Cutting Holes in Ceramic Tile

Sometimes you need to run a pipe through ceramic tile.  If you are accustomed to cutting tile, then you must be a veteran of many a broken tile.  So, it may seem a hopeless job to cut a hole in a tile.

Sorry, we cannot whitewash this for you.  Cutting holes in tile is a very exacting process.  You need to make sure that you have a number of extra tiles on hand for this, because there is a good chance that you may end up breaking a tile or two before you get the perfect hole in the tile.

There are two main ways of cutting holes in tiles.  The first method is a true method of cutting holes; the second method is a way of faking the process and still making it look good.

Cutting Hole in Tile with Drill

Use a strong cordless electric drill for this.  Attach a carbide-tipped hole-cutter to your electric drill and slowly use it to score a circle on the face of the tile.  This is not a fast process.  Concentrate first on scoring the circle in the tile glazing; after that, concentrate on cutting into the tile itself.

Or – Cut Two Semi Circles to Form One Hole

A tile nipper is like a dull wire-cutter:  it has 2 surfaces that slowly nibble away at the tile.

The second method of cutting a hole in a ceramic tile actually involves two tiles:  one tile with a half circle cut into it, a second tile with another half circle cut into it.

Except in this case you do not use a hole-cutter.  Score a half circle in the tile surface with a glass cutter, and then use a tile nipper to nibble away the half-circle.  Repeat on the second tile, and then fit the two half-circle tiles together around the pipe or obstruction.  This is a very effective method and results in fewer broken tiles.