5 Best Porcelain Tile Cutter to Buy between $55 – $555
My quest for the best porcelain tile cutter began last month. To give you some back story, I am just an average joe who likes to grease his elbows every now and then with some woodwork. My transition from a weekend DIY woodworking enthusiast to a full blown tiler happened quite by chance.
A simple tiling job in the bathroom was messed up by the contractor I’d hired and I had no option left but to rip them up and redo the whole thing without blowing a hole in the wallet.
I have laid tiles before in the makeshift bathroom outside our cabin in the woods. But that’s about it. And that was a very straightforward job that did not involve complex cuts or scores and I was able to complete the job satisfactorily with a manual tile cutter.
This one however, was a tad more difficult. The tiler had used a manual tile cutter himself and scored the line. Then, he just used pliers to break the cut portion off. Not the best of choices, I must say because there were some jagged edges that formed a ridge near the ceiling.
I also thought of renting a tile cutter from home depot, but eventually decided against it.
So, I entered the market with virtually no clue of what tool I’d need to get the job done. And boy oh boy, was I in for a surprise. There were hundreds and hundreds of tile cutters making it impossible to select the right one without getting inputs from an expert.
I spent the next seven days speaking to contractors, DIY warriors like myself and salesmen at retail outlets to narrow down on the best porcelain tile cutter. And after hours of research, here are the five that I really liked. I eventually bought just one of these. But I’ll also explain why I picked that one.
#1 – QEP 10630Q 24-Inch Manual Tile Cutter with Tungsten Carbide Scoring Wheel for Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles
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Since I was a novice with tile cutters, most people asked me to stick to a manual tile cutter which would be easier to use and I had less chances of making a mess of the whole thing. The first and most recommended model by one and all, was this QEP 1063Q.
This is a 24-inch manual tile cutter that is perfect for both porcelain as well as ceramic tiles. It allows you to rip cut tiles up to 24 inches straight and up to 16 inches diagonally.
Technically, this is perfect for my project because the tiles are 24 inches x 12 inches.
The tile cutter has a 7/8 inch cutting wheel made of tungsten carbide that is incredibly sharp. It stays true and scores like a dream. Also, you can easily cut almost 40-50 tiles continually without the wheels needing any sharpening.
By the way, that’s another great feature of the QEP. It allows you to perform repeated cuts without making too many complicated changes with the set up. You just align the tile, use the support wings and score. The ball bearings ensure that the cutting wheel glides over the tile and there are no jagged edges.
The QEP 1063Q is one of the most durable tile cutters that I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot during the last month of research. It feels heavy and this makes it easier to secure larger tiles.
But, it was not my pick in the end. I needed something that would give me some additional precision even if I had to handle larger tiles. Make no mistake, for a basic tile cutting job, this delivers unbeatable value.
Best features of the QEP 1063Q
- Durably constructed tile cutter
- 7/8 inch tungsten carbide cutting wheels
- Ball bearings which allow cutting wheels to glide
- Works with porcelain as well as ceramic tiles
#2 – Brutus 10800 27-Inch Rip and 20-Inch Diagonal Professional Porcelain Tile Cutter with 7/8-Inch Cutting Wheel
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This 10800 from Brutus is a meatier and beefier version of the #1 pick in this list and if you are working with large porcelain tiles, then this is a must have in your tool box.
It can rip cut tiles that are as big as 27 inches and up to 20 inches diagonally. The construction is top notch and it has a bunch of impressive features which make it immensely easy to use.
The first and most notable feature is the wide cast aluminum alloy base that gives it incredible stability on your work table even when you are handling large sized tiles. It features side arm extensions for handling those extra large tiles.
Four heavy duty rubber pads ensure that it does not budge from its position giving you the precision you need for your cutting jobs.
Once you align the tile, the 7/8 inch removable titanium-coated cutting wheel springs into action. To allow an easy movement, there are two chrome-plated rail bars and ball bearings. The wheel works flawlessly and without the slightest jitter even when used to score hard porcelain tiles.
