How to Cut Laminate Flooring

Co-authored by Jacob Pischer

Last Updated: May 31, 2021 References Approved

If you are doing a laminate flooring installation that only requires making straight cuts, you will need a circular saw. You might be able to get by with a handsaw for a small job. If you also need to cut laminate flooring in a curve, such as around pipes coming out of the floor or pillars, you'll need a jigsaw. Learn how to do both these methods by scrolling down to Step 1.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Make Straight Cuts

1
Use a circular saw or a handsaw with at least 18 teeth per inch to avoid chipping it.^{[1]
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2
Mark the line on the laminate flooring. Make a small mark on the edge of the laminate, so you know where to cut or use a chalk pencil to draw your measurement line across the face of the laminate. You can easily wipe the chalk off the surface after you are done cutting.^{[2]
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3
Leave the laminate facing right-side-up and cut it with a circular saw or handsaw.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cut Curved Shapes

1
Choose a jigsaw with a standard blade or one with a laminate flooring jigsaw blade with fine teeth. The fine teeth will allow you to cut the laminate flooring face up without chipping it.^{[4]
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2
Make a paper pattern to help you make curved cuts and avoid wasting laminate flooring.
- Hold a piece of paper around the pillar or pipes and trace around the objects.
- Cut out the paper pattern, and then lay it back down to test for accuracy. This may take a few attempts to get the exact shape you want the laminate to be. Once you can successfully place the pattern around the obstacle, you're ready to draw the shape onto the laminate flooring.
3
Cut out the curved shape.^{[5]
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- With a standard jigsaw blade, flip the laminate plank upside down. Place the pattern on the backside of the laminate, making sure to flip the pattern, so your cut laminate is positioned to come out correctly when the plank is flipped face up. Hold the jigsaw vertical, so the blade runs smoothly from one edge of the laminate to the other.
- If cutting the laminate face up, place painter's tape on the laminate along the pattern to keep it from chipping. Mark the cut line on top of the tape and cut with a jigsaw with a special blade.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I cut laminate flooring accurately?

Jacob Pischer
Home Improvement Specialist
Jacob Pischer is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Helpful Badger, a home repair service in Portland, OR. With over four years of experience, Jacob specializes in a variety of handyman services including pressure washing, cleaning gutters, repairing drywall, fixing leaky plumbing fixtures, and repairing broken doors. Jacob studied at Madison Area Technical College and has a background in real estate investment.

Jacob Pischer

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Always check your measurements multiple times throughout your project because rooms are usually not perfectly square.

Warnings

Wear protective goggles and ear plugs or muffs while you cut laminate flooring. Also use a face mask to avoid breathing in the fine dust created from sawing laminate flooring.^{[6]
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