We Drilled More Than 100 Holes to Find the Best Drill Bits for Tile

Drilling holes in tile can be tricky, especially if you’re not using specialty drill bits for tile. Attempting to drill tile with a standard steel bit designed for use on wood can cause the bit to overheat, bend, or even break in half. Of course, with the right drill bit, drilling holes in ceramic tile can be nearly as straightforward as drilling wood—and since most tile drill bits and drill bit sets are fortunately affordable, it makes sense to have the right tools and materials for the job. That said, it takes the right bit if you plan on drilling tiles without cracking them. 

To help DIYers and pros alike get great results, we tested some of the best-rated designated tile bits, creating holes in ceramic, porcelain, marble, glass, and stone tiles. As we expected, some performed better on one type of tile than another. Our top pick was the DeWalt Rapid Load Carbide Masonry Drill Bit Set for its impressive durability and wide range of sizes to meet most tasks. But others impressed us, too.
Ahead, learn how to drill through tile of all types and find out why the following bits earned a spot on our lineup of the best drill bits for tile.

1. BEST OVERALL: DeWalt Rapid Load Carbide Masonry Drill Bit Set
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Hillman Tapper Carbide Tipped Drill Bit
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3. BEST GLASS TILE SET: Bosch GT2000 4-Piece Glass and Tile Bit Set
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4. BEST METRIC SET: Qwork Multi-Material 8-Piece Drill Bit Set
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5. BEST FOR CERAMIC: Milwaukee Carbide Glass and Tile Drill Bit Set
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6. BEST ALL PURPOSE: Irwin Multi-Material Masonry Drill Bit Set
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7. BEST FOR PORCELAIN: Milwaukee Diamond MAX Hole Saw Set
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Drill Bits for Tile Comparison

Our Top Picks

The following drill bits are all suitable for drilling in tile, but some are better suited to one type of tile than another. Each was tested on the type(s) of tile recommended by the manufacturer or seller, but not all the bits we tested earned a spot in this lineup. Find out the pros and cons of each of the following bits and bit sets before selecting the best option for your tile-drilling project.and cons of each of the following bits and bit sets before selecting the best option for your tile-drilling project.

Our Ratings

We’re well aware of the superior quality of many DeWalt power tools and accessories, so it was no surprise that the company’s seven-piece set of masonry drill bits excelled at drilling through tile. The set features bits ranging in diameter from 3/16 inch to ½ inch with lengths ranging from 3 inches to 6 inches. Three of the bits are ¼ inch, which is a commonly used size. 

We used the DeWalt bits to drill through travertine, slate, marble, ceramic, and glass tiles. The bits have carbide spiral tips, and we tested them with and without masking tape. The deep flutes in the shank quickly removed the powdered tile material as we drilled, and the holes were clean and uniform. They wandered less than we expected, even without tape, but we would suggest taping highly glazed ceramic and glass tiles to be on the safe side. 

With the largest ½-inch bit, we did crack two glass tiles, but we feel that was primarily due to our wrists and arm muscles becoming fatigued and not holding the drill as stable as we should have. A few days after the original test, we attempted it again and successfully drilled through glass tiles without cracking. We feel these DeWalt bits fit the bill for professionals and DIYers needing durable bits on the job. 

What our tester says: “These proved to be very durable heavy-duty bits. After drilling 10 holes with each, I saw virtually no softening of the blades or dulling. As I drilled an additional 30 holes per bit, I still didn’t notice much slowing down.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the DeWalt drill bits for tile at Amazon, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Lowe’s.

Our Ratings

When a project requires only a few holes to be drilled in tile, it makes sense to buy a single bit rather than a whole set. If you’re in the market for exactly that, we’d recommend a Hillman Tapper drill bit. This one comes in a 3/16-inch diameter and 3½-inch length, a size we chose to test because 3/16-inch is a fairly standard hole size for installing towel rods and toilet-paper-holder anchors.

We drilled holes in marble, travertine, slate, glass, and ceramic tiles with this carbide-tipped spiral bit. We did use masking tape for most of the holes because the bit had a tendency to wander without it. The bit drilled clean holes in ceramic and stone tiles but seemed to struggle on the glass tile, so we added a few drops of water to the hole to help cool the bit and reduce friction (not cooling a hot bit is a primary cause of bit breakage). 

