Complete Guide to Drill Bits for Wood, Metal, Concrete and More

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• Best drill bits for wood
• Best drill bits for metal
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• Best drill bits for tile

Drilling holes is one of the most common tasks every project worker undertakes. It doesn’t matter if your material is wood, metal, concrete or multiple surface materials. What does matter is that you choose the right drill bit for the job.

You must select a drill bit that’s compatible for your work. Drill bits can make or break your project’s success. The trick isn’t just knowing your materials. It’s understanding the different types of drill bits, what they are designed to do and what they are made of.

Using the wrong bit can damage or ruin your base material. Improper bits can slow you down or bring your work to a halt. To ensure that doesn't happen to you, we have put together this comprehensive drill bit guide.

Drill Bit Materials and Coatings

Not all drill bits are created equal, and there is no such thing as a universal or one-size-fits-all drill bit. The best drill bits for wood are not the same as the best types of bits for concrete. Likewise, the drill bit to use for brick won't work well on metal.

Many factors affect the difference in drill bits. One of the big variances in bits is their physical shape or geometry. There many terms associated with drill bits, and they all have a significant meaning. Here are the most important parts of a drill bit’s anatomy:

• Overall length: This is a straightforward description of a drill bit’s physical length. You’ll find drill bits categorized by how long they are, which determines the depth they’re able to penetrate. Typical short-shaft bits are low-penetration tools like Forster bits used for recessing work. Longer shaft bits include augers used for timber boring and extension bits used for getting into recessed spots.
• Diameter: Probably the most known bit term is its diameter. Simply put, it’s the width of the hole the bit can cut. Standard drill bits range from 1/16 of an inch up to 1 1/2 inches. You may also find drill bit diameters represented in metric units, with bits typically starting at 3 millimeters.
• Shank: A drill bit’s shank is the receding end that fits into the drill chuck. It’s the part that your electric drill or hand-brace grips. Shanks can be smooth or hex-shaped depending on how much torque you need. Typically, shank length is less than the flute and lead portion.
• Flute and lead: Flutes are the recessed or inner groove portion of the bit’s forward section or cutting part. Leads are the outer face that governs the hole’s diameter and ensures the bit stays on a true path. Flutes and leads are mostly relevant to twist drill bits, which are far and wide the most common bit you’ll ever use.
• Point: This is the business end of your drill bit. There are many configurations to drill points. This takes into account terms like screw point, conventional point and split point, but the most important feature is the drill point angle. Typical point angles are 90° for fast cutting, 118° for general drilling and 135° for slower boring into hard materials.

As with drill shapes, there are many different drill bit materials. It’s critical to use the right bit material designed and intended for the project material you are working. The types of drill bits for wood have different material composition than the types of drill bits for metal. There are also different materials used to make the types of drill bits used for concrete, brick or tile.

Almost all drill bits are made of metal. With few exceptions, metal bits are the most practical choice for every surface including wood, concrete, tile, glass and metal surfaces, as well. What really separates the different bits is their actual metal composition. Here are the four materials frequently used in making drill bits:

• High speed steel (HSS): High-speed steel is widely used for general purpose drilling. Suitable materials are wood, soft metals and plastics. HSS bits contain carbon steel with some additives of chromium and vanadium.
• Cobalt: Tougher work like drilling into stainless steel needs a tougher bit material to withstand the resistance and generated heat. This is where cobalt alloys excel. You will typically see cobalt bits marked HSS Co, which guarantees you a quality drill for challenging surfaces.
• Carbide tipped: Carbide is an extremely strong metal that withstands enormous force. Carbide is also expensive, so tool manufacturers often use HSS for the shank, flutes and leads but add a piece of carbide to the point. Carbide tip bits are popular for masonry, concrete and tile drilling.
• Solid carbide: For maximum duty drilling into the hardest materials, it pays to invest in solid carbide bits. This means the entire bit has carbide construction, not just the tip. Solid carbide bits work well on nonferrous metals, and they do a great job on abrasive surfaces such as fiberglass.

Often, it’s not sufficient to build drill bits from certain metals alone. Manufacturers will coat their bits with special additives to improve performance, extend product life and make a worker’s job easier. Typical drill bit coatings include:

• Black oxide: This coating helps retain lubricants and works well to prevent rust.
• TiN coated: Titanium nitrate coating allows extended wear for drilling hard metals.
• TiAIN coated: Titanium aluminum nitrate offers high-speed resistance to heat and abrasion.
• SG coated: Silicone multilayer is a special coating used for extremely dense metals.
• Bright finish: Bright isn’t a coating. Rather it’s the shiny finish you see in most bits used for general work on wood and soft metals. Bright-finished bits are inexpensive and long-lasting if used correctly.

Best Drill Bits for Wood Projects

Most of the drill bits you will use on woodwork projects will have a bright finish. With wood drilling, the type of bit material and coating isn’t as important as the drill bit’s design.

