Milwaukee’s Porcelain-Rated Tile Kit: Check for 48-20-8788
Milwaukee’s 48-20-8788 kit is rated for porcelain; 48-20-8988 is not. Check included sizes, drill compatibility, price and the 10X-life claim.
For porcelain, look for Milwaukee’s 4PC Hard Tile and Glass Bit Set, model 48-20-8788—not the similarly named 48-20-8988 Ceramic Tile and Glass set. The porcelain-rated kit is worth considering if you need several small hole sizes in porcelain, ceramic tile or glass. It is less compelling if you need only one diameter, and it does not include a 1/2-inch bit.
This is a specification-based buying assessment, not a hands-on drilling test.
The model number matters more than “glass and tile”
Milwaukee explicitly lists porcelain among the applications for 48-20-8788. Its official page for 48-20-8988 says that set is not recommended for porcelain tile.
| Buying check | 48-20-8788 | 48-20-8988 |
|---|---|---|
| Product name | Hard Tile and Glass Bit Set | Ceramic Tile and Glass Bit Set |
| Porcelain application | Explicitly listed | Not recommended |
| Included cutting diameters | 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 5/16 inch | 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 5/16 inch |
| Specified tool | Drill/driver only | Drill/driver only |
The identical size selection makes these easy to confuse. Before ordering, match the model number in the listing and confirm that the application text actually includes porcelain. A generic “carbide glass and tile” title is not enough.
What the porcelain-rated kit adds
Milwaukee describes the 48-20-8788 bits as having durable, sharp carbide tips for clean holes with minimal walking, plus wide flutes for fast dust removal. It rates them for porcelain tile, hard tile, ceramic tile and glass. These are manufacturer-described benefits, not measured results from Drill Review. (Milwaukee product specifications)
The consequential difference is the porcelain application rating. Carbide construction alone cannot identify the right set: the non-porcelain-recommended kit also uses carbide.
Milwaukee’s headline durability claim is “up to 10X life in porcelain tile compared to standard competitive glass and tile bits.” That is a qualified comparison against a stated bit category—not a promise of ten times as many holes on your tile, and not evidence of superiority over porcelain-rated diamond bits. The product overview does not give a hole count or test conditions, so the claim cannot establish your cost per hole. (Milwaukee’s claim)
Check the hole size before buying four bits
The kit stops at 5/16 inch. Milwaukee lists the wider product range as 1/8 through 1/2 inch, but that does not mean the four-piece package contains the larger sizes. (Kit contents)
Choose the set if you expect to use several of its four diameters. For a single installation, first check the fixture or anchor instructions: if they specify only one hole size, compare the matching individual porcelain-rated bit instead. If the required diameter exceeds 5/16 inch, this kit alone will not complete the job.
Milwaukee specifies drill/drivers only. Treat it as a rotary-drilling accessory, not an impact-driver or hammer-mode bit. Check the supplied instructions for operating speed and cooling; the wide-flute description is not, by itself, a wet/dry operating instruction. For the broader setup decision, see our porcelain drill-bit selection and use guide.
Price and buying judgment
On November 4, 2026, Acme Tools’ listing for 48-20-8788 displayed a $28.97 sale price, alongside a price-in-cart notice. Confirm the checkout price and availability before ordering; that listed U.S. price is not a delivered total.
Buy 48-20-8788 for its explicit material coverage and useful size mix—not solely for the 10X claim. Keep an existing 48-20-8988 set for its stated ceramic-tile and glass applications; do not treat it as porcelain-rated just because the brand and included diameters match.