Best Tile Saw for Cutting Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles 2022

Tile is a great addition to any home floor. If you want to install floor tiles, you need some tools to properly cut and lay a tile. One of these tools is a tile saw or tile cutter. Now if you need a specialized cutting tool – the best tile saw for cutting ceramic or porcelain tiles is the right one for the job.

Best mops for cleaning tile floors

What is a tile saw?

Tile saws are tools designed to cut various types of tile and other similar materials. Unlike concrete saws, tile saws cut the material neatly and cleanly, which is necessary if you are doing decorating jobs.

10 Best Tile Saws Comparison 2022

Tile Saw	Blade Diameter	Speed (RPM)	Type	Availability
DEWALT D24000	10-inch	4200 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
SKIL 3540-02	7-inch	3600 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
Chicago Pneumatics Industrial Tile Saw	10-inch	3800 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
Lackmond Beast Wet Tile Saw	10-inch	4200 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
DEWALT DWC860W	4 3/8-inch	13,000 RPM	Handheld	Check Price
Porter Cable PCC780LA	7-inch	2800 RPM	Tabletop, Cordless	Check Price
SKIL 3550-02	7-inch	3600 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
QEP 22650Q 650XT	7-inch	3600 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
MK-370EXP	7-inch	6000 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price
Leegol 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw	7-inch	3550 RPM	Tabletop	Check Price

Tile Saw Blade vs Concrete Blade

Tile and concrete saws share many features and can be used for some projects interchangeably. But there is one thing in them that makes one type of saw perfect for one task and horrible for another.

That difference is the blade of the saw.

Concrete saws usually come with blades that have segmented rims. The blades are used dry and aren’t cooled with any water. Instead, the space between the segments allows airflow through the blade, which contributes to the cooling.

Concrete saw blades cut faster than tile saw blades. Paired with the segmented rim build, this gives a much rougher cut that would be suitable for concrete, brick, limestone, masonry, etc.

On the other hand, tile saw blades have a continuous rim. Because air circulation in such blades is inhibited, they are cooled down with water instead.

The continuous rim of a tile saw blade cuts the slowest, but it produces the best and most accurate cut. Thanks to this, tile saw blades are perfect for cutting porcelain & ceramic tile, marble, granite, and other similar materials.

Dry vs Wet Tile Saw

Tile saws can be wet or dry.

Wet tile saws employ water to cool down the blade and prevent its overheating. In addition, the water flushes out debris from the cutting zone and reduces dust production.

Thanks to this, wet tile saws can be used for longer periods of time. And besides, because the dust buildup in the cracks of the tool is significantly reduced, the tool will also live longer.

Dry tile saws are meant for short-scale and intermittent cutting. They aren’t as efficient in cooling as wet saws, so you will be required to do pauses between cuts to let the blade cool down.

However, a dry tile saw would be suitable for outdoor use because of debris and dust it produces. Besides, it would be the better choice if the availability of water is questionable at the job site.

Tile Saw Review: 10 Best Tile Saws to Buy in 2022

DEWALT D24000 Wet Tile Saw – Best Pick for Heavy-Duty Cutting

This quite bulky guy appears to have a lot to offer.

It comes with great cutting capacity (24” rip and 18-3/8” diagonally), first of all. It also has got quite a powerful 1.5hp 4200 RPM motor and a 10” diamond blade, which should be more than enough for most cutting tasks.

Interestingly, it has two adjustable water nozzles to allow you to easily direct the water where it needs to be. All materials this tile saw was made are not cheap. It is very sturdy and stable even cutting with bigger and thicker tiles.

Likewise, this tool does not only cut porcelain tiles but also stone with its diamond blade.

And it’s also covered by a 3-year warranty, plus a 90-day money back guarantee and 1-year free service.

Specifications

Advantages

• Durable stainless steel and aluminum build.
• Takes in longer pieces thanks to its 24” rip capacity.
• For cutting thicker tiles.
• The water nozzles could be easily adjusted to minimize mist and dust.
• Covered by 1-year free service.

Drawback

• Very expensive.

