What adhesive works best for sealing handmade envelopes?

The right adhesive keeps the flap shut through the mail stream without wrinkling the paper. Some options seal cleaner and hold stronger than others.

• Double-sided tape: the cleanest and strongest option. It will not warp the paper and it survives handling and sorting machines.
• Glue sticks: fine for lighter-weight envelopes and casual mailings, though the bond is weaker.
• Liquid glue: use sparingly. It tends to wrinkle paper and needs time to dry fully.
• Wax seals: decorative and effective for formal invitations, adding a finished touch while holding the flap down.

Whatever you choose, seal one test envelope and let it sit before committing to a full batch. For invitations that need a perfect, machine-applied gum seal every time, factory-printed envelopes remove the variable.