What Tools Are Needed For Tiling
Most tiling tools cost very little and having the full set ready before the adhesive is mixed keeps the job moving.
Written by David White
Updated
The short answer
The tools needed for tiling are a tape measure, a chinagraph pencil, a tile cutter, a paddle mixer and bucket for the adhesive, a notched trowel, tile spacers, a spirit level, a rubber grout float and a tile sponge. An angle grinder and diamond drill bits cover cut-outs and pipe holes. Apart from the tile cutter, most tiling tools are cheap and sold at any DIY store.
Tiling a kitchen splashback or a bathroom wall is a satisfying DIY job, and most of the kit you need is inexpensive. The tile cutter is the one tool that costs a bit more, and the rest are hand tools you'll keep using on every tiling job after this one.
The list below assumes you've already bought your tiles, adhesive and grout. The tools are grouped by the stage of the job where each one earns its place.
| Tool | What It's For | Needed On Every Job |
|---|---|---|
| Tape measure | Setting out and measuring cuts | Yes |
| Chinagraph pencil | Marking cut lines on glazed tiles | Yes |
| Tile cutter | Straight cuts across tiles | Yes |
| Angle grinder | Cut-outs in the middle of a tile | No |
| Diamond drill bits | Holes for pipes and fittings | No |
| Paddle mixer and bucket | Mixing powdered adhesive | Yes, unless using ready-mixed |
| Notched trowel | Spreading and combing adhesive | Yes |
| Tile spacers | Even grout joints | Yes |
| Spirit level or levelling system | Keeping rows straight and flush | Yes |
| Rubber grout float | Pressing grout into the joints | Yes |
| Tile sponge | Cleaning off grout haze | Yes |
Measuring And Marking Tools
Tape Measure
Most tiling mistakes start with a bad measurement, so this is the tool to take your time with. You'll use it to work out how many tiles to buy, to set out the first row so you don't end up with a thin sliver at one edge, and to measure every cut and pipe position.
Marking Pencil Or Pen
A measurement is only useful if the mark it leaves is clear. Chinagraph pencils draw cleanly on glazed tiles and wipe off afterwards, which makes them our first choice, and a whiteboard pen works at a push. Keep permanent markers away from tiles, because the ink can be close to impossible to shift from some glazes.
Tools For Cutting And Drilling Tiles
Tile Cutter
Unless your walls and floors happen to be an exact number of tiles wide, you'll be making cuts. Manual cutters score and snap, while electric wet cutters run a diamond blade through water for thick porcelain and stone. Check the cutter you choose is rated for the material and thickness of your tiles, and our tested picks of the best tile cutters compare both types.
Angle Grinder
You won't need one on every job, but an angle grinder fitted with a diamond blade handles cuts a tile cutter can't, such as a rectangle in the middle of a tile for a flush plate. Our guide on how to cut tiles with or without a tile cutter covers cut-outs like this one.
Diamond Drill Bits
Pipes, tap connections, toilet roll holders and towel rails all need holes through the tile. A standard bit gets too hot and risks cracking it, so go for diamond-tipped bits. Many of the best masonry drill bits also drill tiles, and we've had plenty of success using the Bosch CYL-9 MultiConstruction bit on tiles.
Mixing And Spreading The Adhesive
Paddle Mixer And Buckets
Powdered adhesive is mixed with water in a sturdy bucket or flexible tub. A dedicated paddle mixer makes light work of bigger batches, and for smaller amounts a mixing paddle in a cordless drill does the job, as you can see below.
Tile Trowels
A notched trowel spreads the adhesive and combs it into even ridges that the tile beds into. On floors, a square notched trowel is the one to pick, as it leaves a thicker bed for the tiles to sit in. On walls, a trowel with smaller rounded notches suits the thinner bed that wall tiles need.
Setting The Tiles Straight And Flush
Tile Spacers
Spacers sit at the corners of each tile and hold an even gap for the grout. They're sold in different widths for walls and floors, and our complete guide to tile spacers covers the sizes to use and when to take them out.
Spirit Level Or Tile Levelling System
Rows need to be level and the tiles flat to each other before the adhesive sets. A spirit level does this on walls and smaller floors. On large-format floor tiles, a levelling system with clips and wedges adjusts to the tile thickness and pulls neighbouring edges flush.