Bottom Line

You get what you pay for with DEWALT D24000; it certainly is an excellent tile saw. It is powerful, it’s got plenty of cutting capacity, and it also should live longer thanks to its adjustable water delivery system.

SKIL 3540-02 Wet Tile Saw – Editor’s Pick

SKIL 3540-02 is a budget tile saw, as evident from its characteristics.

It has a weaker 0.68 HP motor, but given its small capacity (7.75” straight and 7.25” diagonal) and smaller 7” diamond blade, its power should be more than enough for the projects it is designed for.

What catches the eye though is the tile saw’s 0-45-degree adjustable bevel. Many tile saws – even expensive ones – often come with just 3 angles, and it’s a pleasant surprise that this model is so versatile.

This saw has no fancy features, just important things that must be present in a tile saw. The base is made of plastic and some parts are flimsy but this is what you get for its reasonable price. Note that this is not an ideal option if you have big tiles to cut.

SKIL also covers this tile saw by a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.

Specifications

Advantages

• Inexpensive.
• Lightweight; weighs less than 20 pounds.
• Versatile thanks to the 0-45-degree bevel adjustment.

Drawback

• Very small: just cuts about 7” of tile.

Bottom Line

For small home projects, you would probably want a compact and inexpensive tile cutter. If so, then this SKIL cutter might be the best tile saw out there for you!

Keep in mind that it most likely won’t be able to manage large projects, but that’s expected from such a small tile saw.

Chicago Pneumatics Industrial Tile Saw – Editor’s Pick

Chicago Pneumatics certainly does deliver on motor power: it comes with a 2.5 HP, 15 Amp beast of a motor that complements the saw’s big 24” cutting capacity.

The motor of this tile saw has thermal overload protection, which paired with the durable stainless steel & aluminum build allows for great reliability and durability.

When it comes to project versatility, this tile saw is just as good as the DEWALT D24000 thanks to its 22.5/45-degree head adjustment.

However, this saw lacks the key component of any tile saw – the blade – so you would need to purchase it separately.

Specifications

Advantages

• Powerful 2.5hp motor.
• Durable aluminum & stainless steel construction.
• Thermal overload protection prevents overheating.
• Large 24” cutting capacity.

Drawbacks

• Not much info provided in the product.
• Doesn’t include any blades.
• Stand solds separately.

Bottom Line

So who should get this tile saw?

First of all, it could be a good value for you if you’ve got 10” or smaller diamond blades in your toolbox. If you are on a budget, you would dislike the fact that you need to get a blade for this saw separately.

And secondly, if you need excellent reliability, then the aluminum & stainless steel parts and thermal overload protection should deliver that to you.

Lackmond Beast Wet Tile Saw – The Big and the Robust

Now, this is a monster of a saw. Well, its name – Beast – tells you about that right away. But does it live up to its name?

Lackmond Beast is the largest tile saw we reviewed: it has 34” rip and 24” diagonal cut capacity. Its motor is the most powerful among the reviewed saws.

It surpasses the DeWALT D2400 in terms of cutting capacity and maximum depth of cut up to 3-3/4 inches. Thick materials are no match for this saw thanks to its 2.4 HP vs the DeWALT’s 1.5 HP, but both saws delivers amazing cutting results.

It has a couple of interesting features as well: a laser guide for more precise cutting and a LED table light. And yeah, it has adjustable dual water nozzles.

And finally, the Beast is covered by a 3-year warranty.

Specifications

Advantages

• Powerful 2.4 HP motor.
• Deep cutting capacity.
• Clear working area thanks to the LED light and laser guide.
• Excellent 34” rip and 24” diagonal cut capacity.
• Portable thanks to the carrying handle.
• The water nozzles could be adjusted to maximize cooling and minimize debris.

Drawbacks

• Expensive.
• The laser guide doesn’t stay steady during operation.
• Complaints on faulty parts out of the box.

Bottom Line

Out of the box, Lackmond Beast 10” tile saw may require a couple of adjustments to become perfect. Well, plenty of customers complained about faulty hoses, water pumps and laser steadiness.

