Tiles are fragile things when they are loose and may crack and shatter with the wrong approach, creating not only a mess but a safety hazard. You can’t cut corners – cutting tiles safely and with ease only comes with getting a quality tool to help you out.
A good example of a tile cutter that can help you out of a sticky spot is the QEP 10630Q 24-Inch Manual Tile Cutter. This tool rip cuts through porcelain, glass and ceramic tiles with ease, provides you with a measurement guide for precision cutting and gives you straight, clean results each time – a DIY enthusiasts best friend where tile projects are concerned!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to look for in a good quality tile cutter as well as review some of the cutters that are currently on the market before picking our overall champ. Here are the 14 products we’ll be reviewing in the guide:
14 Best Tile Cutters Reviews
1. QEP 10630Q 24-Inch Manual Tile Cutter with Tungsten Carbide Scoring Wheel for Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles
For those on quite a strict budget for their next tiling project, you can’t go far wrong with this fantastic manual tile cutter by QEP.
The 10630Q Tungsten Carbide model is built with a high quality 7/8 inch diameter titanium coated cutting wheel to take the stress out of slicing through porcelain and ceramic, up to a capacity of 24 inches (and 16 inches for diagonal cuts).
Incredibly for a manual cutter at this budget price, the QEP 10630Q can also cut through glass tile like butter with minimal mess or fuss. It also comes with a simple to use adjustable measurement guide to help even the most novice of DIY tile cutters align the scorer to the tiles perfectly for a clean, precision cut.
While the cutting length may be a tad smaller than the maximum out there, this is a great value tile cutter that will be perfect for most of your small and medium scale projects.
PROS
- Great value for money
- High quality Titanium-coated wheel
- Perfect for small projects
- Cuts glass cleanly
CONS
- Cutting length is fairly small
2. Montolit Masterpiuma Evolution 3 29″ Push Porcelain Tile Cutter 75P3
With a 29 inch cutting capacity, this manual tile cutter by Montolit is a great companion to have for most home tile projects. Its sturdy rust-resistant titanium scoring wheel can make light work of porcelain and ceramic tiles and its ergonomic push scribe handle makes the task as comfortable as it effective – cutting through tiles of up to 22mm in thicknesses.
For a fairly lightweight tool (despite its sturdy steel and aluminum combo construction), this is a pretty powerful tile cutter and has many of its more expensive competitor models beat with its impressive cutting depth.
Other than raking a little pricier than most, one other possible downside to note is that the measurements are in metric and not in US terms, so amateur tile cutters may find this a little tricky to get to grips with at first. If you’re prepared to use a conversion chart, though, this tile cutter will be worth your while.
PROS
- Ultra durable Titanium scoring wheel
- Rust-resistant finish
- Lightweight, easy to store
- Designed with lubrication system
CONS
- Quite expensive
- Measurements are in metric terms
3. Manual Tile Cutter With Tungsten Carbide Scoring Wheel for Porcelain Ceramic Floor Tile W/Adjustable Laser Guide Bonus Spared Cutting Wheel & Storage Bag
There’s a lot to like about this manual cutter by Seeutek, chiefly that it is a very beginner-friendly tool to use for your DIY tile projects. A feature which makes it stand out straight away from most other tile cutters on the market is the guiding laser light that can be adjusted to let you score accurate cuts each time.
It also has a fantastic cutting capacity of up to 40 inches and is made with a lightweight aluminum cutting base for convenient transportation around the home.
A slight let down is that its most innovative feature (the laser guide) isn’t as bright as it could have been. Also the lightweight frame makes this feel a little less sturdy and stable to operate than most tile cutters that are available.
While you can’t expect the best performance out of this manual cutter for the low price, this Seeutek tool redeems itself with a spare cutting wheel and a handy storage bag.
