Our top pick, the Porter-Cable PCE980 is a sturdy, splash-proof electric saw that makes highly accurate straight cuts on tiles up to 12 inches square, as well as diagonal and bevel cuts for tiles that will wrap around corners. Here are the best tools for cutting tile, from wet saws to nippers. A tabletop wet tile saw is one of the top tools for cutting tile, since it’s easy to use and provides straight, accurate cuts and the ability to bevel tile edges as needed. The Porter-Cable PCE980 offers plenty of power, helpful features, and accuracy to make any project involving tile cutting quicker and easier. The 1-horsepower motor spins the 7-inch blade at speeds up to 2,850 rpm for easy cutting of ceramic, porcelain, or stone tiles up to a depth of 1-3/4-inch. The metal table has an overall 17-inch cutting capacity, and allows you to cut tiles up to 12x12 inches on a diagonal with accuracy that’s within 1/16th of an inch. A built-in miter square helps you to make accurate, repeatable miter cuts for tiles that will wrap around corners. And the enclosed water reservoir keeps the blade cool and dust to a minimum while the splash guard helps prevent the user from getting wet. When you’re finished, just pull the drain plug to release the water into your bucket waiting underneath. This accurate, powerful saw is reasonably compact, and has a roll-cage handle for easy transport to your jobsite. At 27 pounds, it’s not too heavy, and its 21-inch by 8-inch size is easy to handle or store. Price at time of publish: $190 This budget wet saw includes a stainless-steel tabletop, blade cooling reservoir to prevent overheating of the 7-inch circular blade (but no water pump), and an adjustable rip fence to ensure straight cuts. A miter gauge also allows bevel cuts up to 45 degrees. This reasonably priced saw is a great tile cutting tool for basic home projects or DIYers. While it can cut a variety of tile types and sizes, you should know that this saw cannot handle tiles as large as many other models. You can only cut a maximum of 12 inches straight, or 7 inches on a diagonal, which means the saw isn’t suitable if you need to cut large tiles. The saw weighs a mere 18 pounds. Price at time of publish: $93 This tile cutting tool is a good choice if you need to remove previously installed tile, since you can operate the tool wherever needed—including on floors, backsplashes, and tub surrounds. It’s also an option for anyone that wants a saw for cutting tile that is easy to transport and simple to store. Just keep in mind that a handheld tile saw will require a steady hand, since it lacks the sturdy surface of a tabletop wet saw. The overall weight is 8 pounds. Price at time of publish: $113 The primary purpose of this type of tile cutting tool is to make straight cuts; you cannot use it for miter or bevel cuts. While it can be used on a variety of tile types, it is best suited to cutting ceramic tiles. While the handle is ergonomically designed and large enough to reduce strain, keep in mind that you still need to exert your own muscle power to use the tool. Still, this is a great choice if you don’t need to cut a lot of tiles, or you need to cut large tiles. Price at time of publish: $136 Designed for nipping off small pieces of tile, this isn’t the tool for cutting a long, straight line, nor is it the right choice for bevel or miter cuts. With experience, however, you can use these nippers to create curves, notches, and other irregular shapes around the piece of tile, which is invaluable if you are tiling around fixtures, creating a mosaic, or tiling an area with curves or an uneven shape. Note that reviews say the nippers won’t work on tile thicker than about 1/2 inch. The nippers weigh 2.25 pounds. Price at time of publish: $34 In addition to the folding stand that is easy to transport and set up, this professional tile saw includes a die-cast aluminum tabletop with sealed ball-bearing rollers for a smooth gliding action. The included submersible water pump keeps the blade cool and functional, and it is designed to prevent excessive water spray or mess. It also has a laser guide system for extra precision. All-in-all, if you need a professional-quality tile saw, this is a great choice. The tool weighs 45 pounds. Price at time of publish: $329 The 7-inch diamond blade spins at speeds up to 3,600 rpm, easily cutting through ceramic, stone, or porcelain tiles. You can use this tool to cut straight across tiles that are up to 18 inches, or cut through 12-inch tiles on a diagonal. If you need an angled cut, this saw adjusts for miter or bevel cuts at 22.5 or 45 degrees. It has a built-in miter gauge for accuracy. The saw weighs 24 pounds, so isn’t too heavy to carry wherever you need it, although it lacks a handle. Price at time of publish: $149 The 7-inch blade spins at up to 2,800 rpm, and you can cut straight across tiles up to 17x17 with this tool, along with cutting tiles up to 12x12 on a diagonal. On straight cuts up to 12 inches, the saw delivers accuracy to within 1/16th of an inch. The saw cuts to a maximum depth of 1.25 inches, but note that this saw doesn’t