Best Drill Bits in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 7, 2024
Getting the correct size of a drill bit can be quite tricky sometimes. However, with a standard drill bit set, you won't run into ...Read more
PROS

The carry case has been designed compatible with T-STAK drawers to enable convenient transportation and comfortable storage. The bits arrive already organised, freeing you from separating and coordinating them. The clip latch prevents accidental openings. 

CONS

The smaller metal drill bits will not handle tough assignments. 

OUR VERDICT

The DEWALT DT71569-QZ offers 69 screwdriver bits (including Philips, Pozi, Torx, and slotted), so you'll always have the necessary bit available to you. The magnetic bit holder will allow you to keep them accessible whilst working without putting the bits back before finishing the job.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

8x Masonry Drill Bits (from 4 mm to 10 mm), 12x HSS Metal Drill Bits (from 1.5 to 7 mm), 1x Pilot Drill Bit, 4x Hole Saw Bits, 5x Nut Drivers, 1x Magnetic Bit Holder, 4x Slotted Screwdriver Bits, 12x Torx Bits, 26x Philips Bits, 27x Pozi Bits, Carry Case

Recommended Use

Metal, wood, plastic, masonry

Materials

Steel with titanium coating

Shank

Drill bits: round

Screwdriver bits: hex

Extras

Storage case is compatible with the T-STAK drawers

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS
The bull-point chisels will accommodate standard demolition tasks, driving holes in concrete, brick, and block. The cold chisels will be removing waste metal. The scaling chisel will allow you to clean concrete and remove not only scale but rust too. 
CONS

The bits tend to heat up. 

OUR VERDICT

The Makita D-21200 will allow you to tackle demolition projects involving concrete, enable rendering, accommodate chasing, and apply fixings. The bits are adopting SDS-Plus™ shanks to enable easy bit replacement. The case is foam-lined to keep them safe during transportation.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

12x Drill Bits (from 5 to 14 mm), 5x Chisels (Bull points: 140, 260; Cold chisels: 20x140, 20x250; Scaling chisel: 40x250), Carry Case

Recommended Use

Metal, wood, plastic, masonry

Materials

Steel with titanium coating

Shank

SDS plus

Extras

Carry case is foam-lined

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The countersink bit will allow you to produce conical and cylindrical sockets where you can drive rivets, bolts, and screws afterwards. The magnetic holder is universal, keeping the bits at hand, providing reliable screw hold, and facilitating quick bit replacement. 

CONS

The screwdriver bits are not as different as they could be.

OUR VERDICT

Bosch X-Line is among the most comprehensive budget drill bit sets. Inside the case, you'll find everything you need to start drilling with confidence and comfort, from wood and metal objects to masonry surfaces. Despite the affordable price, the bits last.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

5x Wood Drill Bits (from 4 to 8 mm), 5x HSS Metal Drill Bits (from 2 to 5 mm), 5x Masonry Drill Bits (from 5 to 8 mm), 3x Socket Wrenches, 1x Adapter for a Socket Wrench, 1x Magnetic Universal Holder, 1x Countersink Bit, 13x Screwdriver Bits, Carry Case

Recommended Use

Wood, stone, metal, plastic 

Materials

Steel with titanium coating

Shank

Drill bits: round

Screwdriver bits: hex

Extras

Bosch X-Line™ case keeps everything neat and tidy (can be refilled if necessary) 

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS
The 3 step bits give you 5, 9, and 15 step adjustment options. The two-fluted construction makes them sharp and accurate enough to produce the smoothest cuts. The edges will be preventing metal filings from flying around the workspace. 
CONS

The lower step sizes become blunt very quickly. 

OUR VERDICT

You bring the SS Shovan HSS-SD-3 drill bits with you when you want to cut through the toughest materials, including aluminium pieces, cast-iron pieces, mould steel, spring steel, stainless steel, and more. You also bring these bits with you when you have to make sure the cuts come out smooth.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3x HSS Step Drill Bits (4 - 12 mm, 4 - 20 mm and 4 - 32 mm), Storage Pouch

Recommended Use

Wood, plastic, aluminium, copper, stainless steel, metal

Materials

Steel with titanium coating

Shank

Hex

Extras

Improved sharpness and accuracy for smoother cuts, edges prevent metal filings flying around 

Warranty

6 months

PROS

The side-flute holes remove the waste and prevent the dust from gathering inside, keeping the bits clean. The nickel-plated finish makes the bits practically immune from rust and corrosion. The engraved size markings allow you to quickly find the right bit. 