After drilling more than 45 holes, the Hillman bit started to slow down, and we could see that the tip was softening and wearing down some. However, we felt its performance and durability were still good under pressure, and the bit never broke. A single-size bit won’t be suitable for all tile-drilling purposes, but it’s more economical to buy just one if only drilling a few holes of the same size. 

Get the Hillman drill bits for tile at Amazon or Ace Hardware.

Our Ratings

Drilling through glass tile is more straightforward than it might seem. To start, working at a slow drill speed is crucial, but what’s even more important is working with a good carbide-tipped blade, like this four-piece set, which excelled in our glass-drilling tests.

The set comes with bits ranging from ⅛ inch to ⅝ inch in diameter and from 2 inches to 2¼ inches long. Each bit features a spear tip with a sharp point that the manufacturer claims will keep the bit from wandering. Unfortunately, we found each one of the bits tended to wander on the glass tiles unless we used masking tape—an easy fix that didn’t detract from the bits’ performance and durability. Wandering is common when drilling through tiles, so everyone should be prepared to use tape. 

After 10 holes, we inspected the bits. The largest one showed a slight amount of wear on the edges of the spear blades, while the others looked nearly new. They all went on to drill 30 more holes apiece, but toward the end, they made slower progress, and we had to exert more pressure on the drill. Fortunately, we didn’t have any cracked glass tiles after all the drilling. That’s largely due to the sharpness and durability of the bits, but we also give a little credit to an old computer mouse pad that we placed beneath some of the tiles as we drilled, which absorbed some of the vibrations and may have helped prevent cracking. 

While our main objective in testing these bits was to determine their performance on glass, we also tried them afterward on a marble tile and a travertine tile. At this point, the bits were slightly worn down but still drilled through both materials cleanly, albeit slowly. 

Get the Bosch drill bits for tile at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., Ace Hardware, or Grainger.

Our Ratings

With a growing number of kitchen and bathroom fixtures now supplied in metric sizes, it may be necessary to have an accurate metric drill bit for tile. Imperial (United States) equivalents are close but not always close enough. In the past, we’ve had to guess which Imperial bit or anchor is most comparable to the metric one called for, so we were excited to test these carbide-tipped metric drill bits. 

After drilling 10 starter holes, we examined the spearheads of the bits. The two smallest bits showed substantial dulling and wear on the blades, so we set those aside and continued with the other five. None of the other bits made it past 25 additional holes, so we can’t rate the Qwork bits as the most durable of the ones we tested. Perhaps the steel wasn’t quite as high in quality—but we still deem these bits to be a decent option for drilling jobs that require metric bits and fasteners, since those are typically small projects, such as installing a towel bar or a ceramic soap dish. And interestingly, these bits didn’t wander much, not even on untaped glass, so they earned a point in that department. Consider these as light-duty tile-drilling bits for metric usage.

Get the Qwork drill bits for tile at Amazon.

Our Ratings

Ceramic tile is by far the easiest and most forgiving type of tile to drill into. That said, it still requires some level of precision to prevent the drill from walking over the surface of the tile. While we had some issues with Milwaukee’s carbide glass and tile drill set with other types of tile (more on that below), we found it to be the best drill bit for ceramic tile. These bits bit into the surface of the tile, with no walking and hence no unsightly marks left across the surface of the tile. Not only was that the case with ceramic tile, but also with smooth and slicker glass tile. 

These bits shined with ceramic tile, boring through them in seconds, leaving clean, uniform holes pretty much every time. Glass and porcelain tiles were another story. Boring through glass required more finesse. Our first few attempts left us with shattered tiles. Once we dropped the speed of the drill down, we were able to drill cleanly through glass, albeit at a slower pace than other drill bits. 

Porcelain, with its high density and hardness, proved to be a bigger challenge. While we were able to drill through our porcelain tiles, we had to apply water several times to cool the bit. Even then, it took the better part of a minute to complete a single hole, and after, the bit tip was the worse for wear. These bits are best suited for drilling through ceramic tile and, to a lesser degree, glass tile. Leave the porcelain tile for a diamond-coated hole saw. 

Get the Milwaukee carbide glass and tile drill bit set at Amazon or The Home Depot. 

