Commonly named "white glue", PVAc based adhesives are strong, dry to a clear film and offer good adhesion to a variety of surfaces. They are environmentally friendly and do not pose health risks.

These resins set rapidly at room temperatures and have high dry strength, but their moisture resistance is inferior to that of some other adhesives; furthermore, joints with thick glue lines tend to creep under sustained loads. This makes them inappropriate for use in structural applications. They also have poor resistance to heat.

Because of their ease of application, their high dry strength, the fact that they can be used with low clamping pressures and their competitive cost, polyvinyl acetate adhesives are normally used as a general woodworking adhesive and also used for furniture assembly and panel construction.