Looking to complete any type of renovation on your kitchen or bathroom then you are going to need a tile cutter to help you get the job done. Paying for someone to complete tiling in your home is going to be incredibly expensive – especially when this is a job that you can very easily do yourself!
Providing you have a tile cutter, you will be able to get straight, accurate and professional quality cuts on your tiles! They are designed to be able to easily cut through a wide range of tile materials with ease. So here are some of the best tile cutters for you to choose from…
Best Pick Tile Cutter
- Torque Master Power Tile Cutter with a diamond cutting blade
- Hi-Torque gear for maximum cutting performance
- splash guard with a variable height adjustment.
- Input Power: 450W - No Load Speed: 4,600/min
- Blade Size: 110mm - Cutting Depth: @90°: 25mm, @45°: 17mm - Weight: 6kg
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
This Buyer’s Guide aims to provide you with all the information you could need into the different types of tile cutter and which is going to be the best tile cutter for you to purchase.
Types of Tile Cutter
There are three main types of tile cutter available on the market; manual, electric and radial. Depending on your experience and the jobs that you are hoping to complete, different models will be right for different people.
Manual Tile Cutters
Manual tile cutters are relatively cheap, light and easy to use. They also produce minimal dust, can be used almost anywhere and require very little maintenance. However, sadly they are not perfect – as they do not require any power source they are relying on you to complete all of the work. This does mean that you have to have the strength to pull and push the wheel (although this is relatively easy in our opinion) and there is also the chance of user error. Not just this but because they are smaller and more lightweight they will not be able to cut every type of tile, and there is the chance of splinters forming when cutting small tiles. It is also worth considering that you cannot complete bevelled cuts or more complex cutting such as cuts partway through a tile.
Electric Tile Cutters
Electric tile cutters are definitely the most versatile available on the market, offering you good value for money. They will be more expensive than manual tile cutters but will reduce user fatigue greatly and will be able to work with many more types of tiles. Using a diamond blade and a water pan to keep this cool, they really will help to work with many types of tiles. Providing you are close to a power source they will be able to be used almost anywhere that has a large enough, flat surface such as a workshop in a toolshed (probably why they are often known as benchtop tile cutters!). However, electric tile cutters make a lot more dust than manual models and can be rather loud. They are easier to use in terms of the effort that you have to put in but they will take some practice when using and can be dangerous if not used correctly!
Radial Tile Cutters
Radial tile cutters are the biggest of all tile cutters so are really just used for professional jobs. They can cut to huge lengths of around 1700mm, complete bevelled cuts, work with numerous different types of tile, and other materials too such as stone. They are very expensive and large pieces of equipment so you will have to have a very big job to be completed to make it worthwhile purchasing – and a large workshop to house it!
Best Budget Tile Cutter
- VERSATILE: This tile cutter will cut wall and floor tiles easily and efficiently and is also suitable for cutting and breaking ceramic or glazed tiles
- EASY TO USE: With a heavy gauge sheet steel base and an anti-slip foam cushion surface, it has steel guide bars and a hand operated lever for ease of use
- CUTTING CAPACITY: It comes with a replaceable tungsten carbide cutting wheel and has a 40cm (16") cutting capacity for tiles up to 10mm thick
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
What to Look For
There are some main features that you need to look for and consider when purchasing a tile cutter. We have looked at many of the best tile cutters on the market at the moment to help give you the most up to date information on what features should be important when buying.
Size
The size of your tile cutter is important for a number of reasons. Most simply, it is important because of the logistics of storing your tile cutter and moving it around! You need somewhere that you are going to be able to work with your tile cutter on a flat surface so a smaller tile cutter will make this easier to do and more handy to store when not in use. However, a smaller length also means a smaller cutting capacity. The cutting capacities range between 30cm and 150cm (with even larger cutting capacities for professional quality models).
It is worth considering if you are planning on cutting your tiles diagonally – if you are, or maybe at any point, then you will need to purchase a longer tile cutter as the diagonal line will always be longer than a length or width.
