The best countersink drill bits, compared.
Top pick: TMBMLPP adjustable countersink set Best value: Makita D-73455 4-piece countersink set – Only listing on the top value band, at about £7.92 with 247 reviews. The cone angle is not stated as 82° or 90°. Updated October 2026.
A countersink drill bit cuts the conical seat under a flat screw head so the head sits flush, or slightly below the surface. UK shoppers buy one for cabinets, furniture, trim and general DIY, either as a combined pilot-and-countersink on a hex shank or as a plain fluted chamfer that does not drill the hole. You recognise a suitable bit by the cone angle, the pilot diameter against the screw gauge, and a depth lock that holds once it is tightened. Most wood sets print 82°. A chamfer for a metric countersunk machine screw often prints 90°. A blank angle is not a match you can quote. Measure the pilot, then try one screw in scrap. How those angles relate to the screw is set out in the [82° or 90° countersink guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/countersink-drill-bit/sub/countersink-drill-bit-82-or-90). High-speed steel is the usual claim on a wood set, and high-carbon steel shows up on plain chamfers. A plug cutter is an extra. At work, wood dust and flying chips are reasons for eye protection. A householder is not an employer under those work-equipment rules.
A countersink drill bit cuts the conical seat under a flat screw head so the head sits flush, or slightly below the surface.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
TMBMLPP is listed at £9.19, with 5.0 from 8 reviews, countersinks at 2.8 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.2 mm, 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm, spare pilots and five hex wrenches on a 6.35 mm shank. Two review texts, from a design-and-technology classroom, call the bits sharp at 2.8 mm and 3.0 mm, with clean holes and spares, and say the writer had not seen them wear in that use. The title says 5 pieces while the spec and the bullets say 15, once the spares and wrenches are counted. The spec says uncoated and the bullets say plastic-sprayed. No angle is stated, and the bullets do not include a case. Eight reviews and two texts are a thin file for a perfect star line, so the 5.0 is not evidence that the edge outlasts the sets with a thousand reviews. It can suit a school or home box that wants those five pilot diameters and a wrench on every bit, and it is the wrong listing if you need 82° or 90° printed on the page.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A classroom or home kit that wants 2.8 mm to 4.0 mm pilots and a wrench per bit.
Less suitable: You need a stated cone angle, a case, or a review file larger than eight ratings.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a 5-piece or a 15-piece set?
The title says 5 pcs and also lists five countersinks, five spare bits and five wrenches. The bullets and the unit count say 15.
What is the countersink angle?
The spec table does not print an angle.
What do the two review texts say?
Both are positive: sharp bits used in a classroom, clean holes, and Allen keys for adjustment. Neither describes a defect.
Kaquxibix lists three high-carbon chamfer bits at 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm for £3.98, with a 90° flute and a 1/4 inch hex shank. The rating line is 5.0 from 1, and the saved listing has no review text, so there is no UK sentence here about edge life, chatter or a blunt arrival. The bullets name hardwood, plywood, MDF, particle board and plastics, plus deburring aluminium at a controlled speed. The included-components row says 1 against a three-piece title. There is no pilot drill and no case. A single rating cannot tell you whether the cone matches the screw in your hand. Treat it as the lowest shelf price in this comparison for a 90° chamfer trio on a hole you have already drilled, not as a quality pick and not as a bit that makes the pilot.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A spare 90° chamfer for an existing hole when £3.98 is the point and you can inspect the edge.
Less suitable: You need a pilot, a review sample, or evidence beyond one star rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set include a pilot drill?
No. The listing is a three-piece 90 degree chamfer set in 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm.
What is the star rating based on?
The saved listing shows 5.0 from 1 rating and contains no review text.
Which materials does the listing name?
Wood, including plywood, MDF and particle board, plus plastics and soft metal such as aluminium.
PATNFR lists titanium-coated HSS countersinks at £9.59, with 4.8 from 6 reviews, for #4 to #12 and pilots from 2 mm to 3.5 mm on a 1/4 inch hex. Four review texts say it works and is decent value once a plastic bag is ignored, and one says the countersink cutting element stays the same size across the bits. The title says 12 pieces, the included-components line lists five countersinks, five replacement drills, a connecting rod and an Allen wrench, and the bullets also claim ten interchangeable drills. No angle is printed, and the listing does not include a case. No snapped bit is described in those four texts, which still leaves a six-review file. Buy it only if the live box matches the five-plus-five list you actually counted, and skip it if you need 82° or 90° in writing before you match a screw.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-price combined set if you open the bag and count five countersinks and five drills.
