Abstract: A gasket punch and method for forming a gasket hole. The gasket punch is a single piece having a spherical head and a handle whereby the punch may be used to form gasket holes of various sizes up to the spherical head diameter with the gasket material on the machine part or platen and without the necessity of first forming an error prone pattern in the gasket material. The handle may have a diameter which is less than the spherical head diameter whereby the handle may be easily held and manipulated and the amount of material of which the punch is composed may be minimized. In order to provide a suitably small handle diameter without unnecessarily reducing strength and toughness, the gasket punch is preferably composed of forged steel.