Also, it is height adjustable (4 levels) and does not interrupt when you are trying to snap the tile. To reduce fatigue during repetitive tasks, the Brutus 10800 features a sturdy bicycle grip on the handle which makes it so easy to cut repeatedly. These are small features that go a long way in making your workflow easier and uninterrupted.
A lot of people are unaware that the Brutus 10800 is manufactured by ISHII, a Japanese company, who are one of the oldest manufacturers of tile cutting tools in the world. Like most other models from them, the 10800 is a perfect combination of rugged design meets finesse and precision. And this is the best porcelain tile cutter in the market currently.
Best features of Brutus 10800
- Heavy duty tile cutter manufactured by ISHII
- 7/8 inch removable titanium coated cutting wheel
- Chrome plated dual rail bars
- Ball bearings for easy movement
- Height adjustable cutting wheel
- Sturdy bicycle grip handle
- Side arm extensions for supporting large tiles
Here is the Best Deal to Buy Brutus 10800
#3 – QEP 10900Q 35-Inch Manual Tile Cutter with Tungsten Carbide Scoring Wheel
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QEP’s budget-priced manual tile cutters are quite popular among DIY enthusiasts as well as contractors and it was a brand name that kept cropping up every now and then during my research. This is the 10900Q, perfect for any project that involves large-sized porcelain or ceramic tiles.
It is very similar in design to the 1063Q and almost looks identical except for the larger dimensions. It can rip cut tiles up to 35 inches and up to 24 inches diagonally. That’s not a feature that many porcelain tile cutters at this price point boast of.
What’s more important is that it gives extremely precise cuts without requiring even the slightest of pressure on your part even when cutting rock-hard tiles. The 7/8-Inch titanium-coated tungsten-carbide scoring wheel works like a charm every single time.
The two chrome-plated steel rails and linear ball bearings slide over the tile allowing you to score and snap with ease.
Securing the tile and aligning for a precise cut is made simple by the large alloy base, an adjustable measurement guide and adjustable extensions. It has rubber feet on the base to prevent wobbling or unnecessary movement.
Best features of QEP 10900Q
- Large alloy base with adjustable arms for larger sized tiles
- Works perfectly with both, porcelain as well as ceramic tiles
- Can rip cut up to 35 inches and diagonally cut up to 24 inches
- 7/8 inch titanium-coated tungsten-carbide scoring wheel
- Chrome-plated steel rails
- Linear ball bearings
Here is the Best Deal to Buy QEP 10900Q
#4 – Brutus 10600BR 24-Inch Rip and 18-Inch Diagonal Pro Porcelain Tile Cutter with 7/8-Inch Cutting Wheel
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This 10600BR from Brutus is a budget-priced choice for anyone who does not want to spend a bomb for a reliable porcelain tile cutter. It is priced under $190 and for the quality, the precision and the ease-of-use, that will be the best money you spend on a tool.
This is a porcelain tile cutter that can also be used with ceramic tiles that are up to 24 inches for rip cuts and 18 inches diagonally.
It retains most of the features of Brutus’s higher priced brethren which make this a value-for-money purchase.
You have the titanium-coated cutting wheel that stays razor sharp even after repeated cuts for up to 50-70 tiles and the chrome plated dual steel rails that allow easy scoring.
Brutus’s die-cast aluminum base offers unparalleled stability for securing the tiles while the rubber pads keep it glued on your workstation without even budging a millimetre as you work.
The bicycle-styled grip makes it effortless to score and snap even the hardest tile that you will work on. Even repeated cuts will not strain your arm that is otherwise the case with cheap tile cutters and even with tile saws to be honest.
If the cutting wheel finally bites the dust, you can easily replace it with the 21123 model from Brutus which is sold separately.
