The 3 Best Ways to Cut PVC Pipe

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Use these tools to get the best results when cutting plastic PVC piping.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is a type of plumbing pipe commonly used for drains. These are the white pipes with purple primer often seen in residential basements. Ambitious DIYers who attempt a kitchen or bathroom renovation, as well as those who like to tackle their own plumbing repairs, will likely have to work with PVC pipe. Moving a shower, sink, or toilet—or even replacing a rusty sink trap—will also require some PVC know-how.

Dealing with PVC can be a bit tricky. While you’ll have no trouble finding the necessary fittings and cements to bond pieces of pipe together, PVC pipe can be difficult to cut. Poor technique tends to leave the cut ends off-square with pesky burrs that can hinder the progress of a repair. The good news is that with the proper method and tools, you can cut PVC pipe for square, smooth results.

There are three tools that will allow you to cut PVC pipe with enough accuracy to ensure a tight seal: a PVC cutter, a handsaw, and a miter saw. Depending on the space you’re working in and your comfort level with tools, you might find one a better fit over the others. Ahead, find instructions for how to cut PVC pipe with a variety of tools.

Before You Begin

Almost all materials benefit from a little lubrication during the cutting process, and PVC pipe is no different. Lubricants keep friction down, which allows a blade to glide easier. Lubricants can also keep dust and particulates from getting into the air.

When cutting PVC pipe, choose a lubricant with a silicone base, such as WD-40 Specialist Silicone Spray Lubricant; you can also use a food-grade lubricant, like cooking oil. These oils are safe for plastic, so they won’t eat away at the pipe as some other solvents will. Applying a quick spray directly on the pipe is all it takes. Any more than a short burst will make the job messier than it needs to be.

The Best Tools for Cutting PVC Pipe

1. PVC Pipe Cutter

Using a PVC pipe cutter, which looks like a pair of pliers with a very sharp, thick blade fitted on one side—is by far the quickest, most convenient way to cleanly cut PVC pipe. The Ridgid ratcheting pipe and tubing cutter, one of the top picks in our researched guide to the best PVC pipe cutters, works on up to 1⅝-inch pipe.

Operating a pipe cutter is simple: Place the pipe on a stable surface like sawhorses or a workbench (even a cabinet will do), line the blade up on the cut mark, hold the tool square, and then squeeze the handles together to push the blade through the PVC.