Can You Cut Tile With a Circular Saw? Blade and Steps

Yes, a circular saw cuts tile with a diamond blade, and it’s useful for long straight cuts in large tiles, pavers and cement board. A wood blade won’t cut tile; it just chips it and dulls. Use a dry-cut diamond blade, preferably continuous-rim for ceramic and porcelain, rated for your saw’s size and RPM. Never pour or spray water on an ordinary corded circular saw: water and mains electricity are a shock hazard. Cutting tile dry makes fine silica dust, so control it with a vacuum shroud or work outdoors, and wear a respirator.

Which blade

Blade rim	Cut quality	Speed	Best for
Continuous rim	Smoothest, least chipping	Slowest	Ceramic and porcelain tile, glass tile
Turbo (serrated) rim	Good	Faster	Porcelain, stone, pavers
Segmented rim	Rough edges	Fastest	Concrete, brick, pavers; not for finished tile edges

Check that the blade is marked for dry cutting, matches the saw’s diameter (usually 7-1/4 inches) and arbor, and is rated for at least the saw’s RPM.

How to cut tile with a circular saw

1. Mark the line with a marker or a pencil on masking tape.
2. Support the tile fully on a flat surface, such as a sheet of rigid foam insulation or a scrap board, so it can’t flex or drop as the cut finishes. Clamp it or clamp a straightedge to it.
3. Place the good face down. A circular saw’s teeth exit through the top face, so that’s where chips appear.
4. Set the blade depth about 1/4 inch below the tile.
5. Cut slowly, letting the diamonds grind; don’t push. For thick porcelain, make one shallow pass, then a second full-depth pass.
6. Smooth the edge with a rubbing stone or a diamond hand pad.

Dust and safety

Tile, porcelain, stone and concrete contain crystalline silica, and cutting them dry makes fine dust that damages the lungs. Cut outdoors where possible, use a saw with a dust shroud connected to a vacuum, and wear at least an N95 respirator, plus safety glasses and hearing protection. Keep the cord well clear of any wet area.

When another tool is better

• Many cuts or large porcelain tiles: a wet tile saw gives cleaner edges with almost no dust.
• Straight cuts in ceramic tile: a manual score-and-snap tile cutter is fast, quiet and dust-free.
• Small pieces and angled cuts: a miter saw with a diamond blade can work; see can you cut tile with a miter saw.
• Holes for pipes and fittings: a diamond core bit; see diamond drill bits for porcelain tile.

For choosing a circular saw itself, see track saw vs circular saw.

Related guides

• Track Saw vs Circular Saw: Which Cuts Straighter?
• Can You Cut Tile with a Miter Saw? Safety and Tips