We think that given the price of close to $1000, this isn’t good. You shouldn’t waste any minute on fixing the minor issues of such expensive tile saws. The DeWALT D24000 is a better option however if you need more power and cutting capacity this saw is still a go-to.

That being said, Lackmond Beast tile saw is nonetheless a great tool. It just could and should have been perfect to live up to its name.

DEWALT DWC860W – The Best Handheld Tile Saw

The DeWALT DWC860W is the most compact and portable tile saw on the reviews, but it still packs quite a punch for its size.

It comes with quite a powerful 10.8 Amp, 13,000 RPM motor to deal with many tasks. Besides, DEWALT includes a 4-3/8” diamond blade capable of 1-3/8” deep cuts. And interestingly, you could adjust this tile saw between 0 and 45 degrees.

DEWALT also nicely includes a 12’ waterline with the DWC860W and backs the tile saw up by a 3-year warranty.

Specifications

Advantages

• Pretty inexpensive.
• Handheld: can be used on tile pieces regardless of their size.
• Versatile: can be beveled from 0 to 45 degrees.
• Weighs just 6.6 pounds.

Drawbacks

• Difficult to make straight cuts with.
• Flimsy plastic water nozzles.

Bottom Line

If you want a handheld unit for home use and if you don’t care that much about the straightness of your cuts, then DWC860W could be a great choice.

Porter-Cable PCC780LA – The Best Cordless You Can Get

Porter-Cable PCC780LA delivers portability comparable with that of DEWALT DWC860W. However, this tile saw operates on a battery.

Being a cordless tile saw, PCC780LA delivers quite a good motor speed at 2,800 RPM, which paired with the 7” diamond blade should be more than enough for lighter projects. The cutting capacity of this tile saw is 17”.

The cast metal sliding metal tray is also quite remarkable: it could provide you with additional room for your right hand when working with shorter workpieces.

The support Porter-Cable offers for this tile saw is quite noteworthy: a 3-year warranty, 1-year free service, and a 90-day money back guarantee.

Specifications

See unboxing and testing by landberg Tile TV

Advantages

• Very portable: can be used anywhere thanks to the battery and carrying handle.
• Pretty versatile and easy to use thanks to the rear fence and miter square.

Drawbacks

• Limited battery life.
• The bevel can’t be adjusted.
• No diagonal cut.

Bottom Line

We feel that PCC780LA would be more suitable for small workshop projects that require excellent mobility. If you often don’t have power at the worksite, then this tool may be the best tile saw for you.

Just remember that its bevel isn’t adjustable so no diagonal cut!

SKIL 3550-02 Wet Tile Saw – A Better Upgrade for SKIL 3540-02

SKIL 3550-02 looks like a good tile saw for lighter, low-volume projects.

It comes with a good 7” diamond saw, but it also has a weak-ish 0.8hp 5amp motor. While it delivers 3.600 RPM, it will probably get slowed down considerably when cutting tile. That’s why we think it is more suitable for low-volume projects where time doesn’t play a big role.

It’s got good cutting capacity though since it can support up to 18×18” tiles.

SKIL offers a 1-year warranty for the 3550-02 tile saw as well.

The Hydro Lock system and the sliding feature is a great upgrade for the SKIL 3540-02.

Specifications

Advantages

• Inexpensive yet impressive functionalities.
• Prevents water splashes quite well thanks to its water containment system.
• Only weighs 24 pounds.

Drawbacks

• The fence is difficult to adjust and doesn’t clamp reliably.
• The motor won’t be suitable for heavier tasks.

Bottom Line

Looking for an inexpensive tile saw for low-volume home or small workshop projects? Don’t mind to make some adjustments to the fence to make it better? Then SKIL 3550-02 might be that best tile saw for you.

QEP 22650Q 650XT – Best Budget Tile Saw

QEP 22650Q 650XT comes with a 7” diamond blade and a low-power 3/4HP, motor with 3,600 RPM that would be able to manage no more than low-volume tile cutting job. Given the price of this tile saw, that isn’t a big surprise.

