Best Drill Bits for Tiles – 2019 Models Tested, Reviewed & Buying Guide

Have you decided to make the repair yourself, but the case is stuck at the level of drilling tiles?

Regardless of the density of the tile, you can drill it without difficulty. How to do it?

The best way to do this correctly is to use the best drill bits for tiles.

Everybody knows that this task is not easy – one wrong action and you have to run to the store for a new tile.

Even with the best bits, it is better to know how to drill tiles.

And I will help you with this. You also need patience, diligence, and information from my review on how to properly drill tiles so that it is of the highest quality.

Then drilling a tile will seem like a very simple job.

Here we go!

On this page:

Best Drill Bits for Tiles: Reviewed

1. Bosch 8 Piece Glass and Tile Bit Set with Storage Case GT3000

This set from Bosch perfectly copes with any objects made of ceramics, porcelain, and other materials.

I checked the performance of these drills on ceramic and porcelain tiles, and even on porcelain pots with plants. How was the result?

It has always been great.

Just imagine: you can make as many as 8 holes of different diameters. And in all 8 cases, you will not get broken tiles.

While I was working with tiles and pots for plants, I did not get a single crack. I think that such success was ensured by sharp tips of drills.

Additionally, my experience with this kit showed that these drills are accurate and do not slide on the surface. It is also of high quality and has a reinforced head, which reduces stress and does not allow splitting the slab.

Finally, you can use these drills several times.

2. Owl Tools 10 Piece Masonry Drill Bits Set for Tiles

These 10 multi-material drills are ideal for working with ceramic tiles. But you can surely use these drills to work with glass, cinder block, plastic, concrete, brick, wood, and many other materials.

The tip of these drill bits is hard-alloy, and therefore you can use it for a long time because they are sharp and work for a long time.

My experience with these drills showed that this is ideal where high pressure is not needed.

That is why I am sure that you will not find better ceramics (as well as glass) than Owl Tools 10 piece drill bits set. Why?

The fact is that these drills proved to be accurate drills with minimal pressure. If you cool the best type of drill bit for ceramic tile with water during the entire drilling, then you can be sure that an excellent result is waiting for you.

3. BLENDX Diamond Drill Bits – Glass and Tile Hollow Core Drill Bits

In the case of BLENDX diamond bits, we are going to deal with diamond drill bits. In the set, it is in the amount of 10 pieces of different sizes.

It is quite enough to make drilling perfect and more than once because diamond drill bits have high durability.

But I like these drills also because of its versatility. You will not regret if you use these drill bits in work with ceramics, porcelain, limestone, marble, slate, stone, granite and fiberglass.

However, I would not recommend using these concrete drills and when you need to make a hole longer than 1/2 inch.

In the case of ceramic and porcelain tiles, this is BELLISSIMA!

My experience with these drills showed that using a thin piece of wood is necessary to center a bit. So the drill will not move and spoil the surface of the tile.

4. WORTOOL Diamond Glass Tile Cutter Drill Bits for Porcelain, Ceramic Tile

WORTOOL diamond glass bit set made of natural diamond sand, coated with a reinforced electroplated coating. What does it mean?

It means that such a shell provides high performance and durable drilling.

When working with these drill bits, I got very neat and smooth holes. During the drilling, I did not get the isomers, resistance.

It is clear that these drill bits are suitable for working with ceramic tiles, stone, and ceramic granite tiles. You can use it for drilling glass and granite.

If you are going to use these bits several times, then I would advise you to avoid drilling concrete with these best drill bits for hard tiles.

The result when working with ceramic tiles struck me especially. Holes were a perfect size, and the appearance (and surface) of the tile remained excellent.

5. HOMEIDOL 6pcs Titanium Coated Drill Bits Set for Ceramic Tile

Each drill is high quality. The fact is that this kit is made of cemented carbide. These best drill bit for drilling through ceramic tile show high performance, clean neat holes.

When I drilled with these bits, I found little resistance to notching, stable drilling and the absence of any slip. I used it several times but did not get broken edges.

I recommend using these drill bits for ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, marble, and glass. It has a cross-shaped tip, so the gap will be reduced.

Without a doubt, such a set will last a very long time if you constantly cool the tip and take the time.

6. Bosch GT2000 Glass and Tile Set, 4-Piece

Bosch GT2000 has a unique design, made specifically for precision drilling.

