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Can you cut porcelain tile with a grinder?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 14, 2026

Cutting Porcelain Tile with an Angle Grinder

Using an angle grinder, a tile could cut into different styles. An angle grinder is suitable for both straight and circular cut. With an aggressive disc, the tool makes the process easier. Especially when a particular shape is required, the tool does amazing.

Can you cut porcelain with a grinder?

A smooth-edged, diamond-tipped blade is best for cutting ceramic tiles with an angle grinder, but for porcelain tiles, you must use notched blades, but for natural stone tiles, you must use serrated blades.

Do you need a special blade to cut porcelain tile?

Porcelain tiles are very hard, so special blades are needed for cutting them. These are diamond blades, as you already know. They work well both when cutting and grinding porcelain tiles.

Can you grind porcelain tile?

Porcelain tile is a beautiful way to enhance your home. In some cases, you will need to grind this tile to get rid of a stained surface, or to shape the tiles for special installation. You will need special equipment that includes an angle grinder and porcelain grinding bit.

Can you sand porcelain tiles?

You sand porcelain tile to prepare it for repainting and resealing. Porcelain tile has a shiny, smooth and lustrous appearance that makes it a very attractive addition to your home. Ironically, you prepare porcelain tile to be refurbished by sanding so that it loses its gloss and has a scratchy surface.

37 related questions found

Can you cut tile with an angle grinder?

Angle grinders and rotary tools are effective ways to cut tile while it's still glued to the wall or floor. Mark the location of the cut with a marker or pencil. Fix a piece of masking tape along the mark to make the line easier to follow and help prevent chipping.

Is porcelain tile harder to cut than ceramic?

For you DIYers who like to get handy, ceramic tiles are far easier to work with. Especially in areas that require a lot of cuts to install your tiles neatly. Porcelain is much harder to cut and can require professional tools and skills to create the same effect.

How do you stop a tile chipping when cutting with a grinder?

If they're using a grinder then I always use a thin continuous rimmed blade which means their are no gaps in the blade itself and go through a bit slower. You can get diamond hand polishing pads with different grit pads which can polish up the cut edges to get rid of the chips.

Can I cut porcelain tile with a jigsaw?

You might be able to use a jigsaw with a carbide-grit blade, but keep in mind that porcelain is really strong stuff. If you use a jigsaw, you'll probably have to replace the blade several times in the course of the project. You'll also need: A grease pencil or permanent marker to mark your planned cuts on the tile.

How do you cut porcelain tile by hand?

#1 Cutting Porcelain Tile Using a Tile Nipper

  1. Initially, take the tile that you want to cut and prepare it. ...
  2. Use the tile nipper, hold it at the edge centre of the marked line and apply pressure. ...
  3. Take small nips and go slow as sometimes the piece fails to nip off, and that's when you should try cutting it with a cutter.

Can you use tile nippers on porcelain?

The tool can be a little harder to use on thicker ceramic floor tiles, or on porcelain tiles, which are harder than standard ceramic tiles. With practice, though, tile nippers can work quite well on all tiles except for natural stone like marble or granite.

What saw cuts porcelain tile?

Consequently, the best way to cut a porcelain tile yourself is to use a wet tile saw or tile cutter with large-diameter diamond tile blades. These blades feature industrial-grade diamond filaments embedded into the side of each blade. They can cut through rock, stone, bricks, and ceramic materials like porcelain.

How can I cut porcelain tiles without chipping them?

Using manual hand tools is the best way to cut porcelain tile without chipping when you can't afford fancy tools. You may apply multiple hand tools to cut the tile. But the best way is to use a tile nipper.

What grinder cuts tile?

The best type of blade to use with an angle grinder when cutting ceramic tile is a diamond-tipped, smooth-edge blade without any notches or serration. Notched blades are for porcelain and serrated blades are more suited to natural stones.

Can you cut 20mm porcelain tiles with an angle grinder?

Cutting 20mm porcelain tiles with angle grinder, the L15ST tile cutting disc makes light work of this. It has a continuous turbo rim of diamond and offers a fast cut through a variety of hard and non-abrasive natural stone and porcelain.

Can you cut porcelain tile with a circular saw?

Using a tile cutter can be messy and unnecessarily difficult. So, can you cut porcelain tile with a circular saw? Yes, it is not only an option but, by far, the best choice. These saws have a compact electrical bench perfectly settled, with the perfect diamond-coated blade for this job, and a water pump.

Can I cut porcelain tile with a snap cutter?

Snap tile cutters are dust-free and safe to use. Though tile snap cutters can cut glass or stone, they work best for ceramic or porcelain tile.

Do porcelain tiles crack easily?

Hard, dense, and solid, porcelain is resistant to most heavy stresses and can even be used in commercial environments. Be aware, though, that the hardness of porcelain can make it slightly more brittle than standard tiles, which means they can be more susceptible to cracking.

What are the pros and cons of porcelain tile?

Pros & Cons of Porcelain Tile

  • Install Yourself? Yes.
  • Best Uses: All-purpose; also commercial installations.
  • Pros: Toughness, variety of design.
  • Cons: Requires modified setting material to anchor it to substrate.
  • Price Range: $3–$6.

Do porcelain tiles need sealing?

The surface of most ceramic and porcelain tile does not need to be sealed, although some require a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile. However, the grout joint between the tiles is usually very porous and generally made of a cement-based material.

What is the difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile?

The major difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile is how it's made. Both tiles are made from a clay mixture that's fired in a kiln, but porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and it's fired at higher temperatures. This makes it denser and more durable than ceramic tile.

Will sandpaper scratch porcelain tile?

You must remember to use very fine-grit sandpaper, and the porcelain must remain wet at all times. As long as the porcelain is wet, the sandpaper will "float" on the surface and will not scratch it.

How do you smooth rough edges on porcelain tile?

Use 60 or 80 grit for starters, just to dull the edge or flatten the serrations if the tile has been nipped. Once the edge has been dulled, work your way up to 200-grit sandpaper and then 400-grit sandpaper to polish the edge for maximum smoothness.