Having the right bit or drill makes drilling an easy and enjoyable craft. But drilling into tough yet delicate materials like ceramic tiles needs patience and some expertise to prevent unwanted damages.
In this article, we dig deeper into various bit features followed by brief descriptions of the top products. This is all in the quest of helping you find the best drill bit for ceramic tile from the thousand options on the market.
Contents
- Best Ceramic Tile Drill Bits – Comparison Table
- The Most Popular Drill Bits for Ceramic Tile: Buying Guide
- Important Tips for Drilling into Ceramic Tiles
- The 7 Best Drill Bit for Ceramic Tile in 2020
- 1.Bosch GT400 Carbide Tipped Tile and Ceramic Drill Bit
- 2.BLENDX Tile, Glass and Porcelain Diamond Drill Bits
- 3.QWORK ¼” Multi-Material 10 Pcs Drill Bit Set
- 4.HOMEIDOL Titanium Coated 6pcs Glass, Ceramic Tile Drill Bit Set
- 5.EANINNO 5 Piece Masonry Drill Bit Set
- 6.Macp 6Pcs Masonry Carbide Tips Drill Bits
- 7.Rtree Diamond Drill Bit Set for Tile, Glass, Dermal and Stone
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Top Pick
- Bottom Line
Best Ceramic Tile Drill Bits – Comparison Table
The following table gives a brief analysis of the top ceramic tile drill bits as selected by our independent researchers.
The Most Popular Drill Bits for Ceramic Tile: Buying Guide
The market is flooded with different brands of drill bits. This makes it more confusing for you to pick the best for your ceramic tile crafts. The following factors are here to guide you in the selection process.
Size and Number of Bits
There are different densities of ceramic tiles which call for various sizes of bits. The most common bit sizes are 1/16, ¼, ½, or 5/8 inches.
All the bits can be purchased individually or as a set depending on your budget. However, buying the set with multiple sizes is more economical and helps you to complete different drilling projects.
Most drill bit sets comprise about 4 to 16 pieces of multiple sizes so that you can drill holes of different diameters into your ceramic tiles.
Type of Bit
Carbide and Diamond are the common bit types. Carbide bits are the strongest and are great for most heavy-duty applications or industrial drilling works.
However, the carbide bits have to be handled carefully since they demand less pressure as they are prone to slippage. This much utmost care will help you not to fracture your precious ceramic tiles.
Diamond bits on the other hand are equally strong and are great for drilling large holes with less breakages. In fact, most DIY enthusiasts usually prefer diamond drill bits over the carbide ones.
Bit Tip Material
The bit tip is what drills into any given surface. It is, therefore, the most essential part of a bit.
The type of bit tip can be chosen depending on the function to be achieved. Some bits are specially made for taking out the core, others are spear-headed while others have a self-feeding mechanism.
Diamond, carbide, and tungsten tips are the most used. But the fact is; you need a bit that’s made from a high-quality material that won’t bend or break easily as you work through different tile densities.
Bit Shank
The shank is the smooth surface of a bit that holds it in place by clamping securely on the drill’s spindle. Tri-flat and hex shanks are the most commonly used although there are others like the straight and rounded shanks.
Despite the shape of an individual bit’s shank, the surface should be non-slip for easy gripping by the arms of the drill’s chuck.
Important Tips for Drilling into Ceramic Tiles
Drilling into any tiled surface requires ultimate care to prevent shattering the pieces apart. The following tips will help you out.
Lubrication
Both the surface you are drilling into and the bits should be lubricated regularly with either water or oil. This is to cool the bits down and prevent them from overheating to achieve the intended purpose.
Drilling Process
Always start slow or drill at an angle when you start and only increase the momentum as you increase the depth. You should, therefore, take your time during the whole drilling process.
Keep Safe
As you drill the scraps are bound to scatter everywhere. Safety goggles will come in handy to protect your eyes while gloves will allow comfortable use of the drill.
In this section, we dive further into the best 7 drill bit brands by detailing their features, pros, and cons. Read on to find out more.
The 7 Best Drill Bit for Ceramic Tile in 2020
1.Bosch GT400 Carbide Tipped Tile and Ceramic Drill Bit
These versatile Bosch drill bits are great for use on either ceramic or other tiled surfaces. This is because they have a unique tip design to prevent them from wandering.
But hey, you need to handle the bit tips with care as they tend to wear out quickly if subjected to intense pressure.
The carbide tip features a reinforced head and a diamond cutting edge to maximize each bit’s life by reducing stress which causes undesirable cracking.
What’s more, the three flat shanks ensure a safe grip to the bit for fast completion of tasks while the advanced geometry enables easy drilling.
Pros
- Multipurpose
- High-quality carbide tips
- Reliable three flat shanks
- Multiple sizes
Cons
- The tips wear out quickly
2.BLENDX Tile, Glass and Porcelain Diamond Drill Bits
Do you have different surfaces to drill on and are looking for the most efficient drill bits? Worry no more as these multipurpose diamond bits by BLENDX are the real deal for glass, tiles, and porcelain materials.
The bits are made from sturdy steel and come in 10 different sizes for added versatility. However, they are only good for drilling into a thickness of up to ½ inches.
Moreover, the 80-grits tip head is coated in diamond for exceptional durability while the rounded shank is for proper fitting into the drill’s chuck.
