Saws come in all shapes and types, and each model has its own purpose, including tile saws, which, as the name indicates, are used to cut this brittle material easily, comfortably, and safely.
Granted, when it comes to the design, tile saws are pretty similar to regular circular saws, but they do have some differences. For instance, they use a diamond, rather than carbide, blades. They also hold the cutting surface over a cooling pan of water to avoid breaking the tiles.
As with any other power tool, it’s essential to take your time and choose the best tile saw. There are several factors to consider when picking a tile saw, which we’ll break down later on in our buying guide; but for now, here goes our list of the best tile saws that you can get today.
Best Tile Saws for The Money: Comparison table
Last update on 2023-06-04 at 11:48 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. DeWalt D24000S Tile Saw
DeWalt is one of the world’s most known power tool manufacturers, so it’s easy to see why one of its products tops our ‘best tile saw’ list. Weighing around 69 pounds and measuring three feet in height, this tile saw is both large and heavy. Not only that, but it’s also pretty powerful thanks to a 1.5-horespôwer motor capable of spinning the 10-inch diamond blade at a whopping 4,200 RPM, which means that you’ll get a clean and smooth cut every single time.
- Your purchase includes One Dewalt 10-Inch Wet Tile Saw, Wet Tile Saw Stand, 10-Inch XP4 Porcelain Tile Blade, Submersible Pump, Water Pan, Side Water Tray, Rear Water Tray, Cutting Cart Side Extension, Angle/Rip Guide, Blade Wrench & Hex Wrench
- Tool dimensions: 36” L x 29” W x 24” H. Tool weight: 69 lbs. Voltage – 120V. Peak Horsepower – 1.5 HP
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The moderate weight point of this tile saw is due to its alloy construction, which, although decent, is not as durable as the high-grade aluminum found on other models.
If you’re one to tackle a broad range of projects, you’ll undoubtedly like the flexibility that this tile saw offers, as it’s capable of making bevel cuts at 22.5 and 45 degrees and come with dual side and rear water trays that work on cooling own the blade when you’re working straight or bevel cuts.
Precision is another department in which the DeWalt D24000S excels, as it features cut line indicators on top so that you can find your cut without having to waste your time taking measurements along with stainless steel rollers that make feeding the tile without adding unwanted vibration a breeze.
The only downside to this tile saw is the included blade, which you’ll have to replace quickly. Other than that, this unit gets the title of the overall best tile saw that money can get you.
Pros
- Line indicators for precise cuts
- Stainless steel rollers that reduce vibration
- Can make bevel cuts at 22.5 and 45 degrees
Cons
- Costly
2. Lackmond Beast BEAST10
When working on big projects, precision is essential, but so is speed, which is the selling point of the Lackmond Beast BEAST10. It’s easy to see why this model is called the beast, considering that it packs a powerful 1.25-horsepower motor capable of spinning the blade at an impressive speed of 4,200 RPM. Not only can this saw make 24-inch rip cuts, but it can also make diagonal cuts on an 18 x 18-inch tile, thus outperforming most other tile saws available on the market.
- CUT VERSATILITY – The BEAST10 has the largest cutting capacity in its class and still accurate to within 1/32" over a 24" cut. The BEAST10 is capable of performing a diagonal cut on a 24" x 24" tile and can execute a 34" Rip Cut (39" Rip with plunge)
- MOTOR POWER FOR ALL JOB TYPES - Powerful 15 AMP direct drive motor rotates to ensure accurate 22.5⁰ and 45⁰ bevel cuts. The plunge cut feature makes it easy to execute V-Cap cuts, cut-outs for wall sockets, and much more
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This tile saw weighs over 117 pounds and measures around four feet in length, making it quite bulky. That does come with perks though, as the big size of this model means that you’ll get a massive workspace and that the Beast can compete with 10-inch tile saws in every aspect except the depth of cut.
The surface of this saw is rubberized to avoid slippage, and you needn’t worry about awkward sticking thanks to the included steel rollers that work on feeding the tile smoothly.
