How to Drill Into Tiles Without Cracking

Drilling into bathroom tiles using a diamond drill bit with water cooling

Peter Yusuf - Jan 20, 2026

Doing a home reno and struggling to drill tiles properly? In this blog, we will explore how to drill into tiles like an expert and carry out bathroom renovations smoothly without damaging your precious tiles.

We have covered how to drill tiles properly, best drill bits for tiles,

Drilling through porcelain tiles, drilling through ceramic tiles and drilling into wall tiles in this exclusive blog so that your tile drilling woes are gone forever.

Drilling into tiles is a recurring task that you will come across while renovating your bathrooms, kitchens and other rooms in your space. You might be adding a new bathroom cabinet, planning to add a new bathroom vanity or mirror, a towel rack or a decor.

If you don’t want to spend extra dollars on menial renovation tasks like drilling into tiles, you will need some proper guidance before you take on the task with confidence.

Failing to do things correctly might end up costing you more instead if your beloved tiles crack or break mistakenly.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s delve into the topic right away and make you a confident tile driller.

What we have Covered in this Blog?

To help you get started with the blog, let’s go through all the topics that have been covered through consultation with the experts at Royal Tiles:

Common mistakes that cause tiles to break or damage.
Tools needed to drill into tiles properly.
How to drill into different types of tiles: Porcelain vs ceramic vs stone vs mosaic tiles.
How to drill into bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles and wall tiles.
Drilling tiles properly using the right drill bits, speeds and methods.

Common mistakes that cause tiles to break or damaged

Every home owner on a mission to drill into tiles successfully must begin by understanding the theory on why tiles are so vulnerable while drilling and what rookie mistakes exactly cause that vulnerability to increase.

Drilling with the wrong drill bit.
Drilling at high pressure and speed.
Applying too much downward pressure while drilling.
Drilling near the tile edges and hitting the edge points.
Causing the tile surface to overheat.

So, avoid these rookie mistakes if you want to accomplish your tile drilling mission successfully without hurting your tiles.

If you want to keep things simple, just remember, all you have to do is, take things slowly, without applying too much pressure and overheating the surface.

You will find the exact steps as you continue reading the below in another section.

Tools needed to drill into tiles properly

Before you start touching your tiles, make sure that all the tools mentioned below are ticked off the checklist so that you are properly equipped for your reno project.

Also, ensure that you have proper safety gear besides these tools like gloves and safety goggles because every safe reno project begins with ensuring that you are safe first.

Here are the proper tools that you are going to need:

Diamond-tipped drill bit (used for porcelain tiles, stone tiles, mosaic tiles).
Carbide-tipped masonry drill bit (acceptable for ceramic tiles only).
Variable-speed drill.
Masking tape.
Spray bottle or water source (for cooling off).
Spirit level and pencil or marker.

Tile Drill Bits by Tile Type

Drill bits are the key to a successful tile drilling. You cannot expect smooth results if you use the same tile drill bit type for every tile type. It doesn’t work that way. And if you have made this mistake in the past, it’s time to make amends and get the right drill bits.

Just follow this drill bit guide to make your task easier

Type of Tile

Recommended Tile Bit

Porcelain Tiles

Diamond Drill Bit (Non-negotiable for modern Australian porcelain tiles)

Ceramic Tiles

Carbide Drill Bit or Diamond Drill Bit

Natural Stone Tiles

Diamond Drill Bit

Mosaic Tiles

Diamond Drill Bit (smaller diameter)

Tiles still win for pure longevity, though hybrid has closed the gap more than people expect. A well-installed porcelain tile floor can outlive your mortgage. Tiles are harder, more scratch-resistant and tend to age better than most other flooring types. But they are not forgiving. At all.

Quality hybrid flooring is not far behind and that surprises a lot of people. The waterproof kitchen flooring Sydney residents love about hybrid means it will not swell or warp from spills. We have even seen hybrid hold up better than tiles in rentals where spills just are not cleaned up quickly.

How to Drill Into Tiles Properly: Step by Step Instructions

Now that you are equipped with the right tools and materials for your tile drilling project, we can head to step by step process for getting it right.

Step 1: Mark the Hole Position

First things first, start by marking the spot accurately where the drilling is needed with a pencil or a marker. You can also place a piece of masking tape over the spot and mark on top of it to avoid slipping while drilling into the tile.