Our Ratings

Picking out the right drill bit for the right material can be a pain and downright confusing if you’ve got a bin full of drill bits on your workbench. These bits from Irwin make it simple since they work with just about any material you’d need to drill into, be it brick, stone, wood, or tile. They’re a true all-purpose drill bit. And while they didn’t wow us with their performance, they did well enough to earn a spot on this list. 

As with most of the bits we tested, the Irwin bits handled ceramic tile the best. We drilled mostly precise and uniform holes with each bit. These bits also handle glass fairly well, especially when dropping the drill to a lower speed. While the bits did have the tendency to walk, we found that bearing down on the bit with a little extra pressure at the start eliminated that issue. 

As with most of the bits we tested, porcelain tile proved to be the most difficult test, and such was the case with these Irwin bits. While we eventually made it through the tile, the process required a fair amount of effort and water to prevent the bit from burning up. 

Irwin’s bit did show wear more quickly than the other bits we tested, though we should also note that they cost significantly less. If you don’t like having to match bits to material, these Irwin drill bits are a great option while also being one of the most affordable ways to drill through tile. 

Get the Irwin Multi-Material masonry drill bit set at Lowe’s.

Our Ratings

Porcelain tile’s hardness and density make it more resistant to scratches, chips, and foot traffic than other types of tile. They also make it darn tough to drill into. While drilling into any porcelain tile with any type of bit is a chore, it’s certainly less of one with these diamond-coated hole saw bits. We were able to bore through our porcelain tile test pieces at faster rates and with more precision than standard carbide-tipped drill bits. The process does still take some time and requires water to prevent the bits from burning up. 

Along with porcelain tile, these bits unsurprisingly blazed through ceramic tile and were able to bore through glass tile fairly fast, though we did have to use more finesse to avoid shattering the glass. 

Since these are hole saw bits, they lack a tip, so they have a much greater tendency to walk on the surface of tile than carbide bits with pointed tips. Applying a fair amount of pressure when starting the bits was crucial to prevent that from happening. Along with their ability to drill through hard surfaces, these bits are also durable, provided you add water during longer efforts to keep their temperature down.

This set of diamond drill bits from Milwaukee doesn’t come cheap, but you won’t find a better way to cut through various types of tile. The kit comes with two bits for each of its three sizes. 

What our tester says: “These drill bits are pricey, but they’re the best option if you have to drill through hard materials like porcelain tile. They’ll also last longer than cheaper drill bits.”—Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Milwaukee Diamond MAX hole saw set at The Home Depot.

ALSO TESTED

While we found Neiko’s Diamond Hole Saw Bits to be a good masonry bit for tile of varying types, including ceramic and glass, we eliminated them from our list above because they could not cut through porcelain. In and of itself, that may not be a deal-breaker; however, porcelain is listed among the tile types it can drill through—a claim our own experience proved otherwise.

How We Tested the Best Drill Bits for Tile

Over the years, we’ve had plenty of practice drilling tile, so our experience, combined with in-depth product research, was instrumental in selecting the drill bits for testing. We considered the brand to an extent—after all, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Bosch are top manufacturers of construction tools for a reason—but we didn’t automatically eliminate drill bits from smaller or niche manufacturers if they featured carbide or diamond tips and were highly rated by consumers.

Our actual testing process was straightforward. All of the drill bits were tested using a standard cordless drill. We used masking tape on the tops of some tiles, which can help keep bits from wandering and reduce the risk of the tile chipping during the drilling process. It’s not always necessary, so we didn’t tape all the tiles—for example, the surface of a travertine tile is soft and porous, and most bits will not wander when drilling through travertine. Following manufacturers’ suggestions—or taking it upon ourselves when a bit was struggling to drill through—we added water while drilling to help keep the bit from overheating and breaking. 

We tested the bits by drilling multiple holes, but we only tried them on tile types they were designed for. In short, we did not test a bit made exclusively for drilling ceramic or glass tiles on porcelain tiles, which are much harder. Our goal was to determine how well the bits could live up to their intended drilling purposes.

We scored each bit (or bit set) using a rubric throughout the hands-on testing process. The better a drill bit performed, the higher the score. We looked for durability and relatively smooth-edged holes; however, it’s not unusual to have some slightly ragged edges. We didn’t judge the bits on how long it took to drill through a tile because different types of tile require longer drilling times, and it’s counterproductive to exert strong pressure while drilling, as it can cause the bits to break. 

