The best drill bits, compared.
Top pick: Bosch 34-piece X-Line – Tied on 92 points with the Mini X-Line, then chosen because 28,187 reviews beat 11,466. Masonry bits at 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, at about £10.63, with 4.7 stars. Best value: Bosch Mini X-Line 15-piece – Highest value score among the rest: about £7.99, carbide masonry plus HSS and wood bits at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm, and 4.6 from 11,466 reviews. Updated October 2026.
A drill bit is the cutting piece that turns in a chuck, or in a quick-change holder, and makes a round hole. In a UK house you choose it for the material first: wood, mild steel, stainless steel, brick, block, thin sheet or plasterboard. The diameter comes next, then the shank, then the steel. Piece count comes last, because a large case often holds screwdriver bits beside the drill bits. Read the diameter in millimetres from the screw, or from the wall-plug pack in your hand. Plug colours are not one national standard. A round shank fits a three-jaw chuck. A quarter-inch hex shank fits a quick-change holder. High-speed steel covers mild steel and aluminium. A gold coat is still high-speed steel, not cobalt. Masonry needs a carbide tip and hammer mode. A brad-point bit is for wood, a step bit is for thin sheet, and a cut-out bit is for plasterboard. The order of those checks is set out in the [drill bit buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/drill-bit/sub/drill-bit-buying-guide).
A drill bit is the cutting piece that turns in a chuck, or in a quick-change holder, and makes a round hole.
36 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 10
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you drilling?
The Bosch 34-piece X-Line is listed at about £10.63 with HSS metal bits, CYL-1 masonry bits and brad-point wood bits, plus screwdriver bits and a named case. It scores 4.7 from 28,187 amazon.co.uk reviews, the deepest sample in this set. The masonry sizes are 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, which is the only listing here that names 5.5 mm. Metal bits stop at 5 mm, so an 8 mm hole in mild steel is outside this box. The wood bullet prints 4/5/6/78 mm while the included-components line says 4 to 8 mm, and both lines stay on the listing. It is the top pick here for a household shelf on brick when the plug is 5.5, 6 or 7 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Shelves and similar fixings in brick when the plug pack says 5.5, 6 or 7 mm, and the metal holes stay at 5 mm or under.
Less suitable: Mild steel above 5 mm, stainless steel, or a 10 mm masonry hole.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the 34-piece set include a 7 mm masonry bit?
Yes. The masonry bits are listed as 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, and they are named CYL-1. The metal bits stop at 5 mm.
Are screwdriver bits in the box?
Yes. Thirteen 25 mm bits cover Phillips, Pozidriv, slot and Torx, plus three sockets, a connector, a magnetic holder and a 13 mm countersink. The bullets also name an X-Line case.
What does the wood-size line say?
The scope bullet prints wood diameters as 4/5/6/78 mm. The included-components line says wood bits from 4 to 8 mm. Both lines are on the listing.
The Bosch 70-piece X-Line is about £20.99, with eleven HSS-TiN metal bits from 1.5 to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 to 10 mm, five wood bits from 4 to 10 mm, and spade bits at 16, 22 and 32 mm. The star line is 4.7 from 20,635 amazon.co.uk reviews. Most of the 70 pieces are screwdriver bits: 24 at 25 mm and 10 at 50 mm, plus seven nutsetters. The number-of-pieces field says 1. The surface field lists plastic and wood and leaves out masonry and metal, which the bullets do name. It earns its place when you want those driver bits and a 32 mm spade in the same case. Counting 70 drill bits from the title overstates the drilling kit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household case that must include driver bits, a 32 mm wood spade, and masonry bits somewhere from 4 to 10 mm.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants 70 drill bits, a stated 5.5 mm masonry bit, or stainless steel.
Specifications
Common questions
What drill bits are in the 70-piece set?
Eleven HSS-TiN metal bits from 1.5 to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 to 10 mm, five wood bits from 4 to 10 mm, and three spade bits at 16, 22 and 32 mm.
