In this home DIY tutorial we will show a simple way to cut a bathroom mirror in half. If you are trying to save money, you can cut an existing large unframed bathroom mirror to the size you need.
Do you have a large unframed mirror in your bathroom that you find is an eyesore?
We did. We had one in each bathroom.
Our solution was to take our large unframed mirror that spanned the whole vanity and recycle it by cutting it in half to create two separate more narrow mirrors that we framed and hung over each sink.
We took down the large mirror and initially went on the hunt for two tall and narrow mirrors that we could hang over each sink.
After lots of window shopping we kept coming up short on finding affordable, tall and thin mirrors that would be the exact dimensions we desired.
We decided we would cut our existing bathroom mirror down to the two identical sizes we wanted. This was a great solution for us because it was already the height we needed and of course it saved us money because we are using what we already had.
If you think this approach might be a solution for you and your bathroom mirror dilemma, follow along and watch the video below as we show you how we cut a bathroom mirror down to the size or sizes needed.
How to Cut a Bathroom Mirror
SUPPLIES
Shop the products we used for this project in one place.
- Sharpie
- Yard Stick
- C-Clamp
- Straight Edge (we used a board)
- Glass Cutting Oil
- Glass Cutter
- Heavy Object to hold straight edge down (we used a paint can)
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TUTORIAL VIDEO
STEPS
1. To begin we set the mirror on a large flat surface. We took a yard stick and marked with a Sharpie the measurements of the new mirror where we would need to make our cut.
2. Then we took a board which acts a straight edge for scoring the mirror and lined it up with the marks we made with the Sharpie.
Next we used a c-clamp to hold the board and the mirror to the table to make sure that it didn’t move once we started to make our cut.
On the side of the board that could not be clamped, we used a paint can as a weight to hold the board down.
3. Once everything was in place we squirted a few drops of glass cutting oil on the mirror where the cut would begin.
4. We grabbed the glass cutter and prepared to make our cut.
When starting the cut it is important to apply a good amount of pressure to force the blade down to score the glass.
Once you begin scoring, continue all the way across the mirror with out stopping. It is imperative to make one continuous score.
Any overlap in scores will result in an uneven cut.
5. After we made our cut, we lifted the mirror up slightly and then took the other side of the glass cutter (the end with the heavy metal ball) and tapped directly under the beginning of the score.
Once you start a crack the weight of the mirror will force the crack to run the entire length of the score. The result is the mirror breaks in two pieces.
After the mirror is cut, be careful handling the side that was scored. It will be sharp. We used fine grit sandpaper to smooth the edge making it safer to handle when we started framing it.
6. Once we cut the mirror into two pieces, the sizes we needed, we framed them, stained the frames and hung them back up in our bathroom.
Voila! Our one large mirror is now like two brand new mirrors! And that is how we cut a bathroom mirror.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Great video! I have 2 of those builder grade mirrors that are clipped to the wall. I want to try this since I can’t find the mirrors I want already made. My mirrors have a metal piece along the bottom, does this piece come off easily or do you cut it off?
Great tutorial. Gave an 80 year old the guts to try it!
Hi, Great tutorial…. But It looks like you would have had to cut the glass two times to get the ending sizes. or am I seeing it wrong? Just cutting it in half would be larger than your final size.
the facts have been discussed is really important. Thank you so much for sharing a great post.
Good article & excellent way to articulate. Keep it up.
Stunning article you have shared with us and it will be very valuable for me to increase my skills. I really impressed by your blog because you have good knowledge of remodeling tips. I really thankful to you.
Can I cut the mirror affixed to the wall?
We would recommend removing the mirror off the wall to cut it. To make it easier and safer to cut.
Can I cut a large mirror while it is glued to the bath wall so it is easier to remove?
Hi Grayson – we would think it would be safer to have some help removing it in one piece and then cutting it while it is laying down on a flat surface.
How thick was your mirror?
Hi Carol – Shoot, we don’t know off hand and now they are all framed. I would think they were just your standard builder grade mirror. Sorry!
Great video!!! Thank you
Does a beveled edge mirror cause any difficulties or is it the same process
Hi Jim. The process is the same although it can be tricky to maintain consistent pressure and a straight cut on the bevel. The glass will crack along the score. Hope that helps and let us know how it goes. -Brent
Pls. Share where to shop thin silver metal frame fir mirror?
We have a large mirror like that and were hoping to gut it both vertical and horizontal. can you cut the mirror horizontally as well?
Yes, you can cut a large mirror any direction. For the best results try to find a straightedge that is as long as the cut so you don’t have to stop and move the straightedge.
How did you go about taking it down from the wall without breaking it? Mine are all glued to the wall… Or maybe yours were on brackets?
I have an oval shaped, open faced clock that we want to use as a frame around our downstairs bathroom mirror. Our current mirror is too round so I would like to cut a big mirror to fit the Oval clock. Any advice on cutting an oval shaped mirror?
Hi Lori, That is a tough one. I don’t know how to cut an oval shape without using a special tool. – Brent
take it to a glass shop but they may say they cant guarantee the glass wont break
how did you hang the mirrors back up? Most of those huge mirrors have at least 4 clips with screws in them so the mirror is fixed to the wall.
Hi Laura! After we cut the mirrors we framed them. Then we put hooks on the back of the wood frames. We will be sharing a post this week showing more details on how we framed and hung the mirrors we cut.
I’ve been daunted by the idea of cutting a mirror but didn’t realize how simple it can be. Great idea to show a tutorial in video format! I might be trying this on a friend’s bathroom mirror soon!