Equipped with adjustable bevel and miter guide, it is pretty versatile though, so it could be a good choice for DIY projects. The 8” extension table should also be mentioned.

And, if you were interested in the warranty, QEP backs up this tile saw by a 1-year warranty.

Specifications

See QEP 22650Q 650XT in action

Advantages

• Very inexpensive.
• Pretty versatile thanks to the adjustable bevel and miter square.

Drawbacks

• Impractical, difficult to adjust guide.
• Water tends to splash all over the cutting tray.
• The stock blade tends to chip the tile.

Bottom Line

The QEP 22650Q 650XT tile saw is a very cheap tool, and you shouldn’t expect much from it. It would be excellent though if you are on a tight budget and need something with not so much precision.

MK Diamond MK-370EXP

While not the most versatile tile saw on the reviews, MK-370EXP certainly does deliver on power thanks to its 1-1/4hp 6.000 RPM motor and a nice 7” diamond blade. It also has good cutting capacity: 18” straight and 13” diagonal.

This tile saw is a bit limited in terms of cutting capacity, but its 45-degree tilting head may somewhat make up for it. Well, that is, if you are working with smaller tiles.

Lastly, it is covered by a 1-year warranty.

Specifications

Advantages

• Good 1-1/4hp motor power.
• Versatile angles thanks to the 45-degree tilting head.
• Quite good cutting capacity: 18” straight and 13” diagonally.

Draback

• The table wobbles a little.

Bottom Line

MK Diamond MK-370EXP would probably be the best tile saw for you if you are working with small to mid-sized tiles. Be ready to deal with the wobbling table though.

Leegol 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw – Best for DIY

And the last tool on our tile saw review – Leegol 7” tile saw – costs around the same as the QEP 22650Q 650XT saw we examined earlier, but this one seems to be slightly sturdier and more reliable.

It’s got almost the same 5 Amp 3,550 RPM motor, so it won’t be dealing with tough high-volume tasks. However, this saw doesn’t have any table extensions, so it will work only with smaller tiles.

And remarkably, Leegol offers a lifetime warranty on this tile saw!

Specifications

Advantages

• Incredibly cheap.
• Versatile 0-45-degree bevel.
• Quite sturdy for the price: doesn’t suffer from the issues that QEP tile saw had.
• Covered by a lifetime warranty.

Drawback

• Lacks motor power.

Bottom Line

Do you mostly work on smaller tile pieces and low-volume projects? If so, then this affordable tile saw could be an excellent choice for you. A great tile saw for DIYers.

Things to look for when buying a tile saw

Horsepower

Horsepower is an important spec in tile saw motors, but not all manufacturers indicate it in their product descriptions, unfortunately.

For low-volume home or small workshop projects, up to 1 HP would most likely be more than enough. If you are looking for a tile saw for large-volume projects, then look for something with a 1.5 HP motor or more.

Fence and miter guides

To help you guide the workpiece through the saw more accurately, you may want to have miter guides and fences on the tile saw.

Whether or not you actually need them will depend on the level of accuracy you need. If holding the piece by hand satisfies your needs, then you don’t need to look for fences or miter guides.

Cutting capacity

The cutting capacity of the tile saw is quite an important feature to look or.

Depending on the size of the tiles you are working with, you may need a larger or smaller tile saw.

Make sure to check both the straight and diagonal cutting capacity of the tile saw, given that the saw’s manufacturer provides them.

Beveling

You might want to get a tile saw that has good beveling capacity. This would allow you to cut a wider range of shapes and materials.

Portability

Tile saws can get pretty big, so moving them from place to place can be challenging.

Fortunately, manufacturers implement design features aimed at making the transport of their tile saws easier. Both the weight of the tile saw and additional features like carrying handles will impact how easy it is to move around.

If you need maximum portability, you may opt for a handheld tile saw or the cordless one. Sure, they won’t have the same level of performance as a full-size saw would, but that’s just the price of portability.

Brand

The brand of the saw is also a very important thing to consider.