Are the screwdriver bits only the short ones?
No. The listing has 24 bits at 25 mm and 10 bits at 50 mm, plus seven nutsetters from 4 to 10 mm and a connector. The bullets also name an X-Line case.
Why do the piece counts disagree?
The title says 70 pieces. The number-of-pieces field says 1. The weight line says 1.4 kg.
The Bosch 50-piece X-Line is about £14.49 and lists HSS-TiN metal bits up to 6.5 mm, CYL-1 masonry bits at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm, and spade bits at 16 and 22 mm. It carries 4.7 from 16,733 amazon.co.uk reviews. A case is in the contents line, and screwdriver bits are included. The listing does not contain a carbide sentence; the masonry bits are named CYL-1. The weight prints as 18.1 g, which does not sit with a 50-piece case, and the wood bullet says five bits then lists six diameters. A titanium nitride coat is still HSS, so stainless is the wrong job for these metal bits. It is the mixed set to open when the plug is 7 or 10 mm and you also want a 16 or 22 mm wood spade.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Brick plugs at 7 or 10 mm, plus wood spade holes at 16 or 22 mm, in one cased mixed set.
Less suitable: A 5.5 mm plug, stainless steel, or anyone counting all 50 pieces as drill bits.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the 50-piece set include a 7 mm masonry bit?
Yes. The CYL-1 masonry bits are 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm. Metal HSS-TiN bits run from 1.5 to 6.5 mm. Spade bits are 16 and 22 mm.
How many wood bits does the bullet list?
It says five brad-point bits, then lists 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm. Both the count and the list are on the listing. A case is in the included-components line.
Does the listing mention glass?
The surface-recommendation field includes glass and fibreglass, along with wood, metal, plastics and several non-ferrous metals. That is the spec line.
The Bosch Mini X-Line puts five metal, five masonry and five wood bits in one box at about £7.99, each at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm. It carries 4.6 from 11,466 amazon.co.uk reviews. The masonry bits are named with an impact-resistant carbide tip, the metal bits are HSS, and the shank is round. There is no 5.5 mm, no 7 mm and no 10 mm, so a plug pack that asks for those sizes is the wrong match. The contents line lists the fifteen bits and does not name a case, though reviews mention a compact storage case. It is the best value here when the hole is 6 or 8 mm in brick, wood or ordinary metal.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first household set when the plug or the screw hole is 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 mm in brick, wood or ordinary metal.
Less suitable: A 5.5 mm, 7 mm or 10 mm plug, stainless steel, or a sheet-metal step bit.
Specifications
Common questions
Which materials are in the Mini X-Line?
Five high-speed steel metal bits, five carbide-tipped masonry bits and five wood bits. The surface field lists wood, metal and brick.
Which diameters are included?
Each of the three materials is listed at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm. There is no 7 mm bit in this set.
Does the contents line include a case?
No. The contents line lists the fifteen bits. Reviews mention a compact storage case, which is not in that contents line.
The Bosch Professional PointTeQ set is nineteen black-oxide HSS bits from 1.0 to 10.0 mm in 0.5 mm steps, listed at about £14.12 with ProBox in the title. Across 5,060 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.5. The bullets name alloyed and mild steel, non-ferrous metals, cast steel, cast iron and plastic. Masonry is absent, and stainless is not named. The number-of-pieces field says 1 while the title says 19. The bullets mention a reduced shank without saying which sizes are reduced. It is the mild-steel pick here, and the wrong box for a wall plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Mild steel, alloyed steel, cast iron and non-ferrous metal from 1 mm to 10 mm in a three-jaw chuck.
Less suitable: Brick or block, stainless steel, or a mixed DIY case of screwdriver bits.
Specifications
Common questions
Which metals does PointTeQ name?
The bullets name alloyed and mild steel, non-ferrous metals, cast steel, cast iron and plastic, for drill drivers, bench drills and rotary combi drills. Masonry is not in this set.