Best features of Brutus 10600BR
- Budget priced porcelain tile cutter from Brutus
- Retains most of the features of higher priced models
- Stainless steel dual rails
- Titanium coated cutting wheels
- Die-cast aluminium base
- Rubber pads on the bottom
- Bicycle styled grip for easy scoring and cutting
Here is the Best Deal to Buy Brutus 10600BR
#5 – Montolit Masterpiuma Evolution 3 29″ Push Porcelain Tile Cutter 75P3
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I thought that I’d end this list with the best porcelain tile cutter for professionals.
This is the Montolit Masterpiuma, an Italian made manual tile cutter that is hands down, the most precise and accurate one in this list.
Like I said earlier, it is usually preferred by professional contractors due to the slightly higher price tag. But that does not mean that a DIY tiler cannot buy one of these. If you don’t fuss over the price tag and wish to buy the best one for your project, then you’ve just found it.
The Materpiuma Evolution 3 can be used for cutting all types of tiles including ceramic, porcelain, glass and even glass mosaic. It is constructed from die-cast aluminium and nickel-plated steel which make it almost impervious to corrosion even when used in construction sites.
The push-stroke design allows you to score tiles of varying thickness and materials with ease without applying any additional pressure. To ensure precision, there’s a large protractor square that lets you measure the inclination along the edges as well as from the corner to the cutting line for 45 degree cuts.
The Masterpiuma Evolution 3 features a tungsten carbide (titanium coated) cutting wheel which scores to perfection. But in the rare event that you find that it demands additional pressure to move, you can use an integrated lubricator to dispense a small amount of lubricant which usually restores normal movement.
Best features of Montolit Masterpiuma
- Rugged all-metal design
- Push styled manual tile cutter
- Tungsten carbide (titanium coated) cutting wheel
- Integrated lubricator
- Ergonomically designed incision handle
- Roller Adjuster System
- Protractor square for precise measurements
- Flawless cutting
Here is the Best Deal to Buy Montolit Masterpiuma
600mm Heavy duty Porcelain Tile Cutter
I wanted to add this heavy duty Tolsen 600 mm Porcelain tile cutter to this list. It is fairly new on Amazon with no reviews yet but looks solid for a heavy duty 600 mm tile cutting job. I can cut 12 mm thick tiles and can cut tiles to length of 600 mm
My pick and why I chose it
Now that I have presented the five tile cutters that I liked the most in the market, let me share with you the one that I picked from these.
That’s the Brutus 10800, which is the #2 pick in this list.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”Our Choice – Brutus 10800″ add_button=”right” btn_title=”Best Deal Here” btn_color=”success” css_animation=”bounceInLeft” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2p82vp0||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”]Very good Cutter with a very sharp cut. Cuts it straight and easy, heavy duty but light weight. Tile Cutters Dream Tool[/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]
While the tiling job at home would have been completed even the QEP 10630Q which is cheaper, I chose the Brutus for the additional size and the added stability that the design has.
I actually held it in my hands and got a demo done at a retail outlet to see how comfortable I was working with it. My main doubts were the dimensions and the effort that would be needed to snap the tile after scoring.
But I found that the Brutus 10800 makes it immensely easy and I found it to be a better fit to my preferences.
If you are completely new to porcelain tile cutters, then here are a few factors that you’d want to consider before buying one of these.
- Type of tiling job: Most basic tiling jobs as described here require only straight cuts and a manual tile cutter will be your best bet. These are easy to use, reasonably inexpensive and offer excellent precision for straight cuts as well as diagonal cuts. For special cuts, you may need a tile saw.
- Dimensions: Knowing the dimensions of the tiles will allow you to narrow down on a tile cutter that is most suited for the job. If the tiles as 24 x 12 inches, why buy a large sized cutter which can be overpriced?
- Versatility: Some tile cutters work perfectly with ceramic tiles but start to damage porcelain tiles. You’d want to ensure that the cutter you choose is compatible with the type of tile you plan to use for your project.
Price: Last but not the least; buy one that offers you reliable performance without blowing a hole in your wallet. There are plenty of choices and you can easily pick one from this list that fits your budget.
Useful Resources : – If you are looking for advice and reviews on tile saw – Read this Post
