Yes, you can absolutely cut laminate with a jigsaw. It is the best tool for intricate cuts, curves, and cutouts (like sinks or pipes), though a circular or track saw is faster for long, straight lines.
When it comes to accuracy and making the cleanest cuts, the best tool for cutting laminate flooring is a purpose built laminate flooring cutter. Good alternatives are circular saws, mitre saws and table saws. It's also possible to use a jigsaw, a handsaw or even a utility knife.
Tools Needed to Cut Laminate Flooring
A jigsaw with a fine-toothed blade can be handy for making those difficult cuts, such as around door frames. A crosscut saw is another excellent tool for cutting straight lines quickly. Make sure to use a carbide-tipped blade to prevent chipping or splintering of the laminate.
Diablo's carbide jig saw blades deliver extreme durability and superior cutting life in highly abrasive material such as laminate flooring. High-performance carbide strip provides an unmatched up to 50X longer cutting life versus standard jig saw blades.
The Good-Face Rule. To avoid visible chipping, you need to know which direction the teeth are cutting. Circular saws (handheld): Teeth cut upward → place good face down. Jigsaws (standard up-cut blades): Teeth cut upward → place good face down.
Electric saws cut in a movement that goes from under the saw to the top. We therefore recommend cutting with the face side down to avoid chipping the laminate. If you are installing your sheet as a countertop or on top of other furniture, leave the curves and corners out.
Yes, you can cut after laminating. However, because you are breaking the thermal seal that traps air out, the plastic may eventually peel or separate from the paper over time.
For cutting a laminate countertop, you need a fine-tooth blade with 10 to 20 Teeth Per Inch (TPI). A length of 3 to 4 inches is ideal to clear the thickness of a standard 40 mm countertop, while a down-cut blade (teeth pointing down) prevents chipping on the finished top surface.
Whichever tool you select, make sure it has a fine-toothed blade. Also, confirm that the TPI of the blade is around 18 teeth per inch. This is necessary to avoid any chipping of the laminate sheet. If you're using a miter saw or circular saw, stick painter's tape along the cutting line.
To sum up, for the fast and clean cuts you want:
If you buy one, it's going to sit on a shelf taking up space for the next decade until you eventually get frustrated and sell it for five dollars at a yard sale. By choosing to rent a laminate flooring cutter, you use it for the weekend, get the job done, and take it back. No clutter, no storage issues, and no regrets.
Straight Cuts for Regular Installation
Tips for perfect straight cuts: Always cut laminate with the decorative side facing up when using a handsaw or jigsaw. For power saws that cut upward, turn the board facing down. Use painter's tape along the cut line to reduce chipping.
To cut laminate flooring or countertops without chipping the finish, you need tools with fine-tooth, carbide-tipped blades or specialized shears. The best choice depends on the scale and type of project:
Cut laminate sheets without chipping by using a sharp, fine-tooth carbide blade (80+ teeth), applying blue painter’s tape over the cut line, and cutting with the good face facing down. This ensures the saw teeth enter the decorative face from the bottom, preventing the top layer from splintering.
Whether to cut laminate flooring face up or down depends on the tool you are using. Generally, cut face down with power saws (jigsaw, circular saw) to prevent chipping the finished surface, as the teeth cut upward. Conversely, cut face up with manual tools (hand saw, laminate cutter, miter saw) for better visibility and cleaner finish edges.
Some Common Mistakes When Laying Laminate Flooring
Cut your Formica® laminate countertop
Use a brand-new, fine jigsaw blade (at least 20 teeth per inch) to cut Formica® laminate. Start at one of the drilled openings and begin cutting. Move the jigsaw slowly and precisely along the cutting line.
Zipblade jigsaw blades are the premium choice for your compact laminate worktops. The sharpened teeth and angled body have been designed for an ultra fast cut which will pro long the life of your blade. Down facing teeth provide a clean and smooth finish on your surface material.
However, you are better off using thicker paper and laminate rather than having several layers. You may be dealing with an older item that is starting to peel. If so, you could send it through your laminator a second time. Before you do that, cut the old plastic film's edges as close to your paper as possible.
Always insert the sealed, folded edge of your laminating pouch into the laminator first. Feeding the open end in first can cause severe paper jams and damage your machine.
I've always done side edges first, then front edge, then top. Trim the edges with a straight laminate trim bit, and the top with an angled bit (usually 5 or 7 degrees). The adhesive tends to build up on the bits, so clean them often.