Another feature that we like is the innovative snake pipe water system put together by Lackmond, which allows the user to control how much water hits the blade why it’s spinning. Keep in mind that such a feature, although intuitive, can make using this tile saw tricky for beginners.
The included scissor stand is just the cherry on top, as it can be a godsend for your back when you’re working on extended projects.
Pros
- Can make 24-inch rip cuts
- Speedy 4,200 RPM blade
- Included scissor stand
Cons
- Pretty cumbersome
3. SKIL 3550-02 Tile Saw
If you only work on small DIY tiling projects, getting a heavy-duty tile saw wouldn’t be reasonable for both your work and your wallet, which is why we’re including the SKIL 3550-02 as the best tile saw for at-home projects. Despite its cheap price tag, this unit comes with all the features you’d need in tile saw.
- Hydro lock water containment system keeps water contained near the blade and reduce clean-up time
- Sliding side extension provides support for tiles up to 18 x 18-inch
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As expected, the SKIL 3550-02 is pretty compact and lightweight, weighing only 24 pounds and measuring less than two feet in width, which means that you won’t have any problem moving it around. As for the construction, the top of this saw is made of durable aluminum, so you needn’t worry about the longevity.
The one-horsepower motor is quite small compared to the other recommendations on our list, but it’s still quite good-performing and can cut through any type of tile as long as you feed carefully and slowly considering that the saw includes a 7-inch diamond blade with a ¾-inch maximum depth. The fencing is equally excellent, as it’s adjustable and allows the user to cut up to 18 x 18-inch tiles thanks to the sliding side extension. Finally, the saw can make bevel cuts up to 22.5 and 45 degrees.
Despite its many perks, this saw does come with some niggles, such as the included blade, which isn’t of the highest quality, but that’s pretty common in this kind of saws. Other than that, this is the best tile saw for small and DIY projects.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Adjustable fencing
- Bevel Cuts
Cons
- The included blade is of poor quality
4. Chicago Electric 95385 Industrial Tile/Brick Saw
If pure power is what you’re looking for, then this model from Chicago Electric is the best tile saw for you. Thanks to the 2.5-HP motor that can spin the 10-inch diamond blade at 3,800 RPM, you’ll be able to cut through any hardness and thickness like butter. Furthermore, that power will allow you to make 3.5-inch deep cuts with no faltering or overheating whatsoever thanks to the thermal overload protection on the motor.
- Cuts tiles up to 18" long, 12" diagonally
- Cuts to a maximum depth of 3-1/8"
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To accommodate the extra motor power that this saw packs, the unit includes a water pump capable of pumping thee gallons per minute to keep the blade cool and steady when tackling heavy-duty or industrial tile jobs. On the flip side, you’ll need to carry multiple 10-gallon buckets of water when moving this 90-pound tile saw around.
While most tile saws come with a low-quality blade, this unit doesn’t offer one at all. Additionally, it’s only covered with a 90-day warranty, which is pretty short for any power tool.
Pros
- Powerful 2.5-HP motor
- Includes a 3 GPM water pump
- Capable of making 24-inch rip cuts
Cons
- Short 90-day warranty
5. QEP 22650Q 650XT Tile Saw
While we don’t usually recommend skimping on your power tools, there are some models that, despite being cheap, are quite efficient, including the 22650Q 650XT tile saw from QEP. Weighing roughly 22 pounds and measuring 20 inches in width, this tile saw is both compact and portable, meaning that you can easily move it around for off-site jobs.
- Powerful 3/4 HP motor generates up to 3,600 RPM for the most demanding installation jobs
- Cuts ceramic tile, porcelain tile, marble, granite and stone
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The QEP tile saw packs a small 0.75-HP motor along with a 7-inch blade that spins at 3,600 RPM. While that’s more than enough for a little DIY tiling project, remember that it won’t be enough to cut through thick pieces of hard tile.
The adjustable fencing is a nice feature, as it allows the user, aka you, to cut 18 x 18-inch tiles with ease. Unfortunately, there is a lot of wobble in the fencing, which means that you won’t be able to make precise rip cuts using this saw, especially that the measurement indicators aren’t the best around. On the bright side, the steel table is pretty durable for the price, and the rubber foot pads are pretty efficient when it comes to reducing vibration.