Grouting And Cleaning Up
Rubber Grout Float
Once the adhesive has fully set, the grout goes in to fill the joints and lock the tiles together, and a rubber grout float is how you get it there. Work it diagonally across the joints to press the grout in and scrape off the excess in the same movement.
Tile Sponge
A tile sponge is denser and tougher than a kitchen sponge, which makes cleaning grout residue off the tile faces far easier. Wring it out well and wipe gently so you don't drag grout out of the joints you've just filled.
Optional Tiling Tools Worth Having
Beyond the essentials, a few extras make tiling more comfortable and neater. Knee pads save your knees on floors, tile nippers nibble small shaped cuts around pipes, and a rubber mallet beds large tiles down without cracking them. A scraper is handy for cleaning old adhesive off the wall, and if you're starting from an old tiled wall, our guide on removing old tiles quickly covers that stage. In a bathroom, a bead of mould-resistant bathroom sealant finishes the edges along the bath, basin and shower tray.
Getting Your Tiling Kit Together
The core kit is small and cheap, and the cutter is the only piece that needs real thought. Leave the grinder and diamond bits until a job calls for cut-outs and pipe holes. Whatever you're tiling, lay every tool out before the adhesive is mixed, because hunting for the float while the bucket starts to set is no fun.
Watch Us Do It
Effective Tile Cutting: Electric or Manual? We've Tested Multiple Tile Cutters To Find The Best!
Your Questions Answered
What is the most important tool for tiling?
The tile cutter is the most important tiling tool to get right, because almost every wall and floor needs cut tiles at the edges. Choose one rated for the material and thickness of your tiles. Accurate measuring with a tape and a clear marker comes a close second, since a good cutter can't fix a cut marked in the wrong place.
What size notched trowel do you need for tiling?
The notch size for tiling depends on the size of the tile, with larger tiles needing deeper notches for a thicker adhesive bed. Wall tiles suit a smaller notch and floor tiles a larger square notch. The adhesive bag lists the recommended trowel size for different tile sizes, so check that before buying.
Can you tile without a tile cutter?
You can tile without a tile cutter by using an angle grinder with a diamond blade for straight cuts and cut-outs. A glass cutter scores thin ceramic tiles well enough to snap them, and tile nippers handle small shaped cuts. On a bigger job, a tile cutter is far quicker and gives cleaner, more consistent edges.
Do you need a spirit level for tiling?
You need a spirit level for tiling to keep the first row level and check that each course stays straight as you work up the wall. Without one, small errors build up until the rows visibly slope. On floors, the level also shows where tiles sit higher than their neighbours so you can bed them down before the adhesive sets.
Which drill bit have you used on tiles?
The Bosch CYL-9 MultiConstruction bit has served us well on tiles. It's one of several masonry bits that handle tile too, so you don't always need a separate set. Diamond-tipped bits are the safest bet for larger holes, as a standard bit heats up and risks cracking the tile.
Is a whiteboard pen fine for marking tile cuts?
Yes, it does the job, though a chinagraph pencil leaves a crisper line on glazed tiles and wipes off just as easily. The one to avoid is a permanent marker. Some glazes hold on to the ink so stubbornly that the mark is there for good.
Can I mix tile adhesive with a drill instead of a paddle mixer?
Yes, for small batches. Our photo shows a mixing paddle in a cordless drill doing exactly that. Once you're mixing larger amounts for a floor or a full wall, a dedicated paddle mixer copes far better, and whichever you use, a sturdy bucket or flexible tub stops the mix spilling everywhere.
Which extra tiling tools are worth having?
If you're tiling a floor, start with knee pads, as you'll be on them for hours. Tile nippers save a trip to the cutter for small shaped pieces around pipes, and a rubber mallet beds big tiles down without cracking them. For bathrooms, add a scraper for old adhesive and a tube of mould-resistant sealant for the edges.
Dave, or Demolition Dave as the team calls him, worked as a builder for over 10 years before joining DIY Works. He now concentrates on his own properties and writes most of our construction content, along with tools, carpentry and plenty more.