What sizes are in the 19-piece set?
1.0 to 10.0 mm in 0.5 mm steps, round shank, black oxide HSS. The number-of-pieces field says 1, while the title and scope say 19.
Is a case named?
The title includes ProBox. The included-components line says 1 x Professional Accessory. Reviews also mention a case.
The Amazon Basics set is fourteen HSS bits from 1.5 to 10 mm at about £9.12, with 1.5 mm and 3.2 mm repeated and a straight shank. Across 7,821 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.3. The usage note excludes masonry, stainless, glass, ceramics, heat-treated steel and high-carbon steel, and names wood, plastic and soft metals such as iron, copper and aluminium. The title says a titanium coating while the finish field says polished, so the gold look is not a settled fact on the page. The angle field says 135 degrees. Comments on cheaper sets in this comparison mention small bits bending, which is a comment rather than a timed test. It covers ordinary metal and wood up to 10 mm, and a wall plug is outside its job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Wood, plastic, iron, copper and aluminium from 1.5 mm to 10 mm, when you already have a separate masonry bit.
Less suitable: Brick, stainless, heat-treated steel, or a job that needs one of every half-millimetre from 1 to 10 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this set drill masonry or stainless steel?
The usage note says no. It excludes glass, ceramics, masonry, heat-treated steel, high-carbon steel and stainless steel. Named metals are iron, copper and aluminium, plus wood and plastic.
Is the coating titanium?
The title and one bullet say a titanium surface coating. The finish field says polished. Both lines are on the listing.
Which sizes are in the 14-piece set?
1.5, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.2, 3.2, 3.5, 4, 5, 5.5, 6, 8 and 10 mm. The shank is straight, and the angle field says 135 degrees.
The STROTON set is nineteen M42 8% cobalt bits from 1 to 10 mm in 0.5 mm steps, listed at about £37.89, and the bullets name stainless steel, hard metals, aluminium and plastic. Across 4,756 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.3. Some of those reviews praise stainless after HSS has failed, and others report a bit snapping. That is comment, not a timed test. The bullets say a 135 degree split point while the spec says 90 degrees, and the shank is not stated. No case is in the contents line, and masonry is absent. It is the stainless step in this set, at the highest price, and the wrong spend for brick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Stainless steel from 1 to 10 mm, at low speed and with cutting oil, after you have checked the angle lines on the listing.
Less suitable: Brick or block, a first mixed DIY set, or mild steel you can already finish with HSS.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the stainless-steel set?
The title and bullets name stainless steel and hard metal, plus aluminium and plastic. It is M42 8% cobalt, 1 to 10 mm. Masonry is not named, and wood is only a question on the page.
What tip angle does the listing give?
The bullets say a 135 degree split point. The cutting-angle field says 90 degrees. The shank type is not stated.
Does the contents line include a case?
No. The listing does not name a case. The bullets list the nineteen bits without naming one.
The Amtech F1120 is a 13-piece hex set listed at about £5.95, with title sizes from 1.5 to 6.5 mm and a 1/4 inch hex shank. Across 3,797 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.1, a large sample for a set at this price. The title calls the bits titanium-nitride coated HSS, while the spec material says alloy steel, and the piece-count field says 1. Masonry is absent, so a brick plug sits outside this box. The bullets do not call the bits impact-rated. Some UK reviews say the hex fits an impact driver, and one review says they are not suitable for an impact drill. The cutting angle on the listing is 118 degrees. For a quick-change holder on wood, plastic and the metals named in the title, the material clash is the reason to read the spec before you trust the gold colour.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Wood, plastic and light metal in a 1/4 inch hex holder, in sizes up to 6.5 mm, when you can live with the steel clash on the listing.
Less suitable: Brick or block, stainless steel, or any job that needs a bit larger than 6.5 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
What shank do these Amtech bits use?
The title says a 1/4 inch hex shank, in sizes 1.5–6.5 mm. The spec material is alloy steel, while the title says titanium-nitride coated HSS.
