Best Drill Bits (2026): 7 Sets Compared for Home Projects

We may earn commission from links on this page. Lead-form submissions are forwarded to local inspector partners. How we research and review.

The best drill bits for a homeowner are the ones that match the holes you actually drill: pilot holes for screws in wood trim, clearance holes for brackets, anchor holes in drywall, and now and then a hole in tile, brick or concrete. A single general-purpose twist set handles most of that, but not all of it. Masonry needs carbide-tipped bits, impact drivers need hex shanks, and a new homeowner may be better served by a combination kit with driver bits included. This guide compares current drill bit sets by the job each one does best, then explains how to read bit materials, points and shanks so you can stop guessing at the hardware store.

Part of our Structure & Exterior guide — start there for the full picture →

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

How we compared: we compared 13 current Amazon listings for drill bit sets and drill-and-driver combination kits on what each listing states: bit material and coating, point style, shank type, size range, piece count and the materials the maker says the bits will drill. We did not lab-test or handle any of these sets. Three more listings in the search results were screwdriver bit sets with no drill bits, so we left them out. Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing before you buy.

Quick picks: the best drill bits by use

Product	Best for	Key features	Price	Buy
DEWALT DW1361	Everyday wood, metal and plastic	21 pieces, 1/16 to 1/2 in. Titanium nitride pilot point Spares of the smallest sizes	$26.98as of Oct 20, 2026 5:26 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
BLACK+DECKER BDA91109	First toolbox drill and driver kit	109 pieces in a hard case Drill bits for wood, metal and masonry 1 in. and 2 in. driver bits	$27.12as of Oct 20, 2026 5:26 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
TITGGI Masonry Set	Tile, brick and concrete	Tungsten carbide tips 10 bits in 7 sizes, 1/8 to 1/2 in. 3-flat anti-slip shank	$11.99as of Oct 20, 2026 5:26 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Makita B-65399 Impact Gold	Impact driver owners	Impact-rated 1/4 in. hex shank Titanium nitride coating 135 degree split point	$21.65as of Oct 20, 2026 2:16 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
ENERTWIST 112-pc Kit	All-in-one hex shank kit	18 titanium, 5 masonry, 3 spade bits 71 driver bits plus nut drivers Fits impact drivers	$32.29as of Oct 20, 2026 5:26 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Drill America KFD29J-PC	Every size to 1/2 inch	29 HSS jobber bits by 64ths 135 degree split point Black and gold oxide finish	$81.89as of Oct 20, 2026 2:16 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
CRAFTSMAN CMAM2214	Basic brand-name starter set	14 gold oxide bits Split point for clean starts Wood, plastic or metal	$9.98as of Oct 20, 2026 5:26 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price

Prices are Amazon’s listed prices as of the time shown and change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The 7 picks, compared listing by listing

1. DEWALT DW1361 — Best Everyday Drill Bit Set

Best overall everyday set

Why we like it

• Pilot point starts on contact, no punch needed
• Doubles of the five sizes that break most
• No-spin shanks and tapered web
• Covers wood, metal and plastic

DEWALT DW1361 — 21 pc, TiN-coated pilot point, 1/16 to 1/2 in., doubled small sizes, no-spin shanks, tough case

The Only Pilot-Point Set on the Shelf, With Spares Where You Need Them

Most sets on this shelf use either a plain point or a 135 degree split point. The DW1361 is the only listing that describes a pilot point, a tip designed to start cutting on contact rather than skating across the surface. For the household jobs that dominate a drill bit’s life, such as pilot holes in trim, cabinet hardware and hinge screws, that means less chance of a bit wandering across a finished surface.

The size list is what moves it to the top. DEWALT includes two each of the five smallest sizes, 1/16 through 1/8 inch. Those are the bits that snap in a pilot hole or vanish into a carpet, and running out of a 7/64 halfway through a project is the most common reason a cheap set ends up incomplete. The set still reaches 1/2 inch, so it covers bolt holes and larger clearance holes too.

It is a titanium nitride coated set, so the slick coating helps on wood, plastic and mild steel. It is not a masonry bit and not a stainless steel bit; for those jobs see picks 3 and 6 or our sibling guide to the best drill bits for metal. The listing does not state the bit material underneath the coating.