Wheel
The cutting wheel is the part that you will control to actually cut the tiles. It is important to look out for cutting wheels that are made of titanium carbide or tungsten carbide (or even better, a diamond blade) as these will be longer-lasting and able to complete cuts on more types of tiles. The diameter of most wheels will be changeable so that they can be adjusted to match the width of tile that you are working with, so look for one that has the biggest range of diameters. Most models range between 5 and 25mm. If you are wanting to cut even thicker tiles (or possibly even glass) then you will need to purchase a blade with special diamond cut.
Wet Tile Cutters
The main difference with wet tile cutters (from manual tile cutters that tend to be dry tile cutters) is that they are sat on what is essentially a water table. The water helps to make the cut smoother and neater and also protects the blade, helping it to last longer, by keeping it cool and reducing the friction that both the blade and the tile have to endure. It can be difficult to get the same accuracy of cut that is provided with a dry manual tile cutter.
Rails
Quite simply, the rails are what the wheel is attached to and moves up and down to complete a straight, accurate cut – essentially like an extra powerful guillotine!
Power
Different motors will have different powers, and the greater the power the greater the tile thicknesses that you will be able to work with. The power of tile cutters will range between around 350W and 1000W but for most home DIY projects you will only need a motor with a power of around 600W.
Construction Materials
Look out for tile cutters that are made mostly with steel as these will be the most long-lasting and durable. It is equally important to look for handles and wheels that are made from durable metal as otherwise, these can become bent and damaged.
Additional Features
- Protective cover for safety from the wheel
- Extra stops to help secure the tile into place (this will avoid any mistakes and lost tiles)
- Bench extensions so that you can adapt the machine to cut larger tiles if needed
- Adjustable cutting guides are beneficial as will allow you to be more accurate with the cuts that you are completing.
- Water recirculation system to keep your working area tidy.
- Tilting table to allow for mitre cuts to be completed.
How to Use a Tile Cutter
Tile cutters are relatively easy to use once you know-how, particularly the manual models. Simply mark whereabouts on the tile you are hoping to cut, line it up correctly using the handy cutting guides, then push or pull the wheel along which will make the blade scratch the surface of the tile and weaken along the line that you are cutting. Finally, when you pull the wheel over a second time (applying more pressure) the tile will cut neatly – no cracks, no chips, no juddering lines! What more could you want?!
Here is a video on how to use a manual tile cutter.
The main difference when using an electric tile cutter is that you will move the tile towards the moving blade to cut it, instead of moving the blade to cut the tile – this allows you to work in different ways with the tile to complete more complicated cuts which can be needed for awkward places in your home.
Here is a video on how to use an electric diamond tile cutter.
Best of the Rest
- Diamond tipped cutting disc (included)
- Water cooling system for strenuous tile cutting tasks
- Parallel guide for increased accuracy
- Bench size: 330 x 360 mm
- Cutting Speed: 3000 rpm
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Cuts and breaks ceramic tiles in one easy operation
- It has a heavy gauge sheet steel base with foam cushion surface
- Graduated measuring gauge and replaceable tungsten carbide cutting wheel
- The tile is placed on foam cushion cutting base and the wheel is drawn across the tile to cut it
- Maximum cutting capacity 300mm long x 10mm thick
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Allows the fast and precise cutting of ceramic tiles
- Water reservoir cools, cleans and lubricates the diamond blade for improved results
- Full length fence and 45° mitre guide
- Suitable for use with wet or dry cutting diamond blades
- Fitted with BS approved UK 3 pin plug | CE approved
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a tile cutter be able to cut a range of different materials?
The materials that your tile cutter will be able to work with will really depend on the blade that comes with your tile cutter. If you are wanting to cut a wide range of materials including glass and some metals then you will need to opt for a tile cutter that has a changeable blade wheel so that you are able to purchase additional blades that are up to the task.
What warranty should I expect with my tile cutter?
Most tile cutters will come with a 2-year warranty, although some do offer more. These tools aren’t cheap so we wouldn’t recommend opting for a model with any less than a 2-year warranty if you are wanting your tool to last and be made with good quality materials.
Why are my tiles cracking in my cutter?
As tiles are quite fragile, they can crack in a cutter if you are not careful. Look out for tile cutters that come with additional features to try and avoid this, such as score and snap features or wet cut designs as this will help to reduce the chance of cracking!
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