Using a wet tile saw is a common choice when redoing any room floor, or most especially the kitchen or bathroom backsplash. Today, everyone opts for tile design in areas where water is used heavily, such as the bathroom.
But finding the right tool to meet your personal needs without having to break the bank, is the tricky part. Most wet tile saws often come with a salty price tag.
Besides, there are a plethora of options on the market, which makes it more challenging to find a good budget-option model.
Fortunately, we’ve done the tricky part and compiled a list of the best wet tile saw under $300 for people with a tight budget. Also, there’s a detailed buying guide to ensure you make an informed decision.
Contents
Best Wet Tile Saw Under $300
1. SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw
This model is an ideal choice for home DIYers, and also works well for private contractors. This 7-inch wet tile saw is sturdy enough to last through several jobs with impressive minimal water drip.
SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw makes a little mess, unlike other tabletop wet saws on the market. It features a hydro-lock water reservoir system that ensures that the blade has water contained near, which is responsible for the saw dripping very little water without compromising efficiency.
Further, you won’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning and make using this saw in your home comfortable. This model comes with strong plastic construction and an aluminum tabletop to handle a lot of weight. Sadly, the extension arm is made of plastic, which is a bit disappointing.
SKIL 3550-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw is durable and features a decently working blade guard. However, a few of upgrades could make this unit incredible. For the price, this saw offers excellent value for the money. Plus, it’s very portable and lightweight.
Additional Specification
- Best for: Kitchen or Bathroom
- Power Source: Corded-Electric
- Motor Speed: 3600 RPM
- Weight: 24 pounds
- Blade Size: 7-inch
What We Like:
- Sliding side extensions.
- Excellent water containment system.
- Three different angles bevel cuts.
What We Didn’t Like:
- The fence is a bit tricky to move with good accuracy.
2. MK Diamond 158252 MK-145 4-1/2-Inch Wet Tile Saw
MK Diamond 158252 MK-145 includes a 7-inch blade, and a 7-inch saw. However, with a fortified diamond blade and adjustable rip guide, you can’t go wrong with this model.
Further, this model features a lightweight water pump and includes a high-impact water reservoir that won’t peel or rust in a short period. This means this tool will serve you for many years.
Of course, you still need to take care of saw properly, but you don’t have to be obsessed about cleaning the saw after each job. MK Diamond 158252 MK-145 is designed for one of the go contractors.
Just like any budget option, there are always some drawbacks. While some of these caveats are deal-breakers, others are not just a little compromise for the price cut back. With MK Diamond 158252 MK-145, you might want to consider this drawback before making a choice.
This tool is only efficient when it comes to cutting tiles about 0.5-inch thick. This means professionals may have to stay off this model. Also, there have been complaining about the blade’s precision and ability to cut glass well.
Additional Specification
- Best for: Lightweight and compact
- Power Source: 2-Horse Power
- Motor Speed: 5500 RPM
- Weight: 14.07 pounds
- Blade Size: 4-1/2-inch
What We Like:
- Compact and lightweight design.
- High-impact water reservoir.
- Runs off of standard household current. UL approved.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not ideal for professionals and work best for DIYers. Only capable of cutting tiles with 0.5-inch thickness.
3. PORTER-CABLE PCE980 Wet Tile Saw
Coming up next on our review is Porter-Cable PCE980 Wet Tile Saw. This 7-inch model features a porcelain tile blade and a good buy for people looking to own a cost-effective and reliable saw.
This unit is equipped with an onboard miter square to allow you to cut with excellent precision and accuracy each time. Also, you get a spectrum of features for this small price to cut back on excess clutter and debris.
The tabletop is made from stainless steel to withstand heavy-duty use and multiple projects. Coming with an innovative design, this tool features a drain plug water channels to help attenuate the mess and make cleaning it after use a breeze.
When you are done, all you have to do is use the carry handles of the roll cage to transport the saw to wherever it is safe and secure. Thanks to its design, homeowners can easily tuck this wet tile saw away until the next project or your work truck for the following day’s task.
Regardless, Porter-Cable PCE980 Wet Tile Saw is always ready when the need for it arises.
Additional Specification
- Best for: Porcelain, Ceramic & Stone tiles
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Motor Speed: 2850 RPM
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Blade Size: 7-inch
What We Like:
- Excellent power and impressive cutting.
- It only weighs 32 pounds making it easy to transport. Sliding tray for guiding the tile as you cut.
- Low price to avoid the future cost of renting.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Small what reservoir.
4. SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw
When your budget and money is a problem, this tool is a top recommendation. The SKIL 3540-02 is a performing budget option you can opt for this year. This model is very durable and has a long shelf life, even when used regularly.
While this saw comes with an affordable price tag, it cut different material perfectly and without an issue. Also, the laser guides included are a good addition, but the tabletop has a measurement, which means there isn’t a real need for them.