After drilling an initial 10 holes with each bit, we inspected them for dulling and wear before drilling more holes. We finished by adding up the scores and using them to determine the best categories for each set of drill bits.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Drill Bits for Tile

Many drill bits might appear similar at first glance, but the best drill bits for ceramic tile are very different from the best drill bits for hard porcelain tile, wood, or steel. In addition to selecting the right bit for the type of tile, there are a few other considerations, such as tip shape and whether the tip comes with carbide or diamond-dust coating.

Types of Bits 

Whether for drilling wood, metal, masonry, or tile, the shanks (stems) of almost all drill bits are made from high-speed steel (HSS). Though it’s a hard-wearing, relatively inexpensive material, HSS can lose its sharpness quickly when drilling hard materials like stone and ceramic tile, so the tip of the bit is given a coating to make it harder and more durable.

The most common tip coating is tungsten carbide (often just called carbide), which is a combination of tungsten and carbon. Tough and heat-resistant, carbide-tipped bits stay sharp for longer. 

A less common coating is the powdered form of industrial diamonds (usually called dust), which is fused to the drill bit via an electroplating process under tremendous heat and pressure. 

Diamond bits are among the only ones suitable for drilling into porcelain or quarry tile, both of which are extremely hard. Unfortunately, some diamond bits on the market claim to be able to drill through porcelain tile, but as we discovered in our hands-on testing, they fail. In other words, not all diamond bits live up to their seller’s claims.

Type of Tile and Tips

The material tile is made of will impact drill-bit choice. Fortunately, most drill bits list the types of tile they’re designed for on the package or product description.

• Ceramic tiles, the most common type found in kitchens and bathrooms, are ideally drilled with a carbide-tipped masonry drill bit. 
• Unglazed terra-cotta tiles, popular for rustic decor, are relatively soft. They can be drilled effectively with a plain HSS masonry bit, though a carbide-tipped version will last longer.
• Glass and some types of stone, such as slate and marble, are also relatively soft, and a carbide-tipped bit will work well. 
• Porcelain is much harder, so a diamond-tipped drill bit is necessary. 

The two most common shapes for tile-drilling bits are spear and spiral. Spear tips look like small arrows, and while they have the sharpness needed to create precise holes, their narrow shape makes them less durable and more likely to break. Spiral tips have a flat blade along the top with a little point in the middle that helps the user center the hole. Spiral tips are typically more durable but—depending on the tile—can take longer to complete the hole. In general, spear tips are better suited to softer tiles, such as travertine, marble, or ceramic, while spiral tips are less likely to break when drilling harder tile materials, including quartz and granite.

Size and Quantity 

Drill bits are labeled by the diameter of their shanks. The smallest drill bits for tile are usually around ⅛ inch in diameter. The biggest twist drill types are seldom more than ½ inch. When drilling in hard tile, it can be difficult to control large bits (more than ¼ inch) on shiny, glazed surfaces, so it’s common practice to first drill a small “pilot” hole and then follow up using the larger bit. 

For holes larger than ½ inch in diameter, a hole saw (or hollow core bit) is often recommended. A hole saw bit features a circular ring of HSS, usually with a diamond-coated edge. Hole saws can be large enough to allow for the fitting of plumbing pipes, for example. However, some have limited depth, so it’s crucial to check the dimensions before purchase.

If only one or two holes are required for a particular job, buying a single drill bit can be an economical option. However, depending on the bit type, an individual bit can cost several dollars. If drilling tile is likely to be an ongoing task, a drill-bit set may be a smart investment. A set typically includes several bits in various sizes. 

FAQs

When drilling through tile, it’s best to go slowly and use only light pressure on the drill bit. Don’t try to force the bit through—let the drill and the bit do all the work. If you still have questions about selecting and using the best drill bits for tile, keep reading for answers to some commonly asked questions.  

Meet the Tester

Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, landscaping, technology, home security, and design. His articles have been featured on such sites as Popular Mechanics, Futurism, SFGate, Pro Tools Review, and more. With each review, his goal is to help readers determine whether a product meets their needs and if it is or isn’t worth its price tag.

Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She tests a wide range of power tools and other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.

Additional research provided by Bob Beacham.

 

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