Check DEWALT DW1361 price on Amazon

2. BLACK+DECKER BDA91109 — Best First Toolbox Kit

Best first toolbox kit

Why we like it

• Drill bits and driver bits in one case
• Includes bits for masonry as well as wood
• 1 in. and 2 in. screwdriver bits
• Aimed at hanging, fixtures and furniture

BLACK+DECKER BDA91109 — 109 pc drill and driver combo, wood/metal/plastic/masonry bits, 1 and 2 in. driver bits, hard case

A Combination Kit That Covers Masonry Without a Second Purchase

Four listings on this shelf include bits for masonry. Two are the combination kits from BLACK+DECKER and ENERTWIST, one is the Amazon Basics 100-piece kit, and one is the dedicated TITGGI masonry set. For a first apartment or a new house, the BLACK+DECKER kit means the first time you need to hang a mirror on a brick wall or drive a cabinet screw, the right bit is already in the box.

BLACK+DECKER frames the kit around household jobs: hanging pictures, installing fixtures and assembling furniture. That honesty about scope is useful. These are general steel bits, not cobalt or carbide-tipped specialty bits, and the listing does not name a coating, a point angle or the exact sizes. Expect them to do light-duty work well and to wear faster in hard materials.

Compared with the ENERTWIST kit (pick 5), this kit uses a mix of round-shank drill bits for a standard chuck, while the ENERTWIST kit is built around 1/4 inch hex shanks. If you own only a drill, either works; if you own an impact driver, read pick 5 first.

Check BLACK+DECKER BDA91109 price on Amazon

3. TITGGI 10-Piece Masonry Set — Best for Tile, Brick and Concrete

Best for tile, brick and concrete

Why we like it

• Only carbide-tipped set on the shelf
• Four 1/4 in. bits for common anchor holes
• 3-flat shank grips standard chucks
• Gives clear tile and glass technique tips

TITGGI masonry set — 10 pc, tungsten carbide tips, 1/8 to 1/2 in., dual U-flutes, 3-flat shank, rotary only

The Only Dedicated Carbide-Tipped Bits in the Comparison

Ordinary twist bits, coated or not, dull almost instantly in brick, concrete or porcelain. TITGGI is the only listing on the shelf that names tungsten carbide tips, and it is the only dedicated masonry set. The size spread is practical: four copies of 1/4 inch, the size that matches many plastic anchors, plus the common 3/16 and 5/16 sizes for concrete screws and larger anchors.

The listing also gives better instructions than most. It says to start slowly with light pressure, to put painter’s tape on tile and glass to stop slipping, and to cool the bit with water to reduce chipping. Those are exactly the habits that separate a clean hole in a backsplash from a cracked tile.

Note the stated limit: rotary mode only, and not for hammer drills, impact drivers or SDS rotary hammers. For heavy concrete work such as anchoring a ledger or a railing post into a foundation, a hammer drill with hammer-rated bits is the right setup; our guide to the best hammer drill covers when that upgrade makes sense.

Check TITGGI Masonry Set price on Amazon

4. Makita B-65399 Impact Gold — Best for Impact Driver Owners

Best for impact driver owners

Why we like it

• Rated for 1/4 in. hex impact drivers
• 135 degree split point for faster starts
• Titanium nitride coating
• Names wood, plastic and several metals

Makita B-65399 — 14 pc TiN, 1/4 in. hex impact shank, 135 degree split point, wood/plastic/metal

The Only Bits-Only Set Here Rated for Impact Drivers

Plenty of homeowners own an impact driver before they own a drill, because impact drivers are sold in nearly every combo kit and are excellent for driving screws. A round-shank bit will not fit an impact driver’s quick-change collet at all. Four drill bit listings on this shelf use 1/4 inch hex shanks, and of the sets that contain only drill bits, the Makita is the only one that says it is impact rated.

That rating matters because ordinary hex bits can snap under the rapid hammering of an impact driver. Makita also adds a 135 degree split point, which 4 of the 13 listings advertise, and a titanium nitride coating that Makita says outlasts uncoated bits by 2.5x. That is the maker’s claim, not something we measured.

The listing does not state the 14 sizes and lists no manufacturer warranty. Hex bits also tend to wobble slightly more than round shanks in a three-jaw chuck, so for precision holes a drill with round-shank bits remains more accurate.

