Drilling through ceramic tile is a risky procedure, as the tile’s fragility makes it prone to cracking and breaking. You must use patience and acquire the correct tools to get the job done.
Step One
Protect yourself. Put on safety glasses. Ideally, the tile should not chip or break; but in the event that it does, your eyes should be protected.
Step Two
Penetrate the surface of the tile. Ceramic tiles, which are common in kitchens and bathrooms, often have a hard, glazed surface to protect the tile from damage. A drill bit will skip and jump around on the smooth surface which can add unwanted scratches. To avoid this, try the following:Make an "X" shape using masking tape that crosses over the spot where you want the hole. The masking tape helps by giving the drill bit some traction. The tape also prevents the outer rim of the hole from chipping.Penetrate the glazed surface. If you are drilling a pilot hole, use the smaller carbide drill bit. Once you have broken through, stop the drill before continuing to the next step.
Step Three
Drill through the tile. Set your drill to a low speed and apply modest pressure to the surface. Allow the drill to work slowly rather than push hard and crack the tile.Applying too much pressure can cause the tile to blow out and crack on the backside, creating a weak spot in the tile and often a much larger hole than originally intended.