Less suitable: You need a stated 82° or 90°, a case, or a review file you can lean on.
Specifications
Common questions
How many pieces are in the set?
The title and the spec say 12. The included-components line lists five countersinks, five replacement drills, a rod and an Allen wrench. The bullets also mention ten interchangeable drills.
Is the countersink angle stated?
No angle is printed in the spec table.
Does it come in a case?
The listing does not include a case. One of the four review texts says the packaging is a plastic bag.
DECKRKAT's eight-piece set is listed at £18.98, with 4.6 from 82 reviews, pilots from 2 mm to 4 mm labelled for #4 to #14, an 82° chamfer and a 6 mm hex shank. Reviewers like the one-pass cut, the adjustable stop for a flush head, the replaceable pilots and the Allen keys, and they name hardwood, plywood, MDF, flooring and a bench drill. One review says the grub screw stripped after the first holes and the bit was driven into plywood. Another says the bits grabbed on freshly sawn timber and behaved better on finished MDF and plywood. The title and the spec say 6542, while the bullets say M2 pilots and a high-carbon countersink, and the flute count is 2 in the spec against 3 edges in the bullets. Two reviews describe a five-bit pack, which does not match this eight-piece listing. It suits a home job that needs a #14 pilot as well as the usual smaller gauges, if you count the bits when the box arrives, and it is the wrong kit if you also wanted plug cutters.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home woodwork that needs #4 to #14 pilots, including a 4 mm bit, at under £20.
Less suitable: You need plug cutters, or you will not check that eight bits actually arrived.
Specifications
Common questions
Which pilot sizes are in the set?
The bullets list 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.8 mm, two at 3.2 mm, two at 3.5 mm and 4 mm, labelled for #4 to #14 screws.
What is the countersink angle?
The title and the spec table both say 82 degrees.
Do the reviews mention the depth lock?
Yes. Several reviews praise the adjustable stop. One review says the grub screw stripped and the bit was driven into plywood.
Makita's D-73455 is four alloy-steel countersinks with pilots at £7.92, with 4.5 from 247 reviews, labelled No.6 to No.12 for short wood screws, a 1/4 inch hex shank and an L wrench. Reviewers call the bits sharp, clearly stamped and easy to swap on a cordless screwdriver, and one says they stayed sharp after a lot of use. Others report snaps, including a No.6 and a bit on the second hole in 4 mm ply, plus pilots that drill off-centre or slip out of the countersink. A chipboard job went blunt after about 30 holes in one review, and the bullets do not include a case. The angle is printed as "6E+1 Degrees", which is left as that string, and the No.6 minimum depth is printed as 11m rather than 11 mm. A reviewer who read the 6 mm label as the hole size measured about 4 mm. It is the best value line here if you want four short-screw sizes under £10 from a known brand and will keep a spare, not if you need an 82° or 90° figure you can quote.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Short wood screws in a home kit when four sizes under £10 matter more than a quoted cone angle.
Less suitable: You need a stated 82° or 90°, a case, or pilots that reviewers do not describe as snapping.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sizes are in the Makita set?
The bullets list No.6 as 3 mm (M3), No.8 as 4 mm (M4), No.10 as 5 mm (M5) and No.12 as 6 mm (M6), each with a minimum and maximum drilling depth.
Does it come with a case?
The listing includes an L wrench and does not mention a case. Reviews say a case would help.
What angle is printed?
The spec table stores the cutting angle as 6E+1 Degrees. The bullets do not spell out 82 or 90 degrees.
Torveen's three-piece is high-carbon chamfer bits at 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm for £4.19, with 4.5 from 15 reviews, a 1/4 inch hex shank and no pilot drill in the listing. Four review texts call it handy for finishing screw holes and sharp enough to fit in the drill and countersink, and none of those four texts records a complaint. The title says 90° and the spec prints "9E+1 Degrees", which is left as the listing string rather than rewritten. The spec surface is aluminium, while the bullets also name wood, plastic and soft metals such as aluminium. Fifteen reviews and four texts do not show how the edge lasts after a box of screws. It is a cheap cone for a hole you have already drilled, and it will not drill the pilot or cut a plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Deburring or countersinking a hole you have already drilled, when a 90° chamfer at £4.19 is enough.
Less suitable: You still need the pilot drilled, a depth collar, or a larger review file.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set drill a pilot hole?
The listing describes three countersink sizes for a 90 degree seat. It does not include a pilot drill.
What materials does the page name?
The bullets say wood, plastic and soft metals such as aluminium. The spec table's surface line says aluminium.
How many reviews are there?