Check Makita B-65399 Impact Gold price on Amazon

5. ENERTWIST 112-Piece Kit — Best All-in-One Hex Shank Kit

Best all-in-one hex shank kit

Why we like it

• Twist, masonry and spade bits together
• Only listing with spade bits
• Hex shanks fit impact drivers and drills
• Countersink and nut drivers included

ENERTWIST ET-DBA-112 — 112 pc, 1/4 in. hex, 18 titanium + 5 masonry + 3 spade bits, 71 driver bits, nut drivers, countersink

The Only Kit That Includes Spade Bits for Large Wood Holes

Spade bits are the cheap, fast way to bore large holes in wood, such as a hole through a stud for a cable run or a door edge for a latch. ENERTWIST is the only listing on the shelf that includes them. Add 18 titanium-coated twist bits, 5 masonry bits and a countersink, and the kit covers more hole types than any other single listing here.

Everything is built on a 1/4 inch hex shank, and the listing says it fits impact drivers as well as standard drills. That makes it the natural match for a homeowner whose cordless kit came with an impact driver. ENERTWIST also mentions a warranty, which is rare on this shelf; it is the only listing whose product description mentions one, though it does not give terms.

The trade-off is the usual one for big kits: the listing does not state twist bit sizes, the masonry bits are not described as carbide-tipped, and 112 pieces includes a lot of driver bits you may already own. For serious tile or concrete work, the TITGGI set is still the better tool.

Check ENERTWIST 112-pc Kit price on Amazon

6. Drill America KFD29J-PC — Best for Every Size to 1/2 Inch

Best for every size to 1/2 inch

Why we like it

• All 29 sizes in 1/64 in. steps
• 135 degree split point, no pilot needed
• Black and gold oxide finish
• Ideal for matching anchors and screws

Drill America KFD29J-PC — 29 pc HSS, 1/16 to 1/2 in. by 64ths, black and gold oxide, 135 degree split point

The Only Full 29-Size Run in the Comparison

Most general sets jump in 1/32 or 1/16 inch steps once they get past 1/4 inch. That is fine until you need a hole that exactly matches a lag screw shank, a bolt or an anchor. Drill America is the only listing here with every 1/64 inch size from 1/16 to 1/2 inch, which takes the guesswork out of pilot and clearance holes.

The bits are heavy-duty HSS with a black and gold oxide finish and a 135 degree split point that Drill America says starts in hard material without a pilot hole. That combination works on wood and plastic as well as mild steel, aluminum and copper.

It is not a masonry set, and HSS is not the right choice for stainless; our metal guide covers cobalt options. The listing does not state a warranty.

Check Drill America KFD29J-PC price on Amazon

7. CRAFTSMAN CMAM2214 — Best Basic Brand-Name Starter Set

Best basic starter set

Why we like it

• Gold oxide coating resists corrosion
• Split point for accurate hole placement
• Slim, light case for a kitchen drawer
• Covers wood, plastic and metal

CRAFTSMAN CMAM2214 — 14 pc gold oxide, split point, wood/plastic/metal, slim case

The Lightest, Slimmest Brand-Name Set Listed

Not everyone needs a 29-piece metal kit or a 112-piece combo. For a condo, a rental or a kitchen junk drawer, a slim 14-piece set handles picture hangers, curtain rods and furniture repair. Among the brand-name bits-only sets on this shelf, the CRAFTSMAN case is the slimmest listed at about 0.7 inch thick, with a listed weight of half a pound.

The gold oxide coating and split point are sensible features at this level. The listing is thin on detail, though: it does not give the sizes, the point angle or the base steel, and it describes the case as metal in one bullet and plastic in another.

If you expect more than occasional use, the DEWALT DW1361 adds spare small bits and reaches the same materials. If you drill only now and then, this set is enough.

