Tile Cutting Tools

In fact, you’ll probably use not one, but several, of these tile cutting tools.  Good thing is that, aside from the wet tile saw, these are all pretty cheap tools to buy.

Snap Tile Cutter

A snap tile cutter is an el cheapo tile cutting tool that you can get from any hardware store, costing you less than a night out at the movies.  It has a glass cutter-like wheel that rolls along the top of the tile, scoring it.  After the score, you push down on the snap tile cutter to break the tile in two.

• Only makes straight cuts.
• Cuts are not always perfectly clean.
• Very cheap device to buy.
• Easy to accidentally break tiles with this tool.

Wet Tile Saw

This is the Big Mama of tile cutting tools.  Professional quality wet tile saws are  very, very expensive–running in the thousands of dollars.  But you can buy DIY-level wet saws for in the $200-$500 range that do a decent job.

• Straight cuts only.
• The continuous spray of water cools the tile and keeps dust down.
• Uses a round blade, just like a circular saw.
• Takes some practice–and many “test tiles” to get right

A Dremel tool is another way to make semi-circles and even full circles in soft tile.

Tile Nibbler

This is a hand tool that lets you nibble away at the tile to make rounded cuts or remove sharp, excess points from the tile.  Sometimes called a “tile nipper,” too.  Given the low price, you should just buy one and have it on hand.  No doubt you’ll find a need for it.

• Very cheap.
• Make semi-circular cuts (but not complete holes).
• Can be frustrating and slow to work with.

Rod Saw

An alternate way to cut semi-circular holes.  A thin, gritty blade that attaches to a hacksaw.  The cheapest of the tile cutting tools out there, so it can’t hurt to pick one up and have it on hand.

• Extremely cheap.
• Cleaner curves than the tile nibbler.
• Will not work on thick or floor tiles.