CONS

The package is shipped without any storage/carry solution. 

OUR VERDICT

The Tacklife AHS02C-UK Diamond Drill Bits will easily cut through/drill into ceramic surfaces, marble and granite counterparts, glass, and porcelain tiles. The diamond-coated tip heads will handle surfaces as deep as 12.7 mm, also enhancing the drilling speed.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

10x Hole Saw Bits (from 6 to 50 mm) 

Recommended Use

Ceramic, porcelain tiles, glass, marble, granite

Materials

Steel with nickel-plated surface and diamond-coated tip head

Shank

Round

Extras

Side flute hole design, laser size marking 

Warranty

2 years

Not One Excess Bit

The DEWALT DT71569-QZ is huge. With this universal tool box set, you receive 8 masonry drill bits (between 4 mm and 10 mm), 12 high-speed steel metal drill bits (between 1.5 mm and 7 mm), 12 Torx bits, 26 Philips bits, 4 slotted screwdriver bits, 27 Pozi bits, 4 hole saw bits, 5 nut drivers, 1 pilot drill bit, 1 magnetic bit holder, and the obligatory carry case. Using these accessories, you'll be able to drill into wood, plastic, masonry, and metal objects. The smallest metal drill bits will not be able to penetrate the toughest metals but, aside from them, these little buggers will handle anything.

What's more, the case is compatible with T-STAK drawers (they're sold separately though), enabling even more convenient storage and transportation. The bits come already separated and organised so that you're able to easily find the right one. Not only that, there's also the clip latch on the case that will make sure to prevent accidental openings. The entire plastic case is pretty tough too, which means you do not have to be particularly gentle transporting this combination set.

To give you the gist, the DEWALT DT71569-QZ is what you're going with when you want to absolutely make sure that you always have the right drill bits at hand.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £39.94
Stock In stock
ASIN B012DG4ZU4

From Chasing to Demolition

The Makita D-21200 is inventive, that's the word we're going with. See, more often than not, these drill bits are shipped packed into some plastic case that keeps them stored and organised, sure, but, with its rigid construction, does not prevent the bits from shaving and wearing out during transportation. Here, the case is foam-lined, keeping the bits safe and sound even when the road gets bumpy.

Inside this foam-lined case, you'll find 12 drill bits (ranging from 5 to 14 mm) and 5 chisels (2 bull points: 140, 260; 2 cold chisels: 20x140, 20x250; 1 scaling chisel: 40x250). Using the bull point chisels, you'll be able to execute general-purpose demolition and drive holes in brick, block, and concrete objects. Now, the cold chisels will let you remove waste metal when you do not have to keep the finish especially smooth. The scaling chisel stands opposite from the cold chisels, cleaning concrete and allowing you to remove scale and rust.

The bits are prone to heating up, so you'll have to take breaks from time to time. On the upside, they're equipped with SDS-Plus™ shanks, enabling quick and easy replacement.

Bottom line, from drilling into concrete to demolition works, rendering, chasing, and applying fixings, the Makita D-21200 will handle any project.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £27.81
Stock In stock
ASIN B002K89SG2

Follow the X

The Bosch X-Line is the most comprehensive, well-rounded set, packing 15 drill bits (including 5 wood drill bits (between 4 and 8 mm), 5 high-speed steel metal drill bits (sizes from 2 to 5 mm), and 5 masonry drill bits (ranging from 5 to 8 mm), 13 screwdriver bits, a magnetic universal holder, 3 nutsetters (socket wrench bits for key-headed screws), a nutsetter adapter, and even 1 countersink bit.

Using the latter, you'll be able to produce conical and cylindrical sockets necessary for bolts, screws, and rivets. Now, the nutsetters will allow you to remove the most stubborn rusted nuts (7, 8, and 10 mm). When the 15 bits come into play, you can drill not only in wood, metal, and plastic but also stone and masonry. The screwdrivers bits though, whilst functional, are not as different as they could have been.

