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Planks
Mitre saw
The fastest way to cut planks to length: square, repeatable, and it handles 45° cuts for diagonal and herringbone edges. Use a fine-tooth blade (60 teeth or more) for laminate to avoid chipping.
Jigsaw
For notches, curves, and cuts around pipes and door frames. Laminate chips on the side the teeth exit, so cut with the decor side facing down when using a standard up-cutting blade.
Laminate cutter (guillotine)
A lever cutter that slices across a plank without dust or noise. Great for flats and for laminate and vinyl up to its width limit. It cannot rip planks lengthways.
Circular saw or track saw
For ripping the first and last rows along their length. A track saw gives a straight cut without a table saw.
Utility knife
For vinyl: score the top layer against a square and snap the plank. Change blades often.
Jamb saw
A flat saw that cuts door frames at floor height so the new floor slides underneath. How to undercut a frame.
Tile
Manual tile cutter
Scores and snaps straight cuts quickly. Make sure it is longer than your tile diagonal if you cut corner to corner.
Wet saw
A water-cooled diamond saw for hard porcelain, thin strips and accurate L-cuts. Little dust.
Angle grinder with diamond blade
For notches and curves in tile. It produces fine silica dust: cut outside or with extraction, and wear a proper mask.
Holes
A hole saw or spade bit for pipes. Drill the hole the pipe diameter plus twice the expansion gap.