Additional Specification
- Best for: Straight Miter Cuts
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Motor Speed: 3600 RPM
- Weight: 17.69 pounds
- Blade Size: 7-inch
What We Like:
- Low-price tile saw.
- Incredible quality for longevity and high performance.
- Quick and easy to set up.
- Cut deeper than most models in its price range.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not a smart buy for professionals. It has a small water reservoir.
5. QEP 22650Q 650XT 3/4 HP 120-volt Tile Saw
This model features an excellent design using plastic, unlike other units made of metal. While it may not be as sturdy as the metallic ones, plastic-made saw offers their own benefits.
QEP 22650Q 650XT has an extension that is easy to clip to the saw, which offers an additional space that could come in handy when you have to cut in a confined space. Since it’s made of plastic, you don’t have to be bothered about corrosion or rusting.
On top of that, plastic construction offers lightweight compared to metallic saw. Therefore, if you prefer an on-the-go tile saw, then this is for you.
Additional Specification
- Best for: Ceramic tile, Porcelain tile
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Motor Speed: 3600 RPM
- Weight: 7.08 pounds
- Blade Size: 7-inch
What We Like:
- Durable and withstand harsh weather conditions.
- Easy to carry and set up. Incredible water control system.
What We Didn’t Like:
- Due to its lightweight, this unit may not be ideal for cutting thick tiles.
Wet Tile Saw Under $300 Comparison Chart
| Name | Best for | Power Source | Motor Speed | Weight | Blade Size |
| SKIL 3550-02 Wet Tile Saw | Kitchen or Bathroom | Corded-Electric | 3600 RPM | 24 pounds | 7-inch |
| MK Diamond MK-145 Wet Tile Saw | Lightweight and compact | 2-Horse Power | 5500 RPM | 14.07 pounds | 4-1/2-inch |
| PORTER-CABLE PCE980 Wet Tile Saw | Porcelain, Ceramic & Stone tiles | Corded Electric | 2850 RPM | 32 pounds | 7-inch |
| SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw | Straight Miter Cuts | Corded Electric | 3600 RPM | 17.69 pounds | 7-inch |
| QEP 22650Q 650XT Tile Saw | Ceramic tile, Porcelain tile | Corded Electric | 3600 RPM | 7.08 pounds | 7-inch |
Things to Consider When Choosing a Wet Tile Saw Under $300
Before you head to the market or online store to purchase an affordable tile saw, there are a couple of things you should bear in mind to ensure you make the right choice.
Saw Size
For homeowners who won’t be using this tool frequently, you have to put into consideration the size of the saw. Most saws built for homeowners are usually small and compact. The reason for this, home-use saws are meant not to take up the storage space.
Also, to make it easy and convenient for those that prefer to move about with the tile saw. All in all, you should consider a tile saw size that will fit your storage space nicely.
Water Source
Another critical factor to consider is the source of water. When using a wet tile saw, the blade generates a high amount of friction. Also, as you cut the tiles, there will be huge debris generated.
Therefore, it’s important that you cool down the saw blade, which, in turn, will ensure a consistently accurate cut. This is why a water source is included in the tool design. The water stored cools down the hot blade while cleaning its surface area at the same time.
Some model has water reservoirs and even pumps, while other features include hose to connect the saw with an external water source like taps. Nevertheless, opting for a tool featuring a pump and an internal water reservoir is a smart buy for homeowners.
Motor Power
Just like power tools on the market, this machine requires a motor to rotate the blades. Most wet tiles feature a motor with power within 1 – 2.5 HP. However, for a small home-based tile saw, 1 HP should be enough and, at most, a power of 1.5 HP.
But for professional use, you should consider a tile saw comes with a motor power of 2.5 HP. Homeowners do not necessarily need these powerful units.
Ease of Use
Without a doubt, if you are a DIYers or handyman, one of the main reasons you want to own a wet tile is to prevent future renting costs or cut down expenses.
Therefore, you probably would not want to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how this power tool works. As such, you should opt for a model that is easy and straightforward to use.
Blade Size
A properly-sized blade ensures that your job is perfectly done as you please. A 7-inch blade is the most used blade size since it performs well without straining.
Nevertheless, it’s important that you know that blade with bigger size, require a high motor power to spin it.
Plunging Action
The best wet tile saw should have a plunging head, which will allow you to make curved cuts to achieve unique shapes. For professionals, these factors are often on top of their list when trying to pin down the right power tool for advanced cuts.
However, these features are not often fully utilizes, but with constant use, you will likely improve your tactics to get the best results. This feature is not a deal-breaker for homeowners, except you are in the market for wet tile saw that can cut unique shapes.
The Editor’s Take
Did you find our best-wet tile saw helpful to you? If you have been trying to pin down the right tile saw, we hope this review is a solution to that.
Having to do these projects yourself can be cost-effective, and these power tools are designed to help DIYers complete such a project without much hassle. We’re confident that whichever model in our list to decide to buy, which will be very helpful and serve you for many years to come.
