Professional Guide

Best Jigsaw Blades for Laminate Worktop: 2025 Expert Review

DR Joinery

Expert Joiner & Kitchen Fitter

Published 12 December 2025

Cutting a laminate worktop is one of the most stressful moments in a kitchen fit. One wrong move, or a poor choice of blade, and the decorative surface chips away, ruining a piece of material that can cost hundreds of pounds. In York's older terraced houses, where walls are rarely straight, scribing worktops to fit perfectly requires absolute precision.

Many DIY enthusiasts make the mistake of using a standard wood blade, which cuts on the upstroke. This tears the laminate surface apart. As a professional joiner, I know that the difference between a ragged edge and a factory finish often comes down to spending a few extra pounds on the right tooling.

In this review, I'll walk you through three specific blade options I've used on site. We'll look at a budget-friendly reverse-tooth option, a high-end carbide blade for professionals, and a specialist blade designed for ultra-fine cuts.

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Specs vs. The Real World

The Spec: "Universal Wood Blades"

The Theory

"Standard blades are marketed as suitable for 'all wood types' including laminate."

The Reality

Standard blades cut on the upstroke. On a laminate worktop, this pulls the decorative layer upwards, causing extensive chipping. They are practically useless for visible worktop cuts unless you turn the worktop upside down.

The Spec: "Masking Tape Trick"

The Theory

"Putting masking tape over the cut line prevents chipping completely."

The Reality

Tape helps you see your line on dark laminates and reduces minor splintering, but if you use the wrong blade, the teeth will still tear through the tape and the laminate. The blade geometry matters more than the tape.

My Top 3 Recommendations

Three options to cover different needs and budgets

Eclipse Professional Tools EPT101BR Pack of 5 10TPI Reverse Tooth Fine Cut Jigsaw Blades for Wood & Laminate

Budget Pick

ECLIPSE

For the price of a pint, you get a pack of five blades that solve the biggest problem with laminate: chipping on the upstroke. These are reverse-tooth blades, meaning they cut on the downstroke, pressing the laminate down rather than pulling it up.

Price£4.62 (at time of writing)

BrandECLIPSE

Teeth TypeReverse Tooth (10 TPI)

Pack Size5 Blades

The Good

Reverse tooth design prevents surface chipping significantly
Incredible value for money at roughly £1 per blade
Decent durability for standard High Pressure Laminate (HPL)

The Bad

Reverse cut requires you to press the jigsaw down firmly or it will jump
Not as long-lasting as carbide options

Installer Tip:

Because these cut on the downstroke, your jigsaw will want to push itself up away from the worktop. You must apply firm downward pressure to keep the base plate flat against the laminate, otherwise, the blade might wander or vibrate excessively.

Priced at £4.62 at the time of writing

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Bosch Professional 3x Expert ‘Laminate Clean’ T 128 BHM Jigsaw Blade

Quality Choice

Bosch

This is what I keep in my toolbox for high-end kitchen fits. Bosch's Carbide Technology is not a gimmick; these blades eat through tough High Pressure Laminate (HPL) without dulling rapidly like standard steel blades. If you have a lot of cutting to do, these are worth the investment.

Price£17.99 (at time of writing)

BrandBosch Professional

MaterialCarbide Technology (BHM)

LifespanUp to 50x longer than HCS

The Good

Carbide teeth stay sharp even on abrasive laminate materials
Extremely clean cuts tailored for laminate flooring and worktops
Lasts significantly longer than standard steel blades

The Bad

Significantly more expensive upfront
Overkill for a single small cut

Installer Tip:

These are excellent for 'scribing'—fitting a flat worktop against a wavy Victorian wall. The carbide maintains its edge throughout the long cut, ensuring you don't start forcing the saw as the blade dulls, which creates a cleaner scribed line.

Priced at £17.99 at the time of writing

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5 x TopsTools T101BIF Laminate Cutting Jigsaw Blades

Problem-solving

TopsTools

When you need a balance between finish quality and cost, this kit from TopsTools is a clever choice. The 15 TPI (Teeth Per Inch) profile is very fine, designed specifically to nibble away at laminate without taking aggressive chunks out of it. Ideal for detailed cutouts like sinks or hobs.

Price£8.99 (at time of writing)

BrandTopsTools

Teeth Profile15 TPI (Fine Cut)

ApplicationLaminates and Multiplex Panels

The Good

15 TPI ensures a very smooth finish
Good middle-ground price point
Universal T-shank fits most modern jigsaws

The Bad

Slower cutting speed due to fine teeth
Fine teeth can clog if cutting thick, resinous softwood

Installer Tip:

Turn your jigsaw's pendulum action to '0' or 'Off' when using these fine blades. Pendulum action makes the blade swing forward and back for speed, but on laminate, this causes breakout. Let the fine teeth do the work at a steady pace.

Priced at £8.99 at the time of writing

Check Price on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I cut the worktop upside down?

If you are using a standard blade (teeth pointing up), yes, you must cut from the underside so the chipping happens on the hidden bottom face. However, if you use a 'reverse tooth' blade like the Eclipse model reviewed above, you can cut from the top side, which makes it much easier to follow your scribe line.

What happens if the blade gets hot properly?

Laminate worktops contain a lot of glue and resin. If you force a dull blade, it heats up, which can melt the laminate edge or burn the chipboard core. This creates a dark, charred edge that smells awful and is harder to seal against moisture. Always use a sharp blade and let the saw do the work.

Do I need a special jigsaw for worktops?

Not necessarily, but a quality jigsaw with variable speed and a sturdy base helps. The blade is more important than the saw. However, cheaper jigsaws often have 'blade wander', where the blade bends sideways during the cut, leaving you with a slanted edge that is difficult to join.

Can I use these blades for solid wood worktops too?

You can, but the laminate-specific blades (especially the fine 15 TPI ones) might be too slow for thick solid oak. For solid wood, I'd switch to a dedicated clean-cut wood blade with larger gullets to clear the sawdust efficiently.

Why is scribing so difficult in York properties?

In York, especially within the city walls or Victorian terraces, no wall is truly flat. If you push a straight worktop against the wall, you'll have gap. We 'scribe' by transferring the wall's profile onto the worktop and cutting that exact wavy line. This requires a blade that can turn tight corners without bending.

Is it worth calling a professional for worktop installation?

If you are fitting expensive stone or composite, absolutely. For laminate, if you have a mason's mitre (the corner joint) to cut, extensive experience and a specialised jig are required to get it seamless. If it's a simple straight run, a keen DIYer can do it, but for a high-end finish, professional installation is safer.

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