If you’re a woodworker, you will appreciate the many different kinds of wood you have to choose from. You have a huge selection of softwoods and hardwoods available. You also have an endless range of projects to work on. That could be anything from drilling holes in furniture making to boring through timbers on house construction.

Because there is such a wide span of woodworking projects, bit makers have designed some clever and specialty purposed tools. There are short bits and long bits, thin bits and thick bits and bits of many sizes and shapes. Here is a review of the most common wood bits you find in today’s marketplace:

• Twist drill bits: You probably won’t find a woodworker’s tool kit that doesn’t contain twist bits. These are the spiral-shaped hole-bores that have served workshops for several centuries. There are many different twist drill types, including jobber, stubby, pilot and prentice styles.
• Countersink bits: For setting screws and other fasteners flush with your finished surface, there’s no other tool to use than a countersink bit. These specialty items follow a leading bit or previously drilled pilot hole and cut out a precise section that fits your fastener’s head. Don’t confuse countersink bits with counterbores. They are two different tools.
• Auger bits: Augers are specially made for boring deep holes into wood. They are noticeable for tight twists on their leads and flutes. Augers also have a threaded screw tip on the point followed by a sharp cutting edge on the face.
• Spade bits: You may get quite a bit of use out of spade bits if you work with wood. Spade bits quickly and effortless drill through wood surfaces and allow a lot of material removal in short order. One drawback to spade bits is their tendency to break through wood and leave a rough trailing edge.
• Hole saws: For large diameter drilling, nothing beats a hole saw. These ingenious tools are actually two cutters in one. Hole saws have an inner twist drill that sets a centering pilot hole and an outer cupped ring containing saw teeth. Hole saws both drill and saw at the same time letting you cut a specific sized plug from your material.
• Forstner bits: Another specialized, but invaluable, drill tool is the Forstner bit. These bits allow you to drill a flat-bottomed hole and won’t leave an accidental breaking edge. Forstner bits are ideal for shallow drilling such as setting cabinet hinges.
• Brad points: Brad point bits create blind holes in whatever woodwork project you have going. If you are setting dowels or shelf pins, then you will want to have a brad point in your drill. They are notable by having spurs on the outer edges of the cutting face and a center screw that prevents the bit from walking out of alignment.
• Reduced shank bits: If you want to drill a large diameter hole with a small sized chuck, then reduced shank bits are the best choice. This design features a shank that is narrower in diameter than the point, lead and flute. For example, you could drill a 1-inch hole with the reduced shank bit in a 3/8-inch chuck.
• Step bits: Step bits are very recognizable compared to most other bits. They are cone-shaped tools than have incremental steps ranging from small at the tip and getting progressively larger as the cone flare approaches the shank. Cone bits are ideal when you want to make different sized holes without changing your actual bit.
• Self-feed bits: Self-feed bits are another option for drilling into wood. These bits have a center feed screw that guides the bit into the wood and helps to drill large holes cleanly. These are often used by professional plumber or electricians for drilling large holes for utilities.

Best Drill Bits for Metal Projects

Metalwork is a specialized skill and requires different techniques compared to woodworking. It also requires different tools, including drill bits specifically intended for cutting through metal.

Like wood, there are a lot of different metal materials. Depending on your project, you may encounter hard metals like stainless steel and soft metals like copper or anything in between, including aluminum, sheet steel, brass, bronze, spring steel, magnesium and cast iron.

One of the main differences between boring wood and drilling into metal is the material’s resistance. There is a relationship between material hardness, the drill speed and the force applied on the bit. As a rule of thumb, the harder the material and the greater the speed/force ratio, the greater the heat generation will be.

To overcome heat created by drilling resistance, metal workers often use lubricants to cool their bits and reduce the wear. Sometimes water is sufficient, but often specialized oils make the job easier. Drill bit composition and coatings can help in drilling metal but, like wood, the specific drill bit type makes all the difference. Here are the common bit types you may use when drilling metal:

• Twist drill bits: Many metalworking jobs require nothing more sophisticated than a twist drill bit, and metalworkers frequently use these bits. However, metalworkers are far more likely to have cobalt or carbide bits than woodworkers. They’re also more likely to use coated bits, as well.
• Step bits: Many metalworkers use their step bits to cut various-sized holes in a hurry, especially sheet metal workers. A typical step bit bores from about ¼-inch up to 1.5 inches, which is well into hole saw range.
• Hole saws: Hole saws work just as well on thin metal as they do on thick wood. You will find metal-drilling hole saws up to 4 inches in diameter. But you will also find something particular about hole saws made for metal — the teeth composition on the saw’s cutting face is typically carbide or diamond.
• Reduced shank bits: Metalworkers who need large diameter holes but want a small sized chuck on their drill will appreciate investing in reduced shank bits. Shank sizes normally include 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch sizes and are widely available in many compositions.
• Countersink bits: Many metal workers take pride in super-smooth surfaces. To achieve this, they will countersink their screw and fastener heads using countersink bits manufactured especially for metalwork.
• Step bits: These bits are another option for drilling through metal, as well as wood. Step bits are good for drilling holes in sheet metal and other thin metal materials and are often used by electricians.