Check CRAFTSMAN CMAM2214 price on Amazon

Which kind of bit for which material

Most frustration with drill bits comes from using the right bit on the wrong material. A quick map:

• Wood, drywall and plastic: any sharp twist bit works. Coated HSS sets like the DEWALT DW1361 are the everyday choice. Spade bits bore large holes in wood quickly. None of the listings on this shelf are brad-point bits, the type woodworkers prefer for perfectly clean holes in furniture.
• Mild steel, aluminum and copper: HSS with an oxide or titanium nitride finish is fine. Use slower speeds and a drop of oil on steel.
• Stainless steel and cast iron: cobalt bits. Our metal-specific drill bit guide compares M35 and M42 cobalt sets and step bits for sheet metal.
• Brick, block, concrete, ceramic and porcelain tile: carbide-tipped masonry bits. Hard concrete and foundation work goes faster with a hammer drill and hammer-rated bits.
• Glass and glazed tile: carbide or diamond bits at low speed with water cooling, starting through painter’s tape.

Coatings, points and shanks explained

Coatings

Black oxide and gold oxide finishes add mild corrosion resistance and help hold lubricant. Titanium nitride is a harder gold-colored surface layer that reduces friction; five listings on this shelf use a titanium-type coating. A coating sits on the surface, so once a tip is resharpened, the coating at the cutting edge is gone. Cobalt, by contrast, is alloyed through the steel.

Points

A 135 degree split point is designed to start without walking, and 4 of the 13 listings here name one. DEWALT’s pilot point serves a similar purpose. A simple standard point works but benefits from a center punch or a small starter hole on hard or smooth surfaces.

Shanks

Round shanks run truest in a three-jaw chuck. Three-flat shanks resist spinning in the chuck. Quarter-inch hex shanks fit quick-change chucks and impact drivers, but only impact-rated bits should go in an impact driver. If you are still choosing a drill, our guide to the best cordless drill explains clutch settings, chuck sizes and when an impact driver is the better companion.

Set size

Count the sizes, not the pieces. A 109- or 112-piece kit may contain fewer drill bits than a 29-piece set, because most pieces are driver bits. If you mainly drill, buy a drill bit set; if you mainly drive screws and drill occasionally, a combo kit is better value.

Common home jobs and the bit to grab

• Hanging shelves and TVs: find the stud first with a reliable stud finder, then drill a pilot hole slightly smaller than the screw’s root diameter.
• Hollow-wall anchors: match the bit exactly to the anchor’s stated size. Our roundup of the best drywall anchors covers which anchor fits which load.
• Bathroom accessories on tile: carbide masonry bit, painter’s tape, slow speed and water. Drill into grout lines when the layout allows; replacement tile in older homes can be hard to match.
• Running cable through studs: a spade bit, keeping holes back from the stud face so drywall screws do not reach the cable.
• Brackets on steel: HSS or cobalt with oil, low speed and a clamp.

Front Range homes add a few local wrinkles. Brick and stone veneer is common on older ranches in Denver and Jefferson counties, so a carbide masonry set earns its place. Very dry winter air makes wood trim harder and more prone to splitting, so pilot holes near board ends matter more than in humid climates.

Drill safely, and know what you are drilling into

OSHA’s hand and power tools booklet lists basic rules that apply as much in a garage as on a jobsite: keep tools in good condition, use the right tool for the job, inspect tools for damage before use, secure work with clamps or a vise, and disconnect power tools before changing bits. For a cordless drill, that last step means pulling the battery. OSHA also notes that thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that proper eye protection could have prevented, so wear safety glasses for every hole, masonry and metal especially.

The bigger risk in older homes is the material, not the bit. The EPA lists drilling among the activities that can release fibers from asbestos-containing materials and tells homeowners not to drill holes in them. Older floor tile, mastic, some ceiling textures and certain wallboard compounds are typical suspects; read our guide on how to test tile for asbestos before drilling into an old floor. The EPA also notes that about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint and that renovation or repair work can create dangerous lead dust, so drilling through old painted trim calls for lead-safe practices and cleanup.

Also check for wiring and plumbing before you drill. Shut off the circuit near outlets and switches, and avoid drilling directly above or below them where cables usually run.

When to call a professional

A good bit set covers most household holes. It does not cover drilling into structural framing, foundations, roof decks or exterior walls in ways that could let in water or weaken a member. Cracked foundation walls, sagging beams, damaged masonry and failed flashing all deserve an assessment before more holes go in. Our guide to structure and exterior inspections explains what an inspector checks.

Buying or selling a home on the Front Range and want the structure, masonry and exterior looked at by a professional? Reach out through our contact page and we will connect you with a vetted local inspector.

References

• Hand and Power Tools (OSHA 3080) — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Eye and Face Protection — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency