickly
  • Usable on many materials
  • Reasonably priced

What We Don’t Like

  • Not the best for large spaces
  • Hard to remove if it sticks to your fingers

Summary: This headliner adhesive deserved a place in this list due to its versatility and pocket-friendly price.

You can use Scotch Super 77 on a wide range of materials, including wood, plastic, glass, metal, and many others.

Whenever you want to repair a small area on your vehicle’s interior, this product is an excellent option.

You will only squeeze what you need and spare the rest for next time. You don’t have to buy a whole can of aerosol, and you won’t use it all.

The only significant limitation with this adhesive is that it cannot stick heavy headliners.


Loctite 2235316 General Performance 100 Spray Adhesive

What We Like

  • Dries super-fast
  • Suitable for multiple coats
  • Budget-friendly
  • Offers a robust bond solution

What We Don’t Like

  • Not ideal for vinyl fabric

Summary: Being one of the most reputable brands producing the best adhesives in the market, Loctite delivers high-quality and reliable spray adhesive.

Loctite 2235316 comes in an aerosol spray can and is designed to repair any material in your vehicle, including foam, leather, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics, and more.

It comes with a suitable nozzle that makes it easy to operate. Since the adhesive dries super-fast, you can add several more coats to improve durability.

The non-staining adhesive leaves no bubbles or marks when it dries up. This means it will not lower your vehicle’s aesthetics.

To prevent yellowing, you will have to apply this adhesive at a cool temperature that doesn’t exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s also unfortunate that the Loctite 2235316 isn’t compatible with vinyl, but it works well on other materials.


What is a Headliner Adhesive?

A headliner adhesive is a high-strength spray designed to repair loosened or separated interior parts in the vehicle’s ceiling.

While it may seem like any other glue, headliner adhesive is specifically designed for applications on the car’s interior parts.

Most of them are compatible with vinyl and other interior materials in your car. They are easy to use as you just have to spray or stick to repair your headliner.


What is a Headliner in a Car?

A headliner in a car is usually a multilayered composite material covering the inside roof of the vehicle.  It comprises a face fabric that comes with nonwoven or foam backing.

From sound reduction and stiffness to a uniform appearance and a soft touch, headliners in a car provide an array of benefits.


Types of Headliner Adhesive

There are 2 types of headliner adhesive:

  1. Spray aerosol – Spray aerosol is the most common type of adhesive and the type that seems to be of the most interest to those who need to repair the headliner in the vehicle. It’s easy to use and reasonably priced.
  2. Liquid – There are some products that come in a liquid form, such as the Tear Mender, and can be used to repair the headliner and other fabrics. A liquid is still easy to use but not as common as a spray adhesive because the spray is just dead simple easy to use and a liquid takes a bit more work to get applied correctly.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Headliner Adhesive

When it comes to buying a headliner adhesive, there is a wide range of top products you can choose from.

However, they come in different components, which mean that not all of them will be compatible with your vehicle’s headliner.

The best headliner that you should select is one that’s designed for your headliner use. Buying the right product will ensure that you restore your headliner not only for a short while but for a longer time.

Here are some of the main factors you will want to consider when buying the best headliner adhesive for your car:

Temperature Tolerance

The best headliner adhesive should withstand low and high temperatures as your car’s interior can either be cold or hot, depending on the weather conditions.

It’s wise to avoid buying rubber adhesives as they may melt soon after being exposed to heat. This will see your headliner sag or, even worse, fall off.

Surfaces

The car headliner adhesive should be applicable on both vinyl and fabric. You will find that most products indicate whether they are compatible with different materials.

If you do not see fabric or vinyl on the list, avoid the product as it will not support the two materials.

Type

The two main types of headliner adhesives to choose from are liquid and aerosol. Both adhesives are usable on your car’s headliners.

In this case, the best choice entirely relies on your preference, but you should keep in mind that aerosol adhesives are modified for ease of use.

Liquid adhesives are also easy to use, and they offer a stronghold. However, they require you to use a paint gun.

Versatility

The best car headliner should not only be applicable on the headliner but also on the other parts of the vehicle.

Bearing in mind that your car might need repair and maintenance, it’s crucial to choose the headliner adhesive that’s also applicable on the exterior. This will save a lot of money in the long run.

Cost

As with other products, headliner adhesives vary in price, depending on brand and quality. It’s essential to consider the amount of money you are willing to spend on a headliner adhesive.

You may have to buy two or three cans, based on the part that needs to be coated. But the good thing is that purchasing an adhesive is cheaper than taking your vehicle to a mechanic.

Consistency

The best headliner should be firm enough to withstand some factors like extreme weather conditions, water, and heat.

You also don’t want to buy an adhesive that will leave with overspray or mess up your car’s ceiling.

Residue

The residue that remains after using a headliner adhesive should be easy to clean up.

You should always go for a product that will produce fewer residue and is easy to clean up. This will help a lot, especially on the vehicle’s aesthetics after using the adhesive.


The Best Headliners For Cars FAQs



What is a headliner?

A headliner is a material that lines the inside roof of cars and trucks. It’s usually made from fabric that is nonwoven and doesn’t have a back.

Headliner fabric is often made of tricot knit fabric. Learn more about headliner fabric.



What causes a sagging headliner?


A sagging headliner is caused because the glue or adhesive that was originally holding the back of the headliner in-place has deteriorated.


The 10 Best Headliner Adhesives – Summary

Tired of looking at the headliner of your car’s interior roof sagging ?

And now that you’ve had enough, you’re ready to figure out which headliner adhesive will work best.

We’ve compiled a list of the top products but believe that 3M-38808 Headliner & Fabric Adhesive is the best option. It’s offered at a great price point, doesn’t leave a stain or discolor your fabric and it will stand up to extreme weather conditions.


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Last update on 2023-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API