Tile is brittle, slippery, and can crackqualities that make this a tricky project.
If you find yourself avoiding drilling into tile, have no fear.
Before You Begin
When drilling into tile, theright toolsmake all the difference.
Uladzislau Salikhau / EyeEm / Getty Images
First, you must determinewhich punch in of tileyou have.
This will factor into your choice of drill bit.
Know the Tile jot down
Two commonly confused tile types are porcelain and ceramic.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
However, these are only two common types of tile, and yours could be a different material entirely.
For small holes in tile, choose a spiral thread bit.
For large holes, use a hole saw.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
With either version, choose a carbide tip for reliable, economical hole drilling.
Or use a diamond tip for high-performance drilling and durability.
A spiral thread has a solid shank and it cores out the tile, pulverizing it into powder.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Holes in tile between 3/4-inch and 4-inch in diameter should be drilled with a hole saw.
A hole saw is circular and hollow in the middle.
It cuts the perimeter of the hole but leaves the middle mostly intact yet removable.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Instead, use either carbide-tip or diamond-tip drill bits for all types of tile.
Diamond-tip drill bits are stronger and last longer than carbide-tip bits.
Carbide-tip drill bits cost significantly less than diamond-tip bits, making them a better value for occasional tile drilling.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
A set of four carbide-tip bits costs about the same as one diamond-tip bit.
Carbide-tip drill bits are best for softer materials like ceramic tile.
Diamond-tip bits are required for harder materials like porcelain,glass, and stone.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Tip
Use arotary drill, not a hammer drill.
Not only is a hammer drill unnecessary but its pounding action may crack the tile.
If you have a hammer drill, switch it to rotary mode.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when drilling into tile.
Tiled walls often have plumbing pipes and electrical wires running through them, even in showers and tubs.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Find Stud Behind Tile
Find studs behind the wall with astud finder.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
With a tiled wall, the added layer of tile and mortar may complicate the process.
Though some bits are advertised as no-skate bits, it’s still a good idea to tape the area.
Tape sheet plastic on the floor below the drill area.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Form the tape into a slight curve.
The tape will capture much of the tile dust.
Start Drilling Slowly
Turn the drill on low.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Drill through the tape.
Increase Drill Speed
Increase the drill speed slowly.
Keep a steady pressure on the drill but do not press too hard.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Stop frequently to let the drill bit cool down.
Spray with a small amount of water to cool down the surface and control dust.
Complete Hole in Tile
Continue drilling the tile until the bit fully penetrates the tile.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Slowly remove the drill bit to avoid cracking or scratching the tile.
Be ready for this and ease up on the pressure at the end.
Locate the studs and other obstructions that you’ll need to avoid.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Chuck Hole Saw Into Drill
Attach the hole saw to the drill and tightly chuck it in.
The hole saw must have a center retractable starter bit.
With some hole saws, the retractable starter bit is attached to the saw.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Press Drill Against Tile
Press the hole saw’s retractable starter bit to the mark.
Drill until the pilot catches in the tile and digs out the material.
Press Hole Saw to Tile
Keep the retractable starter bit in place in its starter hole.
The Spruce / Jason Donnelly
Increase the speed of the drill.
The hole saw should begin to dig out a shallow circle from the tile.
Spray the area with water to control dust and cool the work material.
Complete Hole
Continue to drill.
Apply pressure evenly on the drill.
Avoid cutting through the tile and down to a wood or concrete work surface.
This can prematurely wear down the hole saw.
Cut the tile over an open bucket or on top of a slab of Styrofoam.
But drilling larger holes in tile with a hole saw can be tricky.
You only have one chance to do it right.
So, it may be worthwhile to hire a tile professional to drill large holes in tile.