The rating line is 4.5 from 15. Four review texts are in the saved listing, all short and positive, with no defect described.
NORTOOLS' 18-piece is HSS 4341 at £26.99, with 4.5 from 9 reviews, bits for #4 to #12, spare flat-head bits for #4 and #6, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch plug cutters, five Phillips bits, a magnetic extension and a case. The shank is 1/4 inch hex, the cone is 82°, and the spec says four flutes, with an adjustable depth collar. The seven review texts praise a clean countersink plus pilot in timber, cuts described as sharp and smooth, the case, easy hex changes, and pilots described as longer than ones that reviewer had used before. No complaint repeats in those seven texts, which is not the same thing as a long UK sample. Metal is only a question on the page, not a stated use. At nine reviews the 4.5 line can move on a handful of new ratings. It is a plausible cabinet kit if you want plugs and small spares in one case and will accept a thin review file, and a poor evidence pick beside the EZARC sets that have passed a thousand reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cabinet or trim kit where you want plugs, Phillips bits and a case, and can live with nine reviews.
Less suitable: You want a large UK review file before you trust the edge, or you need a stated metal rating.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set drill the pilot and the countersink?
The listing describes tapered countersink bits with a pilot and an adjustable depth collar, plus plug cutters, so it is a combined woodworking set rather than a chamfer-only tool.
What angle and screw sizes does it state?
The spec table says 82 degrees and four flutes. The bullets list sizes #4, #6, #8, #10 and #12, with spare bits for #4 and #6.
Is a case included?
Yes. The listing includes a storage case, and the review texts mention the case as well.
The EZARC 15-piece is listed at £25.97, with 4.4 from 1,618 reviews, tapered bits from #4 (2 mm) to #12 (3.6 mm), two plug cutters, depth-stop rings, Phillips bits, an extension and a case. Reviewers praise a sharp one-pass cut in softwood and hardwood, stops that hold once the Allen key is tight, and the case. The same sample reports pilots that snap after a few holes or on first use, cutters that go blunt in softwood as well as hardwood, and collars that will not stay tight, including a unit with no Allen key. The 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch plug cutters are said to cut loose plugs, and the listing prefers a bench drill for that job. The spec finish says titanium nitride while the bullets say nitrided, and the spec says one flute. Replacement pilots are not sold on their own, and one review found sharp shards in the case. Choose it when you want plugs beside the deepest review file in this table, and leave it if a snapped small pilot with no separate spare is the failure you cannot afford.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cabinet or furniture work where you want plugs and a large review file at £25.97.
Less suitable: You need spare pilots sold alone, or you will cut plugs with a hand drill.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the 15-piece count include?
The listing lists seven tapered bits from #4 to #12, two plug cutters, an Allen key, two depth stops, two Phillips bits and an extension shaft.
How should the plug cutter be used?
The listing says the wood plug cutter is best used on a bench drill. Reviews also say some plugs fit loosely.
What do the reviews say about durability?
The rating is 4.4 from 1,618. The text includes praise for a sharp cut and complaints that pilots snap or go blunt and that collars come loose.
TOLESA's 18-piece is nitrided M2 HSS at £28.97, with 4.4 from 59 reviews, 82° bits for #4 to #12, a spare #4, 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch plug cutters, depth rings, driver bits and a case. Reviewers report sharp tapered bits and a clean countersink in pine and in one oak trial, and they like having the stops, plugs and a magnetic extension together. A bit broke and stuck in the wood in one review, a plug cutter burned through 1/4 inch walnut on a scrap test, and a Phillips driver wore quickly under daily use. One cabinet-shop reviewer still said the bits work, and did not treat them as a daily commercial set, which matches the bullets that say avoid frequent hardwood use with the tapered bits. One buyer received an item that looked used. It fits a home kit where you want plugs and a spare small bit, and it is a weak daily-shop choice if walnut plugs and driver wear already appear in a 59-review file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A home furniture kit that wants plugs, a spare #4 and a case, used occasionally.
Less suitable: Daily cabinet-shop work, or plug cutting in walnut with a hand drill.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the set include plug cutters?
Yes. The listing includes 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch plug cutters and matching depth-stop rings.
What do reviewers say about the plug cutter?
One review says a plug cutter should be used in a drill press. Another says it burnt a scrap of 1/4 inch walnut.
Is there a storage case?
Yes. The title and the bullets include a storage case.
