Home Improvement Kitchen Remodel & Repair Countertops

How to Cut a Laminate Countertop Using a Circular Saw or a Jigsaw

Laminate countertop

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Installing a laminate countertop is an affordable way to add counter space to a kitchen or bathroom. Do-it-yourselfers can fabricate laminate countertops more easily than with other countertop materials since it is relatively soft. No special cutting tools or techniques are required. Learn how to cut a laminate countertop with an electric circular saw, a jigsaw, and a sander or file.

Tools for Cutting a Laminate Countertop

Use a circular saw for straight lines or general shapes, a jigsaw for curves, corners, and sink cutouts, and a sander or file for cleaning the edges or for trimming.

  • Circular saw: Electric circular saw equipped with a thin 40-tooth (TPI) carbide blade
  • Jigsaw: Electric jigsaw fitted with a 20-tooth laminate jigsaw blade
  • Electric drill: Electric drill with a 3/8-inch bit for sink cut-outs
  • Sander or file: Electric belt sander, sandpaper blocks, or a flat metal file

Warning

Unplug the saw before adjusting it or changing its blade. Wear breathing protection, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

How to Cut a Laminate Countertop With a Circular Saw

Cut long, straight lines in a laminate countertop or reduce its size by cutting it with a circular saw.

Cut the laminate from underneath to reduce the chance of decorative surface chipping. An ordinary saw blade can be used but make sure that it is in good condition and has at least 40 teeth per inch.

  1. Mark the cut line: On the top of the counter, or the decorative side, mark the intended cut line with a pencil and a straight edge.
  2. Continue the line on the back: Turn the laminate countertop so that its decorative side faces down. Continue the cut line onto the back of the material.
  3. Cover the cut line: Back again on the decorative side, cover the pencil line with masking tape.
  4. Prepare the material: Turn the laminate countertop once more so that its decorative side faces down.
  5. Adjust the cut depth: Adjust the circular saw's cut depth to the thickness of the material, plus 1/8-inch. The saw should be unplugged when you do this.
  6. Place the saw: Rest the front of the saw's shoe on the edge of the material. Make sure that the saw is first plugged in.
  7. Turn on the saw: Turn on the saw and then lower its speed if this is a variable-speed saw.
  8. Start the cut: Enter the cut line with the saw blade.
  9. Continue the cut: Slowly cut the laminate along the line to the end.
  10. Finish the cut: Hold the cut side of the countertop to avoid tear-out. If the material is fully supported, there is no need to hold the material.

Tip

Avoid cutting too slowly or stalling the cut as this will gnaw away at the laminate. Slow cuts, too, are more difficult to control and keep straight. Cut at a steady pace.

How to Cut a Laminate Countertop With a Jigsaw

Cut curves and right angles in laminate countertops with a jigsaw. Sink cutouts should be cut with a jigsaw.

Cut the laminate from the top since curves and angles are difficult to duplicate on the back. To reduce decorative surface chipping, fit the jigsaw with a special down-cutting (or laminate) blade.

Tip

Jigsaws ordinarily cut on the up-stroke, so the blade's teeth point upward. But this action loosens and chips the laminate surface. A blade with teeth that point downward is less prone to chipping the surface.

  1. Cover with masking tape: With the laminate countertop's decorative side facing up, run strips of masking tape along the cut line. The strips should be the width of the jigsaw's shoe to prevent the shoe from scratching the surface.
  2. Mark the cut line: Mark the intended cut line on top of the masking tape with a pencil and a straight edge.
  3. Drill a starting hole: To create a sink cut-out, drill a starting hole with an electric drill and a 3/8-inch drill bit. Place the hole about 1-inch inside of the sink cut-out, not on the cut line itself.
  4. Prepare the jigsaw: Make sure that the laminate blade is tightly in place. Turn off the orbital function on the jigsaw.
  5. Adjust the cut depth: Adjust the jigsaw so that it cuts fully through the entire material. The saw should be unplugged when you do this.
  6. Place the saw: Rest the jigsaw on the material. Make sure that the saw is first plugged in.
  7. Turn on the saw: Turn on the jigsaw. All jigsaws are variable speed; keep the speed low.
  8. Start the cut: Enter the cut line with the jigsaw blade. If cutting a sink cut-out, curve toward the cut line and then enter the cut line from the side.
  9. Continue the cut: Slowly cut the laminate along the line.
  10. Finish the cut: Finish the cut and make sure to hold the cut side to avoid tear-outs. For sink cut-outs, aim for the starting point and finish there.

Smooth the Edges of Laminate Countertop

Use a metal file or sandpaper to smooth the rough edges of cut laminate. With the laminate's decorative side facing up, run sandpaper lengthwise along the cut edge to remove burrs. Avoid scratching the decorative surface.

When using a metal file, run the file perpendicular to the cut line and at a backward angle. Holding the file vertically may loosen and chip the laminate surface.

Tips for Cutting a Laminate Countertop

  • Cutting from the underside of the laminate is the best way to prevent chipping.
  • Use sharp blades.
  • If the cut edge will be covered (as with a self-rimming sink), some chipping is acceptable.
  • Cut on top of rigid foam insulation for solid, continuous support, especially for sink cut-outs.
  • Use the factory (or finished) edges for visible edges, since they are straight and clean.
  • Avoid exiting a cut through a factory edge.
FAQ
  • What is the best tool to cut laminate countertops?

    The best tools to cut laminate countertops are an electric circular saw and an electric jigsaw. The electric circular saw should be used for long, straight cuts. The electric jigsaw should be used for curves and corners.

  • How do you cut laminate countertops without chipping?

    Cut laminate countertops without chipping by cutting with the laminated side facing down. Also, use a 40-tooth carbide thin blade and dial down to a lower rotation speed when cutting, if the saw has that option.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. No-Fuss DIY Tips: How to Cut and Bend Formica® Laminate. Formica Corporation.

  2. DIY Wilsonart Laminate Countertop Fabrication Guide. Wilsonart.