Best drill bit for porcelain tile: which type for which hole
The best drill bit for porcelain tile is a diamond bit, cooled with water or wax. See which bit fits which hole, and when a carbide tile bit is enough.
Hub
Drilling
Browse guides by topic and find the next step for your project.
This hub is about making a clean hole in the right place, in whatever you're drilling. It covers drill bits, drills and drivers, and the problems that come up along the way.
The material decides almost everything. A bit that cuts wood well will skate on tile, and burn out in steel. So start with what you're drilling into, then pick the bit, the speed and the method.
How to pick a guide:
- Know the material? Go to its cluster: tile and glass, metal, concrete and brick, plastic, or wood. For tile, start with the best drill bit for porcelain tile.
- Bit snapped or stuck? Read how to remove a broken drill bit.
- Drilling into a wall? Read what happens if you drill into a gas pipe before you start.
- No drill at all? Some jobs have a workaround, like making a hole in resin without a drill.
The drill bit selector suggests a bit, speed and method for each material.
Safety basics for this job
- Check for pipes and wires first. Code calls for steel plates where cables pass within 1 1/4 inches of a stud's face. If you smell gas after drilling, leave and call from outside.
- Wear safety glasses. Metal chips and masonry grit fly off the bit. OSHA requires eye protection at work for flying particles.
- Control the dust. Concrete, brick and tile contain silica. For handheld drills in concrete, OSHA's silica rule calls for a shroud with dust collection.
- Brace for bind-up. Big bits and hole saws can grab and twist the drill. Use the side handle and a slow speed.
Start here
How to remove a broken drill bit from metal, wood or concrete
Snapped a drill bit in the hole? Grip it if it sticks out. If it broke flush, grind it out, drill around it or move over. Fixes for metal, wood, concrete.
What happens if you drill into a gas pipe? What to do right now
Drilled into a gas pipe? Leave now. Don't touch switches, phones or the drill. Call 911 and the gas utility from outside. Signs and next steps.
How to make a hole in resin without a drill
Mold the hole in with a resin hole maker, twist it with a pin vise, or poke it while the resin is rubbery. Which way fits your piece, and how to stay safe.
Topics in this hub
Drill bit types & sizes
Twist, masonry, step, spade, Forstner and hole saw bits, size charts, and what bit coatings really change.
Tile & glass
Drill porcelain, ceramic and glass without cracking it, from small anchor holes to big pipe holes.
Metal
Speed, pressure, cutting oil and the right bit for steel, stainless, aluminum and cast iron.
Concrete & brick
Hammer drill or rotary hammer, masonry bits, and what to do when you hit rebar.
Plastic, acrylic & resin
Drill acrylic, PVC, fiberglass and resin without chips, cracks or melted edges.
Wood
Clean, straight holes in wood without tear-out, plus angled holes and hole saws.
Stuck, broken & smoking bits
Remove a broken bit, free one stuck in the chuck, and fix bits that slip, wobble or smoke.
Hit a pipe or wire
What to do right now if you drill into a gas pipe, water pipe or wire, and how to avoid it.
Drills & drivers
Drill vs impact driver, clutch numbers, and which tool to buy first.
Tools for this hub
- Drill bit selector (material → bit, speed, technique)
- Drill bit size chart (printable PDF)
Materials
All drilling guides
Best drill bit for porcelain tile: which type for which hole
The best drill bit for porcelain tile is a diamond bit, cooled with water or wax. See which bit fits which hole, and when a carbide tile bit is enough.
Best drill bit for hardened steel: cobalt or carbide?
Cobalt bits drill heat-treated steel like Grade 8 bolts. Fully hardened tool steel needs carbide in a drill press. How to tell which you have and drill it.
What is drill rod? Grades, sizes and what it's used for
Drill rod is precision-ground tool steel bar, sold soft so you can machine it, then harden it. Grades, tolerances, uses and how it differs from tool steel.
What is a magnetic drill (and when a DIYer needs one)
A magnetic drill is a portable drill press with a magnet base that clamps to steel. How it works, annular cutters, the 3/8-inch rule and when to rent one.
What is a drill bushing?
A drill bushing is a hard steel sleeve in a jig that guides the bit to the exact spot and angle. The main types, how they work, and where DIYers meet them.
What happens if you drill into a gas pipe? What to do right now
Drilled into a gas pipe? Leave now. Don't touch switches, phones or the drill. Call 911 and the gas utility from outside. Signs and next steps.
How to remove a broken drill bit from metal, wood or concrete
Snapped a drill bit in the hole? Grip it if it sticks out. If it broke flush, grind it out, drill around it or move over. Fixes for metal, wood, concrete.
How to make a hole in resin without a drill
Mold the hole in with a resin hole maker, twist it with a pin vise, or poke it while the resin is rubbery. Which way fits your piece, and how to stay safe.
How to drill a 4-inch hole in a concrete foundation wall
A 4-inch hole through a foundation needs a wet diamond core bit on a core drill. For block or brick, a carbide core bit works. Steps, checks and safety.