Dense tile drilling

What drill bit should you use for porcelain tile?

Wet-only diamond bits need the manufacturer-prescribed water supply. Dry-rated diamond bits have their own operating rules and may be rated for a different machine interface.

Quick answer

Dense porcelain frequently needs a porcelain-rated diamond drilling bit or corer. The crucial decision is whether your specific bit system is designed for wet cooling or dry operation—and what drill or grinder it requires.

Check your exact situation ↓

Interactive selector

Find a bit for your setup

Answer only the questions that change the selection. If the combination is not documented, the tool will say so.

Which porcelain-rated bit system?

Anchor / safety details (important for wall drilling)

This hole is for an anchor / fixing Electrical cables, water pipes or other hidden services may be in the drilling path This drilling affects a structural or safety-critical element

Loading documented selection rules…

This does not verify workpiece condition, bit stock length, chuck capacity, structural loads or exact cutting speed. Follow the chosen manufacturer’s specification and use appropriate eye, hearing, workpiece and dust protection.

What changes the bit choice?

Wet and dry are different systems

Wet-only diamond bits need the manufacturer-prescribed water supply. Dry-rated diamond bits have their own operating rules and may be rated for a different machine interface.

No hammer action through porcelain

The tile can crack under percussion. Drill in the compatible rotary mode prescribed by the bit manufacturer.

What lies behind the tile matters

If the hole continues into brick or concrete, use a suitable bit for that substrate after clearing the tile. Check for hidden pipes and cables in wet areas.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using a wet-only diamond bit without water.
Using a dry system with copied wet-bit RPM.
Switching on hammer before the tile is cleared.

Source-bound guidance

Technical references

RUBI: Porcelain tile drill bits: types and methods
Diamond bit families for dense porcelain: wet vs dry-specific designs; Deactivate hammer drilling in porcelain. RUBI product-specific guidance; does not prove diamond is only technically possible option
RUBI: Drilling Tiles
Ceramic small holes: appropriate carbide tile bits; Porcelain generally needs specialist bit; choose bit-specific wet/dry setup. RUBI says conventional tungsten spade bit not suitable for porcelain; specialist modern carbide tile bits may be approved by other makers
Bosch Professional: Tile drilling — hard ceramic technology
Specialised carbide technology exists for hard ceramic/porcelain tile; Brittle tile handling. Prevents absolute claim that all carbide bits are unsuitable for porcelain
RUBI: Guide to RUBI drill bits — EASYGRES / DRYGRES
Wet EASYGRES needs water; DRYGRES systems designed for dry drilling; Different machine/RPM profiles by product family. Never transfer RPM from one diamond-bit system to another

Manufacturer guidance applies within the relevant product and material scope. A listed source is not proof that all bits of the same category are interchangeable.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a carbide tile bit on porcelain?

Some specialized carbide systems are rated for hard ceramic; do not treat every cheap carbide spear-point bit as porcelain-rated.

Do I need water?

Only when the chosen bit is specified for wet drilling. Dry-rated tooling follows a different manufacturer procedure.

Need a different material? Browse all ten material guides. Interested in wall fixings? Read our anchor-size warning and workflow.