All uniqueness lies in the precise tip, which prevents the drill from wandering around the tile surface. This tip is carbide and has a reinforced head.

It reduces the load, prevents cracking of the thread – in general, makes drilling better.1

I used these drills from Bosch for drilling glass, mirrors, ceramic and porcelain tiles, natural stone. In all cases, the drill showed the work of aerobatics.

The reason for such an ideal job is concluded in three flat shanks that provide traction with a big bit.

My verdict is Bosch made powerful drills that are suitable both for fragile ceramics, as well as for porcelain stoneware and stone, which are thick.

7. Drilax 10 Pcs Diamond Drill Bit Set Hole Saws for Ceramic, Porcelain Tiles

When I hear that someone has used the electroplated diamond bits, I have no doubt that this person has got a great drilling result.

The same goes for drilling with Drilax diamond drill bit set. These bits have a diamond coating that will last a long time (when cooled during operation).

I used these drill bits for wood, metal, as well as stone, porcelain, and ceramics. If you use a piece of wood for a bit’s stability, it will not wander around the tile but will make neat holes.

The 3-inch drill bit is well suited for more hard materials like stone. A 2-inch drill is best used for less dense materials such as ceramics.

I also noticed that these drills are not very deep and therefore will be very good at ceramics.

8. Drilax 4 1/2 Inch Diamond Hole Saw Diamond Tipped Porcelain Tile

Drilax drill bit set is bits that have a diamond coating. Yes, these bits will last a long time and will maintain high performance.

As practice has shown, these bits can be drilled to a depth of 1 1/4 inch. And you will see that these bits do not have a central pilot drill, that is, it is not suitable for wood and metal.

You can use it for ceramics, porcelain, and stone. Believe me, you will not have any problems.

I used a regular 18-volt drill, low speed and constantly cooled bits while drilling. As a result, both ceramic, and porcelain, and stone tiles succumbed to me, since I had perfect holes.

I have used these bits many times already and neither of them has been erased but continues to work efficiently.

9. Relton 3/16″ x 3″ Porcelain Tile Drill Bit

At first glance, these bits from Relton seemed modest to me. But my opinion changed when I started testing bits in work.

I knew that these bits were designed for drilling porcelain, hard metal, plastic, wood, and masonry. These bits turned out to be among the best that make holes in ceramic and porcelain tiles.

These best drill bits for porcelain tile have a Groo-V tip, so any material can be drilled with this bit.

Believe me, the result is perfect: no cracks, no wanderings on the tile surface.

And yes, the drills have serrated carbide tips, so I have been using it for several years now and I am really enjoying this quick and high-quality drilling.

10. DrillGlass 3-Pack, 1/8″ Diamond Core Drill Bits For Tile

DrillGlass diamond drills make neat 1/8 inch holes.

The practice has shown that these best drill bits for ceramic tile chop up the fragments, so no debris remains until the end of drilling.

I also learned that these bits are suitable for a drill, a drilling machine or a drill with a collet (or adjustable) chuck.

I used these bits to drill granite, ceramic, porcelain, and stone. I drilled tiles in the kitchen, pots. As a result, it became known that these bits are ideal for fragile materials such as ceramics.

And if you use these bits only for non-dense materials, then these diamond bits will work for a very long time.

Overview of Tiles Drill Bits

There are many types of drill bits in the market e.g. drill bits for stainless steel, metal drill bits, drill bits for glass etc.So before choosing the best drill bits for the tile you need to consider the types of tiles with which your drills will work.

The knowledge of different types of tiles will be very useful because it will make your work more efficient. After all, one type of drill bit cannot be equally effective for all types of tiles.

Each type of tile has its own type brought down. Therefore, I will tell you only about the most important (and very common) types of tiles.

Main 3 Types of Tiles: Ceramic, Porcelain and Stone

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are one of the most popular types of tiles used around the world. Ceramic tiles are made of clay materials.

The difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles is the number of impurities that they contain. For example, ceramic tiles contain more impurities than porcelain one.

Ceramic tiles are made from clay, water, and minerals, which were additionally included there. Ceramic has a glazed (mirrored or polished) and unglazed appearance. Glazed ceramic tiles are usually used for wall cladding, and unglazed for flooring.

You might think: ceramic tiles are worse than other tile types. Sorry, but it is not like that.

Ceramic tiles are not worse or better than other tile types. Each of them was created for different areas in the house.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain tile is denser than ceramic tile is. Therefore, this type of tile is a bit more expensive.