PROS
- Adjustable laser guide measurement
- Large cutting capacity
- Affordable price range
- Lightweight Aluminum board
- Comes with storage bag
CONS
- Laser light isn’t especially bright
- Not as stable or sturdy as some models
4. VonHaus 24 Inch Manual Tile Cutter with Tungsten Carbide Cutting Wheel, Anti-sliding Rubber Surface, 1x Spare Scoring Wheel – Suitable for Porcelain and Ceramic Floor and Ceiling Tiles
The VonHaus company are renowned for their high quality tools and this tungsten carbide tile cutter model by them is no exception. The super durable cutting wheel makes clean work of porcelain and ceramic tiles up to 24 inches in length and can slice through tiles of ½ an inch thick with ease thanks.
Novices at tile cutting will especially appreciate the beginner friendly feature of VonHaus’ ‘Score and Snap’ feature which makes the measuring and cutting process as easy as score, snap off and repeat!
Its lightweight design and foldable handle also make this a joy to transport and store when it’s not in use. Unfortunately, the compact foldable handle has been met with some criticism for being a tad unsteady to use while adjusting your tiles, so keep this in mind as this could be irritating at best but unsafe at worst.
PROS
- Score and Snap feature for a clean cut
- Lightweight design
- User friendly, great for beginners
- Ant-slip rubber surface
- Compact, easy to store
CONS
- Handle could be improved
5. Sigma 2G 37cm Metric Tile Cutter
This snap tile cutter by Sigma is a cut above (pun definitely intended!) many of the manual cutters in its price range. There are few tile cutters that can cut as easily through glass as they can through comparatively softer tile material like porcelain and ceramic, but Sigma have knocked it out of the park with their cutting versatility.
Not only can this tool make light work of glass, granite, marble and paving stones, but the adjustable measurement system and ability to lock down on a 45 degree angle means perfectly straight and curved cuts are achieved with stunning results.
The snap cutting feature means tiles snap cleanly off when scored to save you time on your next big scale bathroom or kitchen project. Weighing under 5 pounds, it’s also perfect for carrying around and storing without fuss.
The only notable downsides are the lack of warranty and the measurements being in metric, but these can be worked around if you’re in need of a decent, high-performing tile cutter.
PROS
- Adjustable spring loaded table
- 45 degree locking angle
- Time-saving snap cut feature
- Lightweight design
- Compact, easy to store
CONS
- No warranty period offered
6. Sigma Pull Handle 26″ Tile Cutter 3B4
Similar in appearance to the other Sigma cutter on our list but considerably different in terms of strength and durability, this pull handle Sigma 3B4 tile cutter is a fantastically helpful tool for any DIY-er.
It may be small in size but it packs a punch in terms of cutting power and a quality build. For starters, this is engineered from solid aluminum alloy and steel and boasts an 1150kg breaking strength.
What’s more – the Sigma 3B4’s scoring wheel has a very decent cutting depth of 12mm and can accommodate tiles up to 26 inches in length – not and fr something so compact.
The spring loaded base plates and rotating measuring bar make this a versatile little companion for most tile projects around the home, and will make light work of everything from porcelain and granite to glass mosaic. A compact design does mean a small handle, but this is a comparatively small flaw.
PROS
- Rotating measuring bar
- Spring loaded base plates
- 1150 kg breaking strength
- Durable steel and aluminum alloy construction
CONS
- Small handle
- Measurements are in metric
7. Bullet Tools 13 in. EZ Shear Laminate Flooring Cutter for pergo, wood and more
Living up to its name, this Bullet Tools EZ Shear tile cutter slices through floor tiles up to 13 inches thick! Bear in mind, this is designed to cut through laminate floor tiles only (engineered wood, vinyl, laminate, parquet etc).
But if a clean and precise cut is needed for your next floor renovation project, then you can scarcely do better than this powerful cutting tool.
To look at the EZ Shear and its overbearing handle and bulky frame, you might expect it to be fairly noisy during use, but this is a refreshingly quiet tool to use compared with electric cutters and similarly bulky manual cutter models.
Though seemingly pricey at first glance, the EZ Shear tool is also one of the more affordable floor tile cutters on the market – this may be down to its innovative laser guide to promote a more precise cut and its incredible durability (one shear blade can apparently outlast over 20 saw blades). Impressive stuff.