The bright side is the magnetic universal holder that we have mentioned before, enabling fast bit changes and reliable screw hold in the bit. Meanwhile, the Bosch X-Line case will be able to keep these accessories neat and tidy and accept different accessories (not the ones that are shipped with the case) when necessary.

To sum up, the Bosch X-Line will allow you to make short work of virtually any drilling task, from stone drilling to bit organisation and transportation.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £10.39
Stock In stock
ASIN B002UHKARY

Step by Step

The SS Shovan HSS-SD-3 is not the massive, comprehensive kit comparable to the ones we have reviewed above. No, what you receive here is only 3 high-speed steel step drill bits. Because they're step bits, you can adjust the first one between 4 and 12 mm, choosing from 5 steps, including 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm. The second step bit lets you adjust the size from the same starting point (4 mm) to 20 mm, offering 9 steps (the 2-millimetre increments remain the same, so you can probably figure out what these steps are). The last step bit ranges from 4 to 32 mm, so you'll have 15 step bit options at your disposal.

The lower step sizes become blunt very quickly but, aside from that, these long drill bits are more capable than the rest, with the two-fluted design giving you the necessary sharpness and accuracy to produce smooth cuts. The lightest pressure will allow you to even cut through stainless steel, aluminium, copper, and most metals, let alone wood and plastic. To add more, the bits' edges prevent the metal filings from flying around, keeping the workspace safe and clean.

In short, you put the SS Shovan HSS-SD-3 drill bits in the supplied storage pouch and bring them with you when you need to drill into something tough.

Last updated price £12.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B077JKSFRJ

The Diamond Approach

The Tacklife AHS02C-UK Diamond Drill Bits kit is also not the most comprehensive and adaptable package and this is not us knocking on the kit. Quite the opposite, the 10 hole saw bits (ranging between 6 and 50 mm) were not designed to be versatile. They were designed to accommodate DIYers looking to renovate bathrooms and kitchens, making the bits able to drill into glass, ceramic, marble, granite, and porcelain tiles, hence bathrooms and kitchens as the preferred workplaces. Adopting the side-flute hole design, these high-quality bits prevent the dust build-ups inside them, removing the waste to keep the bits clean.

On the construction subject, these drill bits are made from high-strength steel, nickel-plating the surface and diamond-coating the tip heads. This way, the bits become resistant against rust and corrosion, whereas the diamond coating is conductive towards an improved grip. Also, the bits come fitted with laser size markings, so you will not be mixing them up.

The package is shipped without some storage/carry solution, so you'll have to figure out how and where you can store and transport them but, apart from that, the Tacklife AHS02C-UK Diamond Drill Bits will allow you to renovate any kitchen and bathroom without buying large expensive kits.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £10.59
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B074WL9BFS

What Are Drill Bits?

To drill a few holes, be it for installing a new TV or simply to hang a shelf on a wall, you need reliable drill bits. Without them, you can’t really do much renovation work both inside and outside your house and so, sooner or later, a set of bits will be needed either for an impact or a power drill.

So what are they and what kind of bit your impact drill (or a particular task for it, in this case) actually needs? Standard bits are usually made of regular steel but that’s not exactly what you should be looking for if precise drilling is needed, so let’s take a quick glance at specific drill bits that can come in handy.

Firstly, we have low-carbon steel bits that are quite soft and only suitable for drilling wood or plastic. The high-carbon steel models, on the other hand, are noticeably more durable, letting you drill most metals and enabling masonry drilling as long as some lubricant is used since heat negates the hardness of steel, which can lead to a softer cutting edge.

Secondly, there are high-speed steel bits (or simply HSS) that are designed specifically for drilling hardwood and metals since they provide the user with higher cutting speeds than regular steel ones.

If you are looking for better precision of the drilled holes, we also recommend getting a standard drill press. Since all bits need sharpening sooner or later, it is never a bad idea to have a drill bit sharpener at hand, especially if you have a production line or a big project lined up.

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