How to Drill Through Tiles: 4 DIY Tips To Try

Using tiles on your walls and floors is a great way to give your home interior updates added practicality and longevity. 

However, all that time spent choosing the perfect tile shade, material and shape (not to mention installing them with exacting precision) could be wasted if you don’t get the finishing touches right. 

We’re talking about those small yet important jobs that involve drilling your tiles to fix things securely to walls and floors. 

But that’s easier said than done without the right know-how. 

After all of the effort that’s gone into tiling your floor and walls, it’s no surprise that the thought of drilling holes into your DIY masterpiece fills you with feelings of dread. Slight misalignments when marking the drill points can lead to a mirror hanging at an odd angle, or worse – cracking a tile! 

Luckily, in today’s post, we’re giving you the lowdown on drilling through tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, hallways and more, so you can avoid a DIY disaster. 

Know your tile material

From ceramic and porcelain to natural stone, glass and concrete, modern tiles come in an array of materials that make them incredibly strong, water-resistant and durable. 

Many tiles may look the same at a glance, but each material boasts its own unique properties. Some are harder than others, too.

So, when it comes to drilling into tiles, you need to know exactly what material you’re dealing with to make sure you have the right equipment (namely your drill bit) to penetrate through them correctly and safely. 

To pierce through the hard glazed surface and dense core of any tile material, a regular drill bit won’t be strong enough. 

Instead, you’ll need to invest in either a carbide-tipped or a diamond-tipped drill bit. 

• Carbide-tipped drill bit: these masonry drill bits are cheaper and capable of drilling through tiles made from ceramic. However, carbide tips aren’t as hard as diamond drill bits, so they will wear out quicker and become blunt. They shouldn’t ever be used on porcelain or hard stone 
• Diamond-tipped drill bit: although these drill bits are more expensive, they’re worth the investment as the tip tends to wear slower and they can be used to drill through almost any material. This includes concrete, porcelain and natural stone like marble and granite

Tile drilling essentials

Before you start any DIY tiling job, there’s a certain amount of preparation required to make sure you have all the essential tiling accessories you need. Drilling through tiles is no different. 

So, let’s lay out all the essentials you need for drilling into tiles to ensure you can make a successful cut in your tiles with minimal risk to you and your handiwork: 

• Power drill
• Sharp carbide or diamond-tipped drill bit (see above on which drill bit is best suited to your tile material)
• Masking tape
• Spirit level
• Pen or sharp pencil for marking the drill points on the tiles
• Safety glasses

How to drill through tiles

There’s nothing more frustrating than having to live with a mirror or fixture that’s been attached at a slightly odd angle. So it’s important to take extra care when marking your tile drilling points to ensure everything’s perfectly lined up. 

Here’s how to drill into tiles like a pro:

1. Mock up your position: first, apply masking tape to the rough area you’re planning to drill, so you can make a provisional mark of where you want your drill hole to be 
2. Finalise your drill marks: there’s no margin for error when marking the drill points on a tile. Even a slip of just a few millimetres could result in the items failing to fit in place properly, so use any pre-cut holes on items like shelves or mirrors to accurately mark out where the hole should be. Use a spirit level to check that the line between the two mounting points is perfectly level
3. Get your safety gear on: make sure your work area is tidy prior to drilling through tiles, and always wear safety glasses and a mask throughout the drilling process
4. Make your guide hole: if your drill has a guide plate, hold it over the point you’ll be drilling – this will prevent the drill from unexpectedly slipping. Place the drill bit inside the guide plate, and gently begin drilling into the tile for 2-3 seconds. After creating this shallow guide hole, submerge the drill bit in a cup of cold water to cool it down. Repeat this process for any other holes
5. Start the deep drill holes: once the drill bit is cool, return to the tile and drill into the shallow guide hole for 5-8 seconds. This time, apply a normal amount of pressure. Wet the drill bit with cool water and repeat this process until you have cut a deep enough hole in the tile and surface beneath
6. Clean the area: with your hole cut, remove the masking tape and clean off any dust by wiping the tile with a wet cloth. Then, attach the fixture to the drilled tile

Top tips for drilling through tiles

Tiles tend to have low tensile strength, which means they’re extremely easy to crack while drilling. So, when drilling into tiles, the success of your technique relies on you taking the process steadily and keeping these tips in mind: 

• Cool your drill bit: the friction of your diamond drill bit against hard tile causes the drill bit to get extremely hot. To dramatically reduce the risk of cracking tiles, make sure you keep your drill bit cool through throughout the process
• Use a sharp drill bit: to minimise the risk of your tiles cracking, always use a sharp tip on your drill bit. Be aware that the hardness of tiles means even carbide and diamond drill bits can quickly lose their sharp edges, so if you’re doing large tiling projects, regularly check the tips
• Prolong the drill bit lifespan: the length of a drill bit’s lifetime depends on the speed, lubricant, pressure and density of the material you’re drilling. To gain the maximum life from your drill bit, use the slower speed settings and apply as little pressure as possible

Whatever your dream tiling ideas may be, those finishing touches like hanging a bathroom cabinet or fixing down a toilet really don’t need to turn into a DIY catastrophe. With our tips on how to drill through tiles, you can guarantee you end up with a professional-looking finish. 

Now you know how to drill into tiles like a pro, are you ready to get started on a tiling project of your own? You’re sure to find the perfect tiles for your next home renovation with our extensive collection of high-quality wall tiles and floor tiles. Plus, check out our blog for plenty more tiling DIY, styling tips and more.