Are masonry bits included?
No. The title names wood, plastic and metals, and the surface field says metal. Masonry is not in the listing.
Does the listing say they suit an impact driver?
The bullets do not say impact. Some UK reviews say the hex bits fit an impact driver, and one review says they are not suitable for an impact drill.
The LSLANSOON set is five titanium-coated HSS step bits plus an S2 centre punch in an aluminium box, listed at about £12.99. The star line is 4.0 from 199 reviews, a thinner sample than the mixed sets. The bullets name sheet metal, wood and plastic, and they say the five bits stand in for 50 diameters, though the individual steps are not listed. A bullet says a 118 degree split tip while the spec prints 1183 degrees. Masonry and stainless are absent from the materials. The shank is straight. It is the sheet-metal buy in this comparison, with the angle clash and the shorter review pile as the limits.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Several hole sizes in thin sheet, wood or plastic, when you want a centre punch in the same box.
Less suitable: Brick, stainless bar, or a job that needs the step diameters printed before you buy.
Specifications
Common questions
What are these step bits for?
The bullets name sheet metal, wood and plastic. The surface field says metal. Masonry is not named. Five bits are said to stand in for 50 separate diameters, but the individual steps are not listed.
Is a centre punch included?
Yes. The set name is five step bits plus one automatic centre punch, described as an S2 steel spring punch, in an aluminium box.
What angle does the listing give?
A bullet says a 118 degree split tip. The cutting-angle field prints 1183 degrees. The shank is straight.
The Funnytek listing is fifty identical 5/32 inch M2 cut-out bits, 3.97 mm on the cutting-diameter field, at about £26.49 in a clear case. The listing has no customer-review line, so it is not scored and you cannot compare a star rating with the other nine. They are left-hand spiral bits with a guided pilot tip, for a spiral saw in gypsum board, and the listing still sits under a jobber heading. Wood, fibreboard and PVC appear in the bullets. Masonry does not. At this price the box only makes sense if you need fifty of the same plasterboard bit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Repeat cut-outs in plasterboard with a spiral saw, when you want spare 5/32 inch bits in one case.
Less suitable: Brick, steel, wood twist drilling, or any job that needs more than one diameter.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these fifty different sizes?
No. All fifty are 5/32 inch bits. The cutting-diameter field is 3.97 mm. They are left-hand spiral cut-out bits, not a mixed wood, metal and masonry set.
What tool does the listing name?
The highlight line says a cut-out tool for use with a spiral saw. A listing question asks about spiral-saw compatibility. A chuck size is not given.
Is there an Amazon star rating?
The listing has no customer-review line, so the star rating and the review count are not available. The price on the listing is about £26.49. That missing line is why this row is not scored.
Ten drill bit listings on amazon.co.uk were scored from the shelf price, the star line, the review count and what the listing says about material, shank and steel. There was no lab test. Stars are worth 40, the review sample 20, fit for the job 25 and value in this set 15. A listing with no customer-review line scores 0 and cannot take an award. In sentences that listing is not scored, because a missing line is not a zero-star rating from buyers. The highest total is the top pick. If two totals match, the larger review count wins. The highest value score among the rest is best value.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 40, and rounded to the nearest whole number. A listing with no customer-review line scores 0 on this part and 0 overall.
Sample
20%10,000 or more reviews score 20. From 1,000 to 9,999 scores 16. From 200 to 999 scores 12. From 50 to 199 scores 8. From 1 to 49 scores 4. No review line scores 0.
Fit for the job
25%Starts at 8. A mixed wood, metal and masonry set, or a metal-only set whose sizes reach 10 mm, adds points. A single-job set adds less. A named case, a stated shank and a stated steel or tip add points. One contradiction on material, angle, piece count, wood sizes or weight takes 4 off. The part is capped at 25.