Pros
- Available in multiple sizes
- Versatile
- Durable construction
- Makes clean cut-outs
Cons
- Not ideal for depths beyond ½ inches
- Heats up quickly and have to be dipped in water to cool
3.QWORK ¼” Multi-Material 10 Pcs Drill Bit Set
These spear-pointed bits by QWORK have sturdy tungsten carbide tips that penetrate through different materials with ease.
Unfortunately, the tips need frequent resharpening as they get blunt with just some uses. Moving on, the package contains 10 pieces of ¼ inch bit tips which can be stored safely in the included strong plastic case.
While water may be needed for lubrication of the drilling surfaces be it ceramic, wood, tile, or glass, these bits are great for uniform cutting.
This not all, the bits have a u-shape groove for efficient heat and scraps discharge while their tri-flat shanks allow for tighter chucking.
Pros
- Multiple pieces
- Comfortable to use
- Non-slip shanks
- Has a storage container
- Spear-pointed tips
Cons
- Tips get dull quickly
- Same size bits
4.HOMEIDOL Titanium Coated 6pcs Glass, Ceramic Tile Drill Bit Set
This set comprises 6 HOMEIDOL drill bits made from premium-quality cemented carbide for perfect drilling of holes into glass or ceramic tiles.
The 4 cutting edges with a cross tip of each bit helps reduce breakouts as you drill into different materials. You should however remember to lubricate the surfaces to prevent the tips from overheating.
To add on that, the different shank diameters ranging from 4mm (1/8″) to 12mm (1/2″) help you to work with different types of drills.
Pros
- Wide application
- Offers superior drilling performance
- Quality material construction
- Includes multiple pieces
Cons
- Heats up quickly
5.EANINNO 5 Piece Masonry Drill Bit Set
Do you have different surfaces to drill ranging from concrete, wood, ceramic tile, or glass and haven’t found the right bit set? Then this multipurpose masonry drill bits from EANINNO are what you need.
All the 5 pieces are made from durable cemented carbide and feature hardened yet smooth tips for easy chip removal.
The bits are ergonomically designed with non-skid triangular handles plus u-grove body design for convenient use with electric drills.
This set includes 5 drill bits of 2* ¼”, 5/16″, 3/8″ and ½” for easy drilling into different surface densities.
To sum up, cool the bits with water when drilling for added efficiency and apply a lubricant after use to prevent rust.
Pros
- Multiple sizes
- Upgraded tip design
- Versatile
- Durable cement carbide construction
Cons
- Prone to rust if not lubricated regularly
6.Macp 6Pcs Masonry Carbide Tips Drill Bits
Don’t shy away from drilling into delicate materials like glass, ceramic tiles, or plastic as some people do. These Macp bits are made with high-quality micro-grain carbide and feature automatically centered points for precise drilling of straight holes on the mentioned materials.
The 6 bits are of sizes 1/8″, 3/16″, ¼”, 5/16″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ for additional versatility. Unfortunately, the bits have to be used at low speeds especially at the start of the drilling process, and are also not ideal for use on hammer drills.
The bits have precision sharpened spear-shaped tips to minimize walking as well as skating. Furthermore, hex-shanks provide high stability during the whole drilling process.
Pros
- Multiple uses
- Different sizes
- Durable tungsten carbide tips
- Well-made
Cons
- Not recommended for hammer drills
- No storage case
7.Rtree Diamond Drill Bit Set for Tile, Glass, Dermal and Stone
Your Dremel and common rotary tool deserve super-efficient drill bits like these from Rtree for cutting holes into ceramic, porcelain, glass, or masonry.
The different bit sizes enable easy cutting of holes of a diameter of ¼” to 5/8″ when used on glass and ¼” to ½” or bigger on other materials.
What’s more, the package contains multiple pieces of hole saws, rubber bits, rough bits, grind bits, and so on to deliver outstanding drilling performance.
Pros
- Multiple drill bits
- Includes a user manual
- Different sizes
- Offer long-lasting effectiveness
Cons
- No storage container
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s now narrow down to some of the questions many users have been asking about ceramic tile drill bits.
How can drill bits be sharpened?
Drill bits are sharpened easily with a bench grinder or a file. The art of bit grinding isn’t an easy one as it is a risky adventure that requires practice or expert skill.
What’s the maximum number of holes a single drill bit can make?
There’s no exact answer to this question. This is because the number of holes a specific bit makes depends on how you use it.
Why is a lubricant needed when drilling through tile?
Water, oil, or any other coolant helps prevent the bits from heating up. This, in turn, enables you to finish your tasks in a short period.
Our Top Pick
The Bosch GT400 Carbide Tipped Tile and Ceramic Drill Bits are our best choice. This is thanks to their sturdy non-wandering carbide tips which are further reinforced with a diamond cutting edge for added durability. Besides, the patented three-flat shanks ensure a comfortable grip for shatter-free drilling.
Bottom Line
Ceramic tiles help enhance the interior décor of our homes as well as offices. The tiles are used on walls, floors, pools, and so on. But what if you need to do some plumbing work on the already set-up tiles? The truth is that ceramic tiles are hard to drill into since they are brittle and need careful handling.
You, therefore, require drill bits that are made specifically for fragile materials like the ones we’ve discussed in this article. Above all, patience is vital in ceramic tile drilling if you want to achieve excellent results.