The water-cooling system in the QEP tile saw is also on the inconveniences side, as it’s more of a hit or miss, considering that several users reported that their blade stalled from overheating and clogging because of dusty water after cutting a large number of tiles. Take that with a grain of salt though, as this is a budget tile saw – one that’s more suitable for small tasks and projects.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact and portable
- Adjustable fencing that cuts tiles of up to 18 inches
Cons
- The motor and blade are a bit small
Choosing the Best Tile Saw – Buying Guide
Now that you’ve taken a look at our favorite picks, it’s time for you to choose the best tile saw for your workplace. To do so, there are several factors that you must consider, which are the ones we’re detailing below.
Size
Tile saws come in all sizes and weights, from cumbersome stationary models like the Beast from Lackmond to portable units like the QEP reviewed above. More often than not, the size reflects how powerful the motor is and how big the water reservoir is, meaning that it indicates how much power you can expect. Size is also essential for the simple reason that it will determine whether the saw will fit in your workplace or not.
Weight
The weight is another factor that affects portability. Heavy saws, like the DeWalt D24000S, are hard to move around, but they’re also more stable.
Motor Power
The motor power is another critical factor to consider because tile is a hard, brittle material that cannot be cut easily. Some tile saws, such as the Chicago Electric 95385, are pretty powerful, making them an ideal choice for those looking for a power tool capable of cutting through tile like butter without overheating or wearing down with time. Keep in mind that the importance of this factor depends entirely on your needs, as small projects and jobs don’t require much power.
Blade Type
As we mentioned above, tile saws, as opposed to regular circular saws, use diamond cutting blades rather than carbide blades, which are more durable and feature a set of teeth that are designed to chip away at the tile rather than slice through the material you’re cutting.
Blade Size
While many people don’t give it much thought, the blade size is actually pretty crucial for a handful of reasons.
For instance, the blade size determines how deep your saw is going to cut through the material. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the blade, the larger the maximum depth your saw can cut.
Also, the size determines how much momentum the blade can carry with it. Again, the larger the blade, the more momentum it’s going to carry, and the easier it can cut through thick tiles.
Finally, large blades have more time in each rotation before getting in contact with the tile again, thus giving them more time to cool and extending their lifespan.
Blade Adjustment
Don’t get bored with the blade-related factor just yet. Some manufacturers allow the user to switch the included blade for one of a smaller diameter – something that makes the saw more versatile compared to non-adjustable models. Although this feature may not seem important at first glance, it can actually come in handy when you need to make precise cuts.
Depth of Cut
Yes, this is another factor that’s related to the blade rather than the saw. The depth of cut reflects the maximum thickness of the tile through which a certain blade can cut. As you know, the blade of a tile saw cools down thanks to tray located beneath the tile, which is why you mustn’t cut through a slab of tile that’s longer than the maximum depth of cut, which is related to the diameter of the blade.
Water Source
Tile saws provide water to the blade through one of two ways: Some models use a hose line to keep the blade cool all the time, which is more convenient but requires access to a steady supply of water. Other models use a water reservoir with an attached pump, which keeps pumping water to and away from the blade. This option is great if you don’t have access to a continuous water supply, but it’s also less convenient considering that you must keep an eye on the reservoir and keep refilling it between cuts.
Precision
Precision is a critical factor to consider no matter what kind of saw you’re getting. The accuracy of a tile saw depends on several factors, including the fencing, the blade, and the rightness of the saw’s bolts.
Bevel Capacity
Some high-end tile saws allow the user to make bevel cuts at any angle between zero and 45 degrees, while others, such as the Chicago Electric 95385, allows for specific bevel angles, which are 22.5 and 45 degrees. This is another factor that depends on your own needs and preferences.
Verdict
Tile saws are versatile, powerful, and convenient, making them a staple in any power tool arsenal. If you’re looking for the best tile saw for your workplace, make sure to keep all of the above-mentioned factors in mind.