Value in this set
15%One price band only, using the shelf price in GBP. Under £11 with masonry bits and 1,000 or more reviews scores highest. A price of £30 or more scores low even with a large review file. A missing review line keeps the value part low.
Choose the material of the hole, then the diameter, the shank and the steel. Piece count and a gold coat come after those four. The notes below follow that order for these ten amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a drilling test.
A drill bit is chosen for the material, then the diameter, the shank and the steel. Piece count is the last check. In the UK the common buy is a mixed set: high-speed steel bits for metal, carbide-tipped bits for masonry, and brad-point bits for wood, often with screwdriver bits in the same case. A gold titanium nitride coat is still high-speed steel. It is not cobalt. Jobber twist bits are the default spiral. Quote DIN 338 only when a listing says it.
Titanium nitride on high-speed steel is still high-speed steel. Cobalt is the listing that says M42 or cobalt, for stainless, at low speed and with oil. A mixed 4.7-star set is the wrong spend for stainless.
Masonry needs a carbide tip and hammer mode, and the diameter on the plug pack. Plug colours are not one national standard. High-speed steel in brick, or a wood bit in brick, is the wrong family.
A 70-piece title can be mostly driver bits, with a much smaller drill-bit kit inside. Pushing a smoking bit harder, and trusting one red-plug chart, are the other usual misses. Small-bit comments about bending are comments, not a timed test.
The hole decides the bit. Wood wants a brad point, or a spade bit when the diameter is large. Mild steel and aluminium want high-speed steel. Stainless wants a listing that says cobalt or M42, after ordinary HSS has failed, still at low speed and with cutting oil. Brick and block want a carbide tip and hammer mode. Thin sheet wants a step bit. Plasterboard wants a cut-out bit, not a masonry bit. Read the diameter in millimetres from the screw or from the plug pack in your hand.
A round shank suits a three-jaw chuck. A quarter-inch hex suits a quick-change holder. None of these household listings is an SDS shank, so a rated concrete anchor sits on another page. A gold coat is still high-speed steel. Do not quote DIN 338, a PGM mark or an H8 tolerance unless the listing says those words. These listings do not. Keep the clashes. One title says titanium while the finish field says polished. One title says titanium-nitride HSS while the spec says alloy steel.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a mixed set whose masonry diameters match the plug pack, including 5.5 mm and 7 mm. The Bosch 34-piece X-Line is about £10.63, with CYL-1 masonry bits at 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, and 4.7 from 28,187 reviews. Metal bits in that box stop at 5 mm.
You want black-oxide HSS from 1.0 to 10.0 mm in half-millimetre steps, and you do not need a masonry bit. The Bosch PointTeQ 19-piece set is about £14.12, with 4.5 from 5,060 reviews. The piece-count field says 1 while the title says 19.
You have already failed with high-speed steel and the listing has to say cobalt. The STROTON M42 8% cobalt set is about £37.89, from 1 to 10 mm, with 4.3 from 4,756 reviews. The bullets say 135 degrees and the spec says 90 degrees. It is the wrong spend for brick.
In this set of ten amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bosch 34-piece X-Line at about £10.63, with 4.7 from 28,187 reviews. It ties the Mini X-Line on 92 points. The 34-piece has the larger review count, so it takes the award. Masonry sizes are 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm. Metal bits stop at 5 mm, and one wood bullet prints 4/5/6/78 mm. The best value is the Bosch Mini X-Line at about £7.99, with 4.6 from 11,466 reviews: five metal, five masonry and five wood bits at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm. The other eight have no award. A listing with no review line is not scored. None of these scores is a durability test.
Bosch 34-piece X-Line
Tied on 92 points with the Mini X-Line, then chosen because 28,187 reviews beat 11,466. Masonry bits at 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, at about £10.63, with 4.7 stars.
Bosch Mini X-Line 15-piece
Highest value score among the rest: about £7.99, carbide masonry plus HSS and wood bits at 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm, and 4.6 from 11,466 reviews.
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. 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 amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. We did not lab-test these drill bits.