If you are familiar with a brand and are sure of their quality, then you will most likely choose their product. The consistency of a brand plays a huge role, so you shouldn’t ignore it.

Switching to another brand could bring many surprises with it, so you should do the research not only on a single product but also the entire brand.

Using a tile saw for accurate cutting

1. Place the tile saw on a level and sturdy surface, preferably on a heavy table or directly on the floor.
2. Make all the connections to the saw, e.g. water intake, water output, and electricity.
3. Place a bucket beneath the saw for the wastewater. The bucket must be placed lower than the tile saw.
4. Make a drip loop in the power cord leading from the saw to the outlet. The drip loop is necessary so no water drips into the power outlet. To ensure that, the drip loop needs to be lower than both the saw and the outlet.
5. Turn on the water supply to the saw. Ensure that the water flow isn’t too fast: you don’t want it to splash outside the drain tray.
6. Make sure that the water is flowing all around the cutting end of the blade. Don’t begin cutting until you achieve proper water flow.
7. Mark the area on the tile that needs to be cut with a pencil.
8. Place the tile onto the cutting table. Make the necessary adjustments to the fence so that the blade is aligned with the pencil mark.

If you need it (and if your tile saw allows that), adjust the working surface to the desired angle.

9. Turn the tile saw’s power on. Make sure that:

• Your hands are dry.
• Your other hand is out of the blade’s path.
• The blade isn’t touching anything.
• Holding the tile steadily, slowly feed it into the blade. Don’t force the tile into the blade: instead, allow it to move forward naturally.
• After the cut is done, carefully pull the cut pieces apart and away from the blade.
• Turn off the tile saw. If you will be cutting another tile, repeat from step 7. Otherwise, proceed on to the cleaning the saw.

Tile saw maintenance

Clean the blades after each use. After unplugging your tile saw, don’t just tuck it away until next use. Remove the blade and give it a good wipe with a soft cloth or a sponge to remove any sediment off.

In case the sediment doesn’t come off easily, you could use a plastic scraper to scrub it off. Particularly tough stains may require you to use dish detergent or rubbing alcohol.

After you remove any sediment from the blade, also make sure to wipe off the cleaning agents you used.

Sharpen the blades. Aside from regular cleaning, you may want to sharpen the blades every once in a while.

To do that, use an abrasive material like a soft brick, a cinder block, or a specialized dressing block. You’ll be sawing this material with the blade. Running the chosen material back and forth through the blade, you’ll sharpen it.

Adjust the blade height so that only its rim sinks into the material. After doing several cuts, turn off the saw and run your thumb over the surface to check its roughness.

If you want more, then just repeat the process again until you get the desired results.

Prevent rust. Rust is one of the greatest enemies of tile saw blades, especially given that the blade comes in contact with water during work. To prevent rust buildup, you would need to wipe the blade dry after each use and also keep it in a dry environment.

If there are no such storage places in your home, then you may opt for an air dehumidifier. You could also apply preventative coatings to the blade like WD-40 or mineral spirits.

If you nonetheless find rust on the saw blades, you could still remove it. To do so, you would need to soak the blades into a mild acid like WD-40 or vinegar.

In the end, don’t forget to remove whatever cleaning agent you were using from the blade.

Replace the blades when needed. Even the best tile saw blade in the world will eventually wear out, leaving you no other choice than to replace it.

An easy way to know if it’s time to replace the blade is to look at how it sharpens. If the blade doesn’t get well after sharpening, then it is probably the time to get a new blade.

Obvious signs of wear and tear on the blade would also indicate that it is worn out beyond repair.

So while you can’t prevent the blade from wearing, you can prolong its lifetime. To do that, just clean the blade after each use and sharpen it when necessary.

Final thoughts

There you have our tile saw review!

In spite of having some downsides, each of the examined tile saws is great in its own way. None of them is perfect, but some may be better for you than the others.

In the end, if you found what you were looking for, maybe you shouldn’t hesitate and go get it. Don’t forget to do the research though since buying the wrong tile saw could be an expensive mistake!