tilt for making miter or bevel cuts. It weighs 27 pounds. Price at time of publish: $273 Two adjustable nozzles spray water from the reservoir onto the blade, but don’t worry about overspray; this saw has an excellent water containment system that lets you use it indoors without fear of water splashing everywhere. You can make 22.5 or 45-degree miter cuts, and the edge guide helps you keep your straight cuts perfectly aligned. At 69 pounds, this isn’t a light saw, but its included stand makes it convenient to use wherever you need to work. Price at time of publish: $999 Manual snap tile cutters, like rail cutters, have a wheel to score the tile and then rails that apply pressure to snap the tile along the scored line. This type of tile cutting tool is less intimidating for beginners to use but requires more physical exertion and can result in rough cuts that must be sanded. You can only make straight cuts with a rail cutter. Tile nippers are another manual option. These tools, which resemble pliers, “nip” off small pieces of tile, allowing you to create a curve, a notch, or trim a tile to fit into an oddly shaped spot. Like rail cutters, you need to use your own exertions to power the tool, which can be tiring if you face a big job, and you can only nip a very small chunk of tile at a time. For electric tile cutting tools, you’ll typically be considering tile saws. These come in both tabletop and handheld versions. Also known as wet tile saws, these tools are equipped with a water pump or reservoir that keeps the blade wet in order to reduce friction and dust as you cut tiles. Electric tile cutters are better suited for harder materials like stone and also can be used to make angled cuts or follow a curve after a little practice. These saws are your best choice if you’ll be cutting a lot of tile, you need to make curved or angled cuts, or you’ll be cutting stone. Other electric options that can be used for cutting ceramic tile include oscillating tools fitted with a tile-cutting blade and angle grinders with a diamond-tipped, smooth-edged blade. You won’t get as smooth of a cut with either of these options, but for a small job, or where a bit of roughness isn’t an issue, these could be fine choices if you already own the tool.
Tile Material
The density and hardness of tile varies depending on the material. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both made from clay, but porcelain is harder and more brittle. In general, manual tile cutters can be used for straight cuts on these types of tiles. For granite, marble, and stone tiles, you’ll need to use a tile cutting saw that offers the power and precision necessary to cut these dense, heavy materials without breaking them.
Tile Size
Consider what is the largest size of tile that you plan to cut and choose a tile cutting tool that can handle the job. While you may be able to use a large tile cutting tool for small tile, don’t expect to use a small tile cutting tool for large format tiles. The typical tile saw has a 7-inch blade, which can handle tiles up to 12x12 inches. This covers the majority of tiles used for covering countertops, backsplashes, and tub surrounds. However, for working on larger tiles up to 18x18, which are sometimes used as flooring, you’ll need a tile saw with a 10-inch blade.
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Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard.
When using a tile saw, you should also start by marking the face of the tile with a cutting line. After preparing the saw and work area and putting on PPE, you’re ready to cut tile. Place the tile on the bed of the saw, pushing it close to the rip fence or miter gauge. Check that the blade is in line with your cutting line. Then, bring the tile back in front of the blade. Turn the saw on, allow it to come up to full speed, and then slowly push the tile under the blade. You should keep one hand on each side of the tile, as far from the blade as possible. As the blade reaches the end of the tile, push the tile even more slowly. Once the tile clears the blade, turn the saw off, wait for the blade to come to a complete stop, then retrieve the tile.
The cutting technique you use may also help to prevent chipping when cutting porcelain tiles. Two methods are often suggested: First, make a shallow cut no more than 1/2 of the thickness of the tile. This requires the use of an adjustable saw blade. After making this initial cut, run the blade across the entire tile, cutting it completely on this pass. The second method is to make a notch in one end of the tile, about an inch or so deep. This is the start of your cut. Then, cut the tile from the other side. The cutting line should match your notch, resulting in a complete cut of the tile. For this roundup, she considered dozens of tile cutting tools, evaluating each for effectiveness, ease of use, and overall performance, as well as value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative, and received further input and advice from Johnathan Brewer, a general contractor and member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board.