Step 2: Apply the Masking Tape

Applying the masking tape correctly over the spot is crucial to avoid the drill bit from slipping while drilling and reduce the surface vibration.

Step 3 : Start Drilling Slowly

Once you are done applying the masking tape and marking the spot, start drilling at a low rpm. Make sure that you avoid using the hammer mode right away and be more patient if you are dealing with porcelain tiles here. Hold the drill perpendicular to the tile or get the best result.

Step 4: Keep the Tile Cool

The biggest culprit behind tiles cracking while drilling is overheating of the drill and the tile surface. So, spray water lightly around or pause in between to let things cool off a bit and you should be safe.

Step 5: Up the Speed Gradually After Breaking the Glaze

Once you have drilled successfully through the tile surface, you can increase the speed slightly to drill into the substrate (brick, plasterboard, cement, etc).

That’s it, if done correctly, you should have a perfectly drilled tile hole in front of you.

How to Drill into Different Types of Tiles?

Here’s a further breakdown into how you should handle different types of tile white drilling and what you can expect before you get a smooth finish.

How to Drill into Porcelain Tiles?

Porcelain tiles are extremely dense and harder than ceramic tiles with low absorption surface. So, here are some tips for drilling into porcelain tiles properly:

Only use a diamond drill bit for porcelain tiles.
Don’t rush or apply huge pressure or high speed right away. That will definitely ruin. things for you. With porcelain tiles, slow and steady is the way to go.
Expect drilling to take longer time for porcelain tiles and keep spraying water in between to cool off the drill and the surface.

How to Drill into Ceramic Tiles?

Ceramic tiles have similar properties as porcelain tiles, less harder but still fragile if not drilled properly. Follow these tips if you are dealing with ceramic tiles:

Choose the right drill bits. Carbide drill bits can work for ceramic tiles but diamond drill bits are the safer option.
Slow and steady drilling is still the way.
Avoid drilling near the edges for ceramic tiles.

How to Drill into Natural Stone Tiles?

With stone tiles you are dealing with diverse density and structure, so

Only use diamond drill bits.
Be more cautious while drilling into the veins and natural imperfections.
Avoid applying heavy pressure.

How to Drill into Mosaic Tiles?

Drilling to mosaic tiles can be more challenging due to the smaller pieces, grout lines and sheet-mounted layouts.

Here’s the right way to drill into mosaic tiles:

Drill through the tile and not grout lines if possible.
Use smaller diamond drill bits for drilling mosaic tiles.
Be cautious and drill extremely slow.

How to Drill into Bathroom Tiles?

Bathrooms are the spaces where tile drillings are more recurring so here are some quick tips for your bathroom reno:

Make sure you don’t damage the waterproofing membranes while drilling.
Use wall plugs designed for wet areas like bathrooms.
Seal drilled holes with silicone after installations like mirrors, tower rails, shelves, shower screens and more.

Final Advice for Drilling Tiles the Right Way

If you have made it to the end of the blog, you are ready to start with the tile drilling process. Tile Drilling is a tricky task so don’t undermine it.

Follow the steps mentioned above properly and you are good to go. Just note that a slow and steady approach is the key while drilling into tiles.

Tile drills can be more challenging depending on the nature of the tile and the material so treat each tile differently and don’t jump into the same drilling method for every tile.

Lastly, if you are in spoearch of the best tiles in Sydney, Royal Tiles is the place to be where you can find the most beautiful and diverse tiles from around the world.

Contact us today or visit our tile showroom for a majestic tile exploration experience and consult with top tile experts to give your space the best tile makeover.

Peter Yusuf

Peter Yusuf is a seasoned Sales and Business Development Manager at Royal Tiles in Sydney, Australia, with a proven track record of success in the global architectural and interior design sectors. With over a decade of experience, he possesses a rich understanding of tile selection and design that has helped countless clients transform their spaces. Peter's expertise spans a wide array of materials and styles, positioning him as a trusted authority in the tile industry.

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How to Drill Into Tiles Like an Expert and Avoid Breaking Your Tiles?

What we have Covered in this Blog?

Common mistakes that cause tiles to break or damaged

Tools needed to drill into tiles properly

Tile Drill Bits by Tile Type