PROS
- Affordable price range
- Great for straight and bevel cuts
- Laser guide for precision cutting
- Quiet operation
CONS
- May be difficult to transport/store
8. DEWALT D24000S Heavy-Duty 10-inch Wet Tile Saw with Stand with DEWALT DW4761 10-Inch Wet Cutting Continuous Rim Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor for Ceramic or Tile
When you need a more professional grade of tile cutter to assist you in larger scale jobs in the home (or for a commercial project), then this DEWALT wet tile saw is more than reliable. Its user friendly set up means its simple enough for amateur renovators but professional in its results that it will please even the most seasoned of contractors.
The D24000S model’s powerful rim saw blade can rip through 3 1/8 inch slabs of granite tile like butter and the accompanying water nozzles catch and collect the resulting dust powder to keep the cuing wheel in top condition.
Unlike many tile saw tools, this DEWALT tool is fantastically portable and super easy to store for when you need to transport it to each location. It weights only 69 pounds and can be easily set up by one person, so you’re ready to get to work on your tile projects in no time.
PROS
- Heavy-duty, professional grade tile saw
- Perfect for larger projects
- Easy to store and transport
- Water nozzles can be manually positioned
- 3 year warranty
CONS
- Low 1.5 HP for a pro-class saw
- Noisy compared to other tile cutters
9. M-D Building Products 49047 20-Inch Tile Cutter, Black/Yellow
This 20 inch tile cutter by M-D Building Products is very well constructed. Built with a base made from extruded aluminum and guide rails made from chrome-plated steel – this is a tile cutter that was made for heavy duty use and should theoretically last for many years.
It’s a shame then that some customers have complained about a few issues that make this tool a little less durable than it would have you believe.
The main criticism of this M-D Building Products tile cutter is that the blade sometimes has a tendency to slide off the rails. Under amateur operation, this is a potentially very dangerous flaw, and even those with experience of tile cutters may experience a lot of frustration – especially since the poor scoring system means not every tile is guaranteed to snap off easily.
Depending on the tile material, this can also take a longer time to cut through than most others. Overall, the quality of the performance is quite poor in comparison to its sturdy build.
PROS
- Tough, durable Aluminum base
- Sturdy steel rail construction
- Great for making diagonal cuts
CONS
- Blade can slide off the rails
- Quality could be greatly improved
10. QEP 10600BR 24-Inch Rip and 18-Inch Diagonal Pro Porcelain Tile Cutter with 7/8-Inch Cutting Wheel
Like many of QEP’s tile cutters, the 10600BR model comes with many innovative features that make it an invaluable tool for any contractor or keen DIY-er. This screw fix tile cutter can take on tiles that are 24 inches across (or 18 inches for diagonal cuts on slanted tiles).
A great feature of this QEP tile cutter is that the 7/8 inch cutting wheel can be adjusted between 4 height positions to give you the precise desired cut you need for your materials each time.
We also love that you have the option to replace the wheels as and when you need to. The chunky rubber grip handle also earns top marks as this makes it so comfortable and sturdy to use – even for beginners at home renovation!
A small let down is that this model can’t cut through glass tile, but for a well designed cutter that breezes through common floor and wall tile material, this is a great pick.
PROS
- 4 height positions for the wheel
- Ergonomic grip hold handle
- Lightweight design
- Wheels can be replaced
- Sturdy double rail steel bars
CONS
- Cannot cut glass tile
11. Qep, 10214Q, Tile Cutter, 1/2 in Cap, 14 in, Yellow
This budget tile cutter by QEP is a decent tool for smaller, more modest home renovation jobs. It has a smaller tile cutting capacity than most on the list at 14 inches (or 10 inches on diagonal cuts), but it can cut cleanly through 1/2 thick tiles, so don’t be fooled by the price – this is built to a high standard in terms of performance.
As can be expected for the budget price, this QEP 10214Q tile cutter isn’t made from the most rugged stuff – some components are made from plastic – but again, this was never built to take on large scale tiling projects.
It can make clean work of glazed and unglazed ceramic or porcelain and its lightweight build and reliably smooth ball bearing slides make this a joy to use on your next small-scale flooring or bathroom project.