Best Drill Bits for Concrete and Block Projects

Concrete and masonry block are special products. Their properties are considerably different from metal and wood. As such, they require differently designed bits if you intend to drill a hole in their surfaces.

There is a wide range of concrete-based products that you may encounter. Popular concrete products are poured or cast-in-place like you would find in a foundation or patio, pre-cast masonry blocks, roofing tiles, cement-fiberboard and artificial stone. Any or all of these products could require drilling.

Concrete is a blend of finely ground Portland cement and larger sized stone aggregates. When you drill into block and concrete products, you will encounter a continuous mix of hard and soft pockets. You might be drilling a concrete foundation or attaching a ledge to a masonry block wall. If so, you will want a bit that is made for the purpose.

You will also want an electric drill that is designed for concrete and block work. Two common designs are hammer drills and slotted drive shaft (SDS) drills. Both drills use a pounding motion that breaks concrete aggregate and powder as well as cuts it. If you intend on drilling any concrete projects, these are the compatible bits you will need:

• Masonry bits: Because masonry products are hard, abrasive and corrosive, you will rarely find standard bright bits offered for that work. Instead, most masonry bits are coated with an anti-rust surface like black oxide. You should also source masonry bits with a carbide surface and a hammer-compatible or SDS design.
• Twist drill bits: You will likely find a lot of twist drill bits in the concrete cutting section. The proven design of twisted flutes and leads quickly and effortlessly removes dust and debris from the drilling hole that tends to plug up and hinder your work. Most twist drill bits meant for concrete work have special composition and curring heads like carbide faces and oxide-treated exterior surfaces.
• Hole saws: You will find the occasional need to cut a large-diameter hole in concrete and masonry products. It’s called coring in the commercial concrete cutting business, and it requires a strong and sharp hole saw. Typically, hole saws designed for concrete cutting have diamond cut-edges while some get by with a carbide treatment.
• SDS bits: One of the best drill bit inventions is the sliding or slotted drive shaft system. Because of their shank design that resembles a slot, SDS bits won’t slip in a chuck. They slide back and forth as the load demands. SDS bits are also fast to change between sizes.
• Hole saws: You will find the occasional need to cut a large-diameter hole in concrete and masonry products. It’s called coring in the commercial concrete cutting business, and it requires a strong and sharp hole saw. Typically, hole saws designed for concrete cutting have diamond cut-edges while some get by with a carbide treatment.

Best Drill Bits for Tile Projects

Drilling into tile is potentially more complicated, but rest assured, people who know the tricks do it successfully all the time. One of those tricks is having the right type of tile-drilling bit and the patience to handle it properly.

There are three main types of tiles used in the building industry. The most popular is ceramic tile. Ceramics are fairly soft, but they are brittle. Glass tiles are sought after for decoration. They are equal in density to ceramic and tend to break more easily. Porcelain tiles are the hardest. It takes a special knack and tool to drill porcelain.

Bits specifically designed to drill ceramic, glass and porcelain tiles have two distinct features. One is the drill point configuration. The other is the drill point’s material.

The best drill bits for tile work have hard, sharp-angled points. Some resemble a spear or an arrow tip. Top-quality tile bits also have diamond or carbide cutting faces. Tile requires a tough drill bit face and an exacting touch on the drill trigger. Here are the three main bits you want for all your tile drilling projects:

• Tile and glass bits: This is a general category that covers the range of bits suited for tile work. You should select a bit that the manufacturer rates as suitably matched for the type of tile you are working with. Besides the correct diameter for the hole you need, you must make sure the bit’s leading edge will bore into the tile and not shatter it.
• Spear points: Spear points have a needle-like tip that slowly engages the work with a small contact and then progressively enlarges the hole. You have a wide range of spear tips in both carbide and diamond cutting faces.
• Diamond drill bits: Not all diamond bits meant for tile cutting have spear points. You can find a good selection of diamond drill bits in conventional designs.

Choose Construction Fasteners and Tools for All Your Drill Bit Needs

Construction Fasteners and Tools is Canada’s hardware expert. Since 2001, we have partnered with professional contractors and home DIYers to provide exceptional customer service and top-quality fasteners and tools. We are particularly proud of our extensive selection of drill bits and drill accessories that cover a wide variety of materials and projects.

Whether you are drilling wood, metal, concrete or tile, the friendly staff at Construction Fasteners and Tools offer you specialized expertise and a wide inventory to successfully complete your projects. Browse our online inventory to find the right drill bits for you. For more information, call us today at 866-238-8880, or you can contact us online.