How to Cut Laminate Flooring

cutting laminate flooring with a saw — Photo:
Getty Images / Westend61

Working Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Skill Level: Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $3 per square foot

Laminate flooring is an excellent option for interior floors because it comes in various colors, patterns, and wood grains. Homeowners can usually find a look that matches their home's style and decor and suits their personal preferences. However, laminate can crack or chip during the installation process if it isn't cut correctly. Use this guide to learn how to cut laminate flooring before diving into a new DIY project.

Cutting Tools for Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring can be cut using a range of different tools, so before starting this job, decide which type of cutting tool you will use. Common options include a circular saw, handsaw, jigsaw, laminate floor cutter, miter saw, or table saw.

Circular saws can be bulky and difficult to maneuver if you don't have experience with this cutting tool. However, in the right hands, a circular saw is a quick option for making simple straight cuts, angled cuts, or even curving cuts through a few laminate boards.

Handsaws are manually driven, so the DIYer must provide the power and cutting force to get through the laminate material. This tool makes it easy to slow down and take your time, but it is inefficient if you need to cut more than a couple of pieces.
Jigsaws give the DIYer a lot of freedom to move and control the direction of the cut, making them an excellent option for straight, angled, curved, or circular cuts. However, a jigsaw can be difficult to use if you don't have experience with this tool, which could lead to cracked or chipped laminate.
Laminate floor cutters are specifically designed to cut laminate flooring, so this tool is one of the better options. It resembles a paper cutter, with a cutting blade that drops down through the laminate boards. This cutting tool can be used for straight or angled cuts.
Miter saws are ideal for straight and angled cuts, though this type of cutting tool isn't the best for rounded or circular cuts. Additionally, a miter saw can be set up to make accurate, repeatable cuts, making it a good choice when you need to cut more than a few boards.

Table saws are similar to miter saws in that they are excellent options for large flooring jobs. The saw has a fixed blade set into a table, giving the user a flat surface to support the material. DIYers can make angled, straight, or curved cuts with a table saw, though it is best used for cutting vertically through the length of laminate planks.

Types of Cuts

Depending on the cut you want to make, the choice of saw might differ, so before grabbing the first saw you have on hand, consider the cut and select a saw that can accomplish the task with the least difficulty.

Straight cuts through laminate flooring are the most common since DIYers often need to trim the end off a plank to make it fit. The best cutting tools for straight cuts are usually circular saws, miter saws, and laminate floor cutters, though handsaws, jigsaws, and table saws can also be used, if necessary.
Angled cuts may be necessary to make flooring pieces that fit in tight or odd-shaped areas of the room. Miter saws and circular saws are the best choices for angled cuts since these saws have built-in adjustments specifically for this purpose. You can also use laminate floor cutters or a jigsaw, though it's more difficult to make accurate, repeatable cuts with these tools.
Curved or circular cuts are typically harder to accomplish but not impossible with the right tools. Use a jigsaw to make curved or circular cuts in the laminate, or you can attempt to use a circular saw or handsaw to make curved cuts.

Safe Cutting Practices

Wear protective glasses, safety gloves, a mask, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, closed-toe shoes, and hearing protection whenever you use any saw or cutting tool. Additionally, before you start, clean the saw, inspect the blades, and remove any items or debris that could get in the way while you work. Open a door or window to provide better airflow through the space, and use clamps to keep the material in place while you are cutting. Having a clean, well-ventilated space is important for both safety and quality.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Tape measure
Pencil
Square
Saw
Clamp
Sanding block

Materials

Laminate flooring
Safety gear, including glasses, gloves, and mask

Instructions

How to Cut Laminate Flooring

Measure and Mark the Laminate Flooring

Start the project by measuring the laminate flooring to the right length and width, and then mark the flooring with a pencil. Use light pressure to make the pencil mark so that any pencil markings can be wiped away after cutting the material. If you need to make a curved or circular cut, it may be easier to trace the shape onto a piece of paper and then overlay the paper onto the piece of laminate to indicate where to cut.
Choose a Saw According to the Type of Cut

Select a saw that can make the cut. Keep in mind that a circular saw, miter saw, and laminate floor cutter are the best options for both straight and angled cuts, though it's better to go with a jigsaw if you need to make curved or circular cuts in the laminate flooring material. Additionally, the saw should have a fine-tooth blade with about 18 teeth per inch to reduce the risk of chipping the laminate.
Position and Clamp the Laminate

If you are using a miter saw, you don't need to clamp the material to keep it in place. Set it on the miter saw cutting surface and push it to the back to ensure it sits flush against the fence. For most other saws, position the laminate flooring on a workbench, extending the laminate plank until the line or cutting pattern is over the edge. Clamp the laminate to prevent it from shifting while you cut.
Cut the Laminate

The exact cutting method varies depending on the saw.
- If you are using a handsaw, start by making a small cut in the laminate. Then, draw the saw back over the cutting line. Continue sawing until you have cut completely through the material.
- If you are using a miter saw, start the saw and lower it down into the material. Keep your hands clear of the cutting blade.
- If you are using a circular saw, line up the saw with the marked line, and then start the saw blade. Move the saw forward to cut through the laminate. Keep the saw moving at a steady pace for the best results.
- If you are using a jigsaw, apply painter's tape over the area where you will be cutting to prevent the material from chipping. Line up the blade, turn on the saw, and move it forward through the material. Follow the marked line at a steady, consistent pace until the cut is completed.
- If you are using a table saw, extend the blade up to ensure it cuts completely through the laminate plank. Line up the material so the mark is in line with the table saw blade. Then, start the saw and guide the material through the blade, being careful to keep your hands clear at all times.
- If you are using a laminate floor cutter, position the material so that the mark lines up with the blade. Bring the blade down to slice through the laminate.
Sand the Cut

Check the laminate flooring material after cutting to determine whether the edge is smooth or needs to be sanded down to get the desired finish. If the laminate needs to be sanded, use a fine-grit sanding block or sandpaper to sand down the cut edge of the laminate.