PROS
- Very lightweight
- Portable design
- Heavy duty rubber pads for stability
- Ball bearing slides for easy scoring
- Budget price
CONS
- Not suited to large scale renovations
- Plastic components can feel cheap
12. SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw with HydroLock Water Containment System
This budget wet tile saw by SKILSAW won’t break the bank and is ideal for occasional DIY-ers with small-scale tiling jobs on their to do list, but this won’t be suitable for regular contractors.
Unsurprisingly for the budget price tag, this SKIL 3550-02 tile saw cannot compete with the power of wet saw brands like DEWALT and others out there and will not be able to make more advanced cuts.
However, what it can do with its limitations, it still does pretty well. This SKIL wet tile saw model may only have a small cutting capacity (tiles up to a maximum of 12 inches in length), but some nice touches like the adjustable rip cut fence and miter guide provide a few more cutting options than your most basic tile cutter.
The rotating bevel also allows you to cut at any angle between 0 and 45 degrees and with the help of a Diamond-encrusted blade, cutting through most tile material is a breeze.
PROS
- Affordable price range
- Adjustable rip fence and miter guide
- Diamond-encrusted blade
- Cuts between 0-45 degree angle
CONS
- Not as powerful as similar models
- Only supports smaller sized tiles
13. Roberts 10-91 Multi-Floor Cutter, 9-Inch
If you’re on the hunt for a tool that deals specifically with floor tiles, then this Roberts 10-91 multi floor cutter is the way to go. The long guillotine style handle with a comfortable rubber grip makes this easy to use on floor tiles up to 9 inches across and cut cleanly through 16mm thick material.
Its ability to cut through various floor materials (MDF baseboard, rubber, foam, laminate etc) make this a versatile companion for all of your floor renovation projects and the movable guide to allow for angular cuts is a great feature.
While the long cutting base makes it a great working area for cutting through long planks of floor material, the limited work space is not so convenient for every floor tile type.
And speaking of being inconvenient for every floor type, you may find that the Roberts 10-91 doesn’t perform as well on thicker floor materials (which can result in using manual force for some rip cuts).
PROS
- Replaceable blade
- Long handle for easy use
- Movable guide for angular cuts
- Cuts through many floor material types
CONS
- Working area is quite small
- Requires force for some rip cuts
- Works better on thinner floor material
14. QEP 83200Q 24″ Bridge Saw
This bridge saw by QEP may not be the most budget friendly choice of tile slicing tool on the market, but its packed with many features that could make this a worthwhile investment piece for casual contractors and DIY enthusiasts.
For starters, the cutting capacity is refreshingly flexible for a bridge saw – accommodating tiles up to 24 inches across and it does it all with a powerful 1.5 HP brushless motor to cut cleanly through stone, marble, granite and your regular porcelain and ceramic tiles.
In addition to a powerful performance, QEP have also pushed the boat out with added safety features and touches that make this bridge saw a lot easier to use.
If you’re a family handyman, you’ll be pleased to know there is a child-proof safety switch for their protection and a thermal overload automatic shutdown feature to ensure product longevity and safety on the job. Unlike similar models, this comes with its own fold-out stand and wheels for extra portability too.
PROS
- Powerful 1.5 HP brushless motor
- Comes with fold-out stand with wheels
- Thermal protection for longevity
- Childproof safety switch
- Large 24 inch cutting capacity
CONS
- Doesn’t deliver the most precise cuts
- Only 1 year warranty period
Things to Consider Before Buy
Size
Tile cutters can vary in size from lightweight portable tools that can fit in your tool bag to larger more heavy-duty machines that are bulky, stand-alone pieces of equipment, and the size you go for will depend on the type of tile cutting project you are undertaking.
For most small to medium scale home renovations, most manual tile cutters on the market are suitable, but since cutting tiles manually can be exhausting, you should look for the tool that is most appropriate for your home project and that has the power to cut your tiles cleanly and easily, without requiring you to exert too much pressure.
For larger scale jobs where you’ll perhaps be working with tiles made from tougher material such as stone or concrete, then you will benefit from using a larger electric tile cutter or bridge saw. The high horse power (HP) on some of the more professional models are capable of cutting deeper than 40mm.
