Cut Mosaic Tile

Mosaic tile comes in sheets.  Individual tessarae (the little individual tiles) are adhered to a strong fiber backing.

Because you’re dealing with such small tiles, you really aren’t cutting the tile itself:  you’re cutting between the tile.  That’s the great thing about mosaic.  So, let’s review your options for cutting mosaic tile, all of the super-simple:

1.  Cut Between Tiles in Mosaic Sheet

This is always the first thing you should try.  Nine times out of ten, you can slice through the fiber backing and get a perfect (or perfect-enough) fit.

How to do this is to turn the mosaic tile sheet upside-down, and cut through the backing with a utility knife.

2.  Cut Individual Mosaic Tiles with Nipper

If you just have a couple of individual tiles within the mosaic sheet to cut, then snap them apart with a tile nipper (or nibbler).

If you have to cut a sheet of mosaic diagonally, your only option is to use the snap cutter.  Cutting the tiles apart (#1) will not work.

3.  Cut a Row of Mosaic Tiles with a Snap Cuttter

Cut a line of mosaic tile by setting the sheet in your snap cutter.  The tiles will wiggle around a bit and protest, but with a steady hand you can position them and snap them apart.