Short answer: for straight and 45° end cuts, use a floor cutter, a hand shear that cuts with no dust and no power. First check that its maximum thickness and width fit your plank. Vinyl can also be scored with a utility knife and snapped. At doorways, cut the jamb with a jamb saw so the floor slides under it.
| Cut | Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Straight or 45° end cut | Floor cutter | No dust and no power, say the Marksman and Magnum Edge pages |
| Vinyl plank, straight cut | Utility knife | Score and snap, as our vinyl install guide explains |
| More complicated cuts | Jigsaw or miter saw | "For more complicated cuts, a jigsaw or miter saw will work better" (our vinyl install guide) |
| Door jamb and casing | Jamb saw or undercut saw | Cuts the bottom of the jamb so the floor slides under it (our laminate install guide) |
A floor cutter only takes planks up to a set size. Look at 3 numbers on the cutter page: the maximum thickness (cutting depth), the cutting width, and the width allowed for 45° cuts. Then compare them with the Thickness and Width lines on your plank's product page.
Four examples from our Laminate & Floor Cutters category:
A plain example: a 7 in. wide plank that is 1/2 in. (12 mm) thick fits the Pull 9" chart. A wider plank of that thickness needs a bigger cutter, such as a 13 in. model.
Blades wear. Replacement blades are in Floor Cutter Blades: match the blade to your cutter model.
Our guide How to Install Vinyl Plank says to use "a knife to score the planks and snap them into place". In plain words: mark the line, score the top of the plank along it with a utility knife, then snap the plank on the line. Knives and blades are in Utility Blades.
This is for vinyl plank. For laminate, use a floor cutter or a saw.
Our guide How to Install Laminate Flooring says it is easier to cut the door jamb than to shape the plank around it. Lay a plank face down on its underlay, next to the casing. Trace its height on the jamb. Then cut along the line with a jamb saw, so the floor slides under.
More saws are in Jamb Saws & Undercut Saws.
Our laminate install guide says to wear eye and ear protection when you cut planks.
Browse Laminate & Floor Cutters, Laminate and Vinyl Planks.
Not sure a cutter fits your planks? Contact us.
Can I cut laminate without a saw?
Yes, with a floor cutter. The Marksman and Magnum Edge pages say they cut laminate without dust or electricity. Check that the cutter's maximum thickness fits your plank.
What is the easiest way to cut vinyl plank?
Score it with a utility knife and snap it, as FloorBox's vinyl install guide explains. A floor cutter also works: the PrecisionCuts Pro 13" cuts vinyl up to 5/8 in. (16 mm) deep.
How thick a plank can a floor cutter cut?
It depends on the model. On FloorBox pages: PrecisionCuts Pro 13" up to 5/8 in. (16 mm), EZ Shear Marksman up to 9/16 in., Magnum Edge up to 1 in.
Can a floor cutter make 45° cuts?
Many can. The Marksman has a movable fence for 45° cuts up to 9 in. wide, and the PrecisionCuts Pro guide bar locks for angled cuts.
How do I cut around a door frame?
Cut the frame, not the plank. Set a plank on its underlay next to the casing, mark the height and cut with a jamb saw, so the floor slides under.