Using a large electric tile cutter or saw may also be appropriate if you need to cut ceramic or porcelain tiles that are thicker than the usual capacity of manual tile cutters (more on Cutting Capacity’ further down in the guide).
Cutting Base
This refers to the work surface of your tile cutter so, ideally, you want to look for anti-slip rubber cutting bases to ensure safety and efficiency. Some tile cutter models can have folding wings on the base to accommodate larger tile projects too.
Breaker Bar
This an essential part of the tile cutter which puts pressure on points along the scoring line to cut tiles as cleanly as possible. Breaker bars can either be mobile or fixed depending on the cut you require.
Mobile breaker bars are great for intricate or diagonal cuts as they can apply pressure on any points on the cutting guide, whereas fixed breaker bars can only apply pressure on a single point, making them fine for rip cut jobs, but not so well suited to intricate cuts.
Cutting Wheel
The cutting or ‘scoring’ wheels come in different sizes and materials. Common wheel types are made from Tungsten Carbide and Titanium-coated Tungsten Carbide – both of these perform well on porcelain and ceramic tiles (though titanium-coated wheels have better precision and cost slightly more).
Tungsten carbide is the least expensive type of cutting wheel material, though it will not cut well through tougher tile surfaces such as concrete or stone.
Guide Line
This refers to the mark or raised spline across the middle of the cutting base to indicate where the cut will be made. Some guide lines will provide either basic or detailed measurements depending on the quality of the tile cutter.
Guide Rail(s)
Tile cutters will either have one or two guide rails along the length of the cutter to help guide a straight and clean path for the scriber to cut. Look for good quality smooth and sturdy rails made from chrome or steel as these will ensure a smooth guide for cutting than cheaper plastic materials.
Handle
Tile cutting can be a dangerous and ineffective job without the stability of a good sturdy handle. The best tile cutters should feature a heavy duty handle that provides a comfortable yet firm grip to give you better control over the cutting process.
Measuring Bar
Some models of tile cutter feature a measuring bar which is very handy, as this helps you to adjust the angle of a tile before cutting. This is perfect if you need to make accurate cuts instead of simple snap off rip cuts.
Scriber
A scriber is just another name for the tool used to score or scratch a guide cutting line on to your material before cutting. This can be done with a handheld scribing tool, but certain models of tile cutter are capable of scoring out intricate cuts for you without the need for a secondary tool.
Cutting Dimensions
The cutting dimensions refer to the cutting capacity, in other words the size of tile that it can accommodate. On average, most manual tile cutters can cut tiles at least 20-24 inches in size, but this can vary between cheaper amateur models and more professional grade tile cutters.
As well as considering the size of the tiles you’ll be cutting, you should also note the thickness of the tiles before choosing the right tile cutter for the job. Thankfully, most tile cutters are built with adjustable scoring systems that let you slice through tiles of varying thickness.
The wheel diameter of most tungsten carbide or titanium-coated tungsten carbide (usually ranging from 6mm-22mm) will help you determine which tile cutter product is best for your tile thickness.
Remember above all else that a good quality tile cutter should be able to cut through the specified tile thickness cleanly and easily – while a higher performing tile cutter often means paying a little more, it can be well worth it to make your DIY project run a lot smoother and as safe as possible.
After cutting the tiles manually, it can always be worthwhile to enlist a professional to help you install your brand new tiles too.
Conclusion
While many tile cutters on our list perform well, we believe that the QEP 10630Q 24-Inch Manual Tile Cutter with Tungsten Carbide Scoring Wheel for Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles provides fantastic reliability and solid quality for a fraction of the price, which is why we’ve singled this as our winning tile cutter.
Few budget price tile cutters provide the large cutting capacity of up to 24 inches and the precision titanium-coated cutting wheel ensures a clean and mess-free cut every time – increasing your work productivity without breaking the bank.
It may only work with ceramic and porcelain tiles, but this is forgivable if you’re simply in need of a sturdy well-made tool that can assist you in all of your home tiling renovations. This is an overall excellent value for money tile cutter that is simple to use and built to last.
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Mike Zhang. Founder of FamilyLifeShare