Which drill bits should you choose? Buying guide

on Nov 07, 2026

in DIY Guides & Building Tips, Tools & Machinery

Which drill bits should you choose? Buying guide

Short answer: choose the bit for the material, not only for the drill. Wood needs a wood or auger bit, metal an HSS or cobalt bit, masonry a carbide masonry bit, tiles and hard ceramics a diamond bit, and concrete preferably an SDS bit in a rotary hammer. The wrong bit means a burnt tip, cracks or endless spinning with no progress.

Also available in Dutch: Welke boorkronen en boren kies je? Keuzegids.

Machine first, then the bit

Which machine you need is covered in our blog on cordless drill, impact drill or rotary hammer: a cordless drill for wood and metal, an impact drill for light masonry, a rotary hammer (SDS) for concrete. Then pick a bit that matches both the material and the shank (cylindrical, hex or SDS-plus).

💡 Do not buy one "universal" bit for everything. One good set per material cuts faster and lasts longer.

Wood bits and augers

For timber, chipboard and battens:

Spiral wood bit: centre point, clean holes in solid wood.
Auger: deep, straight holes in beams; examples: auger wood bit Ø10 mm and auger wood bit Ø20 mm.
Adapter: a adapter for wood drills helps when changing shanks.

Drill at low to medium speed and withdraw occasionally to clear chips. For wall plugs, drill a little deeper than the plug.

Metal bits (HSS / cobalt)

For steel, stainless and non-ferrous metals:

HSS: standard for mild steel.
Cobalt (HSS-Co): better on harder alloys and stainless; examples: cobalt metal bit Ø1.0 mm and cobalt metal bit Ø5.0 mm.

Use low speeds on large diameters, cool with cutting oil or water, and centre-punch before drilling. If the bit turns blue, the hardness is gone.

Masonry bits

For brick, calcium silicate and light concrete with hammer action:

sets such as masonry drill bit set Ø3–10 mm with several diameters;
loose masonry bits such as masonry drill bit Ø10 mm for larger holes.

Use hammer mode only when the material allows it. In hollow blocks and tiles, prefer no hammer or a diamond bit (below).

Diamond bits for tiles and hard ceramics

Hard tiles need diamond, for example diamond drill bit Ø6 mm, diamond drill bit Ø8 mm, diamond drill bit Ø10 mm or diamond drill bit Ø12 mm. Work wet or with very light pressure; too much pressure makes the bit skate and the tile crack. More detail: our blog on diamond drilling in tile and concrete.

Core bits / hole saws (large round holes)

Core bits and hole saws make larger round openings: back boxes, pipe penetrations, cut-outs. Match diameter, length and shank to your machine. On concrete and reinforced work, a rotary hammer with the right crown is safer than forcing a small masonry bit.

Twist drill bit with sawdust above a wood block

Work safely with bits

Always wear safety goggles; chips and grit fly.
On stone, concrete and dust: FFP2 dust mask or FFP3 and extraction where possible; see our blog on dust and quartz on site and our blog on cordless drill, impact drill or rotary hammer.
Use work gloves with nitrile coating or cut-resistant gloves when changing hot or sharp bits; keep loose gloves clear of rotating parts.
Clamp the workpiece; long timber or metal can snatch.
Check that the bit sits true in the chuck and stays within the machine's maximum diameter.

⚠️ In zones with services or unknown walls, locate first. If you doubt electrical or gas work: use a qualified installer.

👷 For core drilling, reinforced concrete or production runs, a professional with the right rig and cooling is never unnecessary.

FAQ

Can I use a masonry bit in concrete?

Light concrete sometimes with an impact drill; solid or reinforced concrete needs SDS and a rotary hammer. See our blog on cordless drill, impact drill or rotary hammer.