The EZARC 12-piece is a titanium-coated HSS set listed at £17.99, with 4.3 from 1,306 amazon.co.uk reviews, five countersinks from #4 (2 mm) to #12 (3.6 mm), spare drills, a 60 mm magnetic extension and a case. Reviewers describe a clean countersunk hole in one pass, and several praise the spare drills and the Allen-key depth change, including plywood work that stayed sharp for that user. The same file is full of clamp trouble: grub screws that will not hold, a flat on the pilot that is too small, and stripped threads. Pilots also snap, arrive bent, or get swapped because they feel cheap, and one reviewer found the countersink blunt in chipboard after about 40 holes. The #4 to #12 labels against pilots of about 2 mm to 3.5 mm are called misleading, and three smaller countersinks seemed the same size to one buyer. It does not clip into a Snappy or impact quick chuck, and the listing says extended hardwood use is not recommended. In this set it is the top pick when you want the large everyday review file on an 82° combined bit around £18, and a weaker buy if a loose grub screw has already scarred a hole for you.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an 82° combined set around £18 with a large UK review file and spare drills.
Less suitable: You need a clamp that stays tight, a Snappy chuck, or long runs in hardwood or chipboard.
Specifications
Common questions
What is included besides the five countersinks?
The listing adds five replaceable drill bits, a 60 mm magnetic extension, an Allen wrench and a storage case.
Why do some reviews dispute the sizes?
One reviewer says the #4 to #12 labels do not match bits of about 2 mm to 3.5 mm, and that three smaller countersinks looked the same size.
What clamp problem shows up in reviews?
Several reviews say the grub screw does not hold unless it is tightened hard, and that the flat on the pilot can be too small.
The EZARC 22-piece adds three self-centring bits for #6, #8 and #10 to tapered 82° countersinks, plug cutters and a case, listed at £31.97 with 4.2 from 232 reviews. Reviewers use those self-centring bits for hinges, cabinet pulls and brackets, and they like a clean countersink, the spare drills and the case. Springs and self-centring bits fail quickly in the file, from first use to a few holes or after fitting doors, and the drill can wobble in the housing. Countersink bits slip, pilots break, and replacements are sold only as a set. One reviewer found burrs in pine and said they preferred Irwin or DeWalt. Several of the saved texts are not in English, so they are not read here as UK buyers. The listing says to avoid prolonged use on hard wood. Open this kit only if you specifically want those three self-centring sizes and will treat a failed spring as likely, not if the 12-piece at £17.99 already covers the screws you own.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hinge and pull fitting where you want self-centring bits in the same case as the countersinks.
Less suitable: You only need ordinary wood screws, or you expect the springs to last a kitchen of doors.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the self-centring bits the same as the countersinks?
No. The listing describes three spring-guided self-centring bits for hinges and hardware, separate from the five tapered countersink bits.
What angle is the countersink?
The spec table and the bullets say 82 degrees, with four flutes.
What fails in the reviews?
Reviews include springs and self-centring bits that fail early, countersinks that slip, and pilots that break. Other reviews say the centring bits helped with hinges.
ATOPLEE's four-piece is HSS 4241 at £13.99, with 3.7 from 96 reviews, 90° ranges of 2–5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm and 15–20 mm on round shanks of 44 mm to 83 mm. Some of the 25 saved texts describe a clean countersink in wood, or in aluminium including 10 mm plate, and some use the bits to deburr. Others say the edge was gone after one cut even with oil, that the bits will not cut mild steel and only raise a burr, or that two of four bits were unusable in a school purchase because the grind was poor. The listing says hand drills are not allowed, the bits are not for opening holes, and they are not for tile, concrete, walls or stone. The hardness line is printed as suitable for softer materials below 25°, which is left in those words. At 3.7 stars it is the weak row if you wanted a cordless-drill countersink for wood screws, and it belongs in a pillar-drill deburr kit only if you can reject a blunt edge on arrival.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Chamfering or deburring on a drill press, in softer material, if you check the grind first.
Less suitable: A cordless drill, wood-screw pilots, mild steel, or anyone who needs the bit to arrive sharp.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this set drill a new hole?
The listing says the bits are for processing and reaming, not for opening holes, and that hand drills are not allowed.
What sizes are the four bits?
2–5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm and 15–20 mm, with lengths 44 mm, 48 mm, 65 mm and 83 mm.
Do the reviews agree on metal?
Some reviews report a clean cut in wood or aluminium. Others say the edge is gone quickly or that mild steel only burrs. The rating is 3.7 from 96.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored on 19 October 2026 from the listing text and the saved review notes. There was no lab test. Star rating, review sample, fit for the job and value are weighted 40, 20, 25 and 15. The highest total is the top pick, once. The highest value score among the others is best value, once. A 5.0 from one rating does not win either award. The string "6E+1 Degrees" is not treated as 60° or as 82°.