But those who make the choice in favor of porcelain, choose a dense durable tile. The point is that this type of tile has a heavier weight and absorbs less water.

Porcelain tiles will be ideal for the floor because it will sustain a large number of pedestrians.

But if you have never worked with tiles, then you better gain experience before working with ceramic granite tiles.

Stone Tiles

Stone tiles are made from different types of stone. It can be marble, granite or slate, limestone and so on. Stone tiles can be ground or polished.

The first type of stone tiles is used on the floor, and polished tiles are used on the walls or where no human foot has gone. Stone tiles are also used as countertops.

There is no doubt that such tiles are the most durable. If you are going to drill a stone tile, then you need to gain patience, because it will not be easy.

Features To Look For During Purchase

For each type of tile, you need a specific drill bit. If you choose the right drill bit, you will definitely get a neat hole in the tile, then.

Only Quality Tip

To do this, look for a drill bit with a tungsten carbide tip or a diamond tip.

If you want the drilling to be accurate, then you would also need to find a drill intended for laying. Be sure that such a drill will be one-time and not suitable for later use.

Masonry drill bits also make less neat holes, unlike drills with a tungsten carbide tip and a diamond tip.

If you use tungsten carbide drills, then drilling the tile will be easy. But it is important to use these drills only with a drill that runs at low speed. I would recommend using a variable speed electric drill.

Well, if you use a drill with a diamond tip, I recommend that you moisten the tip with water, then. It is better to do it all the time drilling.

It is unlikely that someone will have doubts about the price of such verified because it usually costs more. But you can reuse it. And trust me, the result from drilling will be positive.

Number of Drill Bits

I often hear the question “how many drill bits do I need to drill a tile?” But it all depends on how many holes you are going to drill.

One drill bit will be enough to drill several holes of the same diameter.

If you plan to make holes of different diameter, then you need a few drill bits.

Usually, one set has several drills of different diameters. I advise you to have such a set, and not be limited to a narrow number of drills.

Drill Sizes

There are different sizes of drills. Most often in retail stores or on the Internet, you can find drills in the following sizes: 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ and 3/4″.

Yes, these sizes are very common. And most likely, these sizes of drills will be necessary for you in work.

I recommend making a choice in favor of the above sizes because this is what will allow the drill bits to cope with stone or porcelain tiles (especially if you use it at low speed).

How to Drill Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles

And now we turn to the most interesting how to drill tiles. Honestly, this is not easy, and therefore I will describe the whole process in a few steps.

Do You Know Your Tiles?

Pay attention to the type of tile you are going to drill. You need this information in to use the characteristics of the tile for better drilling.

For example, your kitchen floor is made of stoneware tiles.

We already know that this type of tile is dense. That is why the drilling of such tiles requires more time to work and to prepare for it.

It the tile is stoneware and dense, then any drill will not work. You need a special drill bit that will make a neat hole in such a dense tile.

That is why it is important to know the type of tile before drilling a hole.

What Kind Of Drill Are You Going To Use?

Ok, let’s imagine we figured out the type of tile. Now we need to clarify which drill to use for an excellent drilling result. You can immediately put the old drills away because worn drills will ruin the tile.

Keep in mind: in such an important matter you only need to use new drill bits that will outperform the old ones in efficiency. The new drill will not damage the tile surface.

Forget about ordinary drill bits, because such bits will not be strong enough and will not penetrate a hard surface.

The best way is to buy a new diamond or carbide stone drill bits. Why?

The point is that diamond drill bits ideally pass through even stone tiles. And yes, you can use these drills in the future. It is ideal for porcelain and stone. Carbide tipped drill bits cut through ceramic tiles.

Measure 7 Times And Drill Once!

Often there is a problem with drilling: the drills slide along the tile surface. In this case, it is almost impossible to keep the drill in place. It is fraught with the fact that the tile surface will be damaged.

In order to avoid such problems, it will be good for you to measure the distance between future holes. Take the duct tape and use it around the place where you place the hole.

Be sure to measure the area of drilling and place the masking tape on this place. Measure the area again after using masking tape.

The purpose of this trick is to ensure perfect adhesion to the tile surface. It will help you to grab the drill precisely in the place where you want to get a hole.

And What If You Are Going To Make Some Holes?

In such cases, I do this: I make a template from a wooden block with the marking of drill bits. It is simple: I make a hole in a wooden block as I want the holes to be placed on the tile.

I place this wooden block above the tile and boldly make holes.

We Start Drilling!

Did you perform the previous step? If yes, then it is time to move on to the most important thing – that is drilling.

Keep in mind – you cannot rush in any case. Drilling tiles is a difficult process, and any rush can ruin everything.

Be patient and do not hurry, then start drilling holes. And yes, keep low speed. Make holes very slowly, because you need to penetrate a hard surface.

If you hurry, then you have every chance to damage the tile surface.

Use also constant pressure but not for long, because it can penetrate the tile, but not drill.

Cool Drill!

I have already said that successful drilling will be if you will lube the drill with water or keep it in a cool place.

Often I use a wet sponge with which I lubricate the drill for cooling to avoid overheating of the drill. You can put this sponge under the drill so that it is always cool.

It is okay if you stop for a while and cool the drill with a sponge. Important: water from the sponge should not drain in any case.

It does not apply to diamond drill bits. Diamond drill bits will work even if it warms up.

How to Stop Drilling?

Continue to work as slowly, and then slower and slower than before.

And then just turn off the drill and check the result.

If you chose the right tool, a good drill bit, was patient and slow, then the result should be excellent.

What Do You Need To Know When Drilling Exactly Porcelain?

Use such drill bits as diamond-tipped drill bits, tile bits, and masonry drill bits.

Next, mark the center of the hole, close it with masking tape and mark the hole again (as I said before).

Be sure to start drilling slowly, constantly splashing the drilling area with water, and use good reinforcement to maintain the drill bit.

And never use high pressure and high speed.

Generally, the rules for drilling porcelain are the same as the rules for drilling other plates.

Care and Maintenance

strong>Do the first cleaning

It is a very important procedure that you must perform.Once you have completed all the necessary work with the tiles, start cleaning.

Keep in mind that tile cleaning must be thorough (use plenty of water for this, especially if you are dealing with ceramic granite).

I recommend re-cleaning, but using a neutral pH cleaner (but there should be more water – 3 to 1). It is very important because the tile contains acidic components damaging the floor.

Feel free to do such cleaning often

Ideally, tile owners in a house should clean it every day. It is necessary to remove all metal objects, scrapers and everything that can damage and scratch the surface of the tile.

Clean tile seams

I recommend doing this with a brush. Remove dirt from all angles, and then fix the result of a full cleaning with water and cleaning agent.

Use joint sealant

Do this to maintain the state of the tile in its original new state. If you notice damage, remove and apply them again.

Use only non-abrasive cleansers

The fact is that some detergents are so strong that they can spoil the look of the tile. That is why when cleaning the floor, do not use those detergents that have a bleaching or acid base.

Replace damaged tiles

We cannot avoid situations in which the tile is damaged. But you need to replace the damaged tile with a rake.

FAQ

What Is The Difference Between Ceramic And Porcelain Tiles?

There is a big controversy: what tile is better ceramic or porcelain? It is almost impossible to answer this question because both tiles are designed for different things.

Both types are distinguished by their composition, water resistance, and durability. Porcelain tile is more durable, resistant to water because it is made under very high pressure.

Therefore, porcelain is used for the floor, because it is not afraid of water and frequent walks. Ceramic floor tiles are not suitable because they are too fragile for this.

How Do I Drill A Hole In A Ceramic Tile?

As I have already said, you need to use patience, a stable low pressure, low speed and a carbide drill bit. You can also use a diamond drill bit. But never hurry, do not increase the speed and pressure, because the ceramic tile is fragile. So you damage the tile.

Should I Do The Grout After Drilling?

You can use a sealant, but you can avoid it. There are different opinions on this. Someone is sure that this is necessary, but someone does not see the point.

The sealant is needed for easier cleaning. If you ask my opinion, I would seal the tiles where necessary.

Wrapping up

So now you know how to drill different types of tiles.

The success of drilling tiles depends on several factors: patience, slow movements, and the right drill.

Do you have it all? In this case, drilling a tile (whatever it might be) in your house will end with a pleasant result.

Recommended Resources:

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2. Black Oxide vs Titanium Drill Bits – Choose the Right One for Your Project
3. How to Use a Drill Driver Properly – Do Your DIY Works Flawlessly
4. Corded vs Cordless Drill : Which One Should You Buy
5. Difference Between Drilling, Boring and Reaming – Complete Guide