Star rating
40%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, times 40, rounded to the nearest whole number. This part uses the star line only.
Review sample
20%1,000 or more reviews scores 20. From 200 to 499 scores 12. From 50 to 199 scores 8. From 1 to 49 scores 4, including a 5.0 from a single rating.
Fit for the job
25%A combined pilot-and-countersink starts ahead of a chamfer with no pilot. Points add for a stated 82° or 90°, a depth stop, a case and plug cutters. Points come off once for a self-contradictory listing, for repeated snapped pilots or stripped clamps in the reviews, for a ban on hand drills, or when no angle is stated.
Value in this set
15%One price band on these shelves. Under £10 with 200 or more reviews is the top of this part. A rating under 4.0 stays on the low band. £30 or more also stays low. Makita at about £7.92 with 247 reviews is the only listing on the top band.
Start with combined or chamfer, then the cone angle, then the pilot diameter, then the depth lock. Steel and extras come after those four. The notes below follow that order for these 12 amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a cutting test, and a coating line on a listing has not been tested here.
A countersink drill bit cuts the conical seat so a flat screw head sits flush or slightly below the surface. UK shoppers on amazon.co.uk are mostly buying for woodwork: cabinets, furniture, trim and general DIY. One type is a combined pilot-and-countersink, often on a 1/4 inch hex shank. The other is a plain fluted chamfer that does not drill the hole.
Most wood sets here print 82°. The chamfer sets print 90°. An 82° bit for a metric countersunk machine screw, or a 90° bit for an American inch wood screw, leaves the head proud or rocking. A blank angle is not a match you can quote.
Screwfix gives gauge 8 a 2.5 mm pilot and gauge 10 a 3.5 mm pilot. Several sets here label about 2.8 mm as #8 and 3.2 mm as #10. Measure the pilot, then test on scrap. A review of the EZARC 12-piece says the #4 to #12 labels do not match bits of about 2 mm to 3.5 mm.
A chamfer bit does not open the hole. ATOPLEE says hand drills are not allowed. Leave the grub screw loose and reviews describe the countersink driven into the timber. Cut plugs by hand only when the listing does not ask for a bench drill. Stop on tile, concrete and stone.
Match the cone to the screw you will drive. Most wood sets in this comparison print 82°. The chamfer-only listings print 90°. Makita stores the angle as "6E+1 Degrees", which is not a clear 82° or 90° and does not count as a stated angle. PATNFR and TMBMLPP print no angle. Buying 82° for a metric countersunk machine screw, or 90° for an American inch wood screw, is the usual mismatch.
A combined bit drills the pilot and the cone in one pass. A chamfer finishes a hole you have already drilled. Torveen and Kaquxibix are 12, 16 and 19 mm high-carbon chamfers at 90°, with no pilot. ATOPLEE is four HSS 4241 ranges from 2–5 mm to 15–20 mm on a round shank. The listing says hand drills are not allowed and the bits are not for opening holes. Reviews on that listing include an edge gone after little use, and mild steel that only raises a burr.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are fitting cabinets, trim or general DIY in the screw sizes you already buy. You want a combined bit that drills the pilot and the cone, with a stop you can tighten. The EZARC 12-piece is that row here: 82°, #4 to #12, spare drills and a case, with 4.3 from 1,306 reviews at about £17.99. Reviews still describe grub screws that strip.
You want the screw hidden under a wooden plug, so you need a plug cutter in the box and you should follow a bench-drill note. The EZARC 15-piece adds two plug cutters and depth-stop rings to tapered 82° bits, with 4.4 from 1,618 reviews. Reviews also describe loose plugs and pilots that snap.
You are seating a metric countersunk machine screw, or deburring a hole that already exists. You want a 90° chamfer sized to the head. The Torveen three-piece is 12, 16 and 19 mm, with no pilot drill, at about £4.19. Read a listing that excludes steel or hand drills before you treat a chamfer as a metal bit.
In this set the top pick is the EZARC 12-piece. It has the highest total from the star line, a review file of 1,306, an 82° combined bit with a stop and a case, and a price of about £17.99. Reviews still describe grub screws that strip and pilots that snap, so the score is not a durability test. The best value is the Makita D-73455. It is the only listing on the top value band, at about £7.92 with 4.5 from 247 reviews, for four short wood-screw sizes. Its angle is not printed as 82° or 90°, and reviews include snapped tips.
Makita D-73455 4-piece countersink set
Only listing on the top value band, at about £7.92 with 247 reviews. The cone angle is not stated as 82° or 90°.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these countersink drill bits.
