The best drill bit sets, compared.
Top pick: Bosch Expert 6-piece spade set Best value: Bosch 50-piece X-Line – Value part 12, tied with two dearer sets, and the lowest of those shelf prices at £14.49. Masonry from 4 mm to 10 mm and metal to 6.5 mm, with 4.7 from 16,733, after the 18.1 g weight line. Updated October 2026.
A drill bit set is a boxed assortment of bits. In the UK you buy one for shelves, wall plugs and flat-pack furniture, or for mild steel and thin sheet. Wood, masonry and metal need different bits. Tell a suitable set by the tip, the steel, the point and the shank. Brad point or spade for wood, a carbide tip for brick and block, high-speed steel for metal, and a step bit for thin sheet. Cobalt counts only when the listing says HSSE or M35. Titanium nitride is a coating, not an alloy. A 135 degree split point is the usual self-centring metal tip. A round shank suits a three-jaw chuck. A stated 1/4 inch hex suits a drill-driver. A short run of sizes is not the same product as a box that repeats the smallest diameters. Home masonry bits often sit around 4–10 mm. Read those diameters, and ignore a hammer-shank line the bullets never mention. How to match type, range, steel and point is in the [drill bit set buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/drill-bit-set/sub/drill-bit-set-buying-guide).
A drill bit set is a boxed assortment of bits. In the UK you buy one for shelves, wall plugs and flat-pack furniture, or for mild steel and thin sheet. Wood, masonry and metal need different bits.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where is the hole?
The Bosch Expert set is six high-carbon spade bits at 13, 16, 19, 20, 22 and 25 mm, listed at £23.95 with a 1/4 inch hex shank the bullet calls impact-rated. The star line is 4.8 from 21 reviews, and only three of those reviews are in the file, so the sample is thin next to the X-Line sets. The bullet says softwood and particleboard, including cable and pipe holes, and says they are not suitable for hardwood. The scope line does not name a case, though one of the three UK reviews says the bits came with a case. A listing line claims three times the speed of Bosch 2609255269, which is a claim on the page rather than a measurement in this comparison. It is the softwood cable-hole set here, and the wrong box for brick, mild steel or oak.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cable or pipe holes in softwood or particleboard from 13 mm to 25 mm, in a drill-driver with a 1/4 inch hex holder.
Less suitable: Hardwood, brick, mild steel, or anyone treating 21 reviews as the same evidence as tens of thousands.
Specifications
Common questions
Can these spade bits be used in hardwood?
No. The bullet says they are for softwood and particleboard, including cable and pipe holes, and that they are not suitable for hardwood.
Will they fit an impact driver?
The bullet says a 1/4 inch impact-rated hex shank for an impact driver and a drill driver. The shank field says hexagonal.
Does the listing include a case?
The scope line does not name a case. One of the three UK reviews in the file says the bits came with a case. Only three reviews are in the saved listing, against a count of 21.
The Bosch 34-piece X-Line is listed at £10.63 with five HSS metal bits from 2 mm to 5 mm, five CYL-1 masonry bits from 5 mm to 8 mm, wood bits, 13 screwdriver bits and a named X-Line case. Across 28,187 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.7, the deepest sample in this comparison. Masonry sizes include 5.5 mm and 7 mm, which several larger boxes here skip. Metal stops at 5 mm, so an 8 mm hole in mild steel is outside this case. The wood bullet prints 4/5/6/78 mm while the included-components line says 4–8 mm, and the minimum-bore field says 2.5 mm against a 2 mm metal bit. UK reviews in the file say small bits snap quickly, and one 8 mm bit arrived bent. It is the top pick here for a household shelf on brick when the plug is 5.5, 6 or 7 mm and the metal holes stay at 5 mm or under.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Shelves and similar fixings in brick when the plug pack says 5.5, 6 or 7 mm, and 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
What is in the 34-piece Bosch set?
The listing includes five HSS metal bits from 2 mm to 5 mm, five masonry bits from 5 mm to 8 mm, five wood bits, 13 screwdriver bits, three sockets, a magnetic holder, a 13 mm countersink and an X-Line case.
Does the listing include masonry bits?
Yes. Five CYL-1 masonry bits are listed at 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm, for masonry, sand-lime brick, natural stone and cast stone.
What do UK reviews say goes wrong?
Across the first 50 UK reviews, small bits are said to snap quickly, one 8 mm bit arrived bent, and one case arrived with a part missing.
The Bosch 70-piece X-Line is £20.99, with eleven HSS-TiN metal bits from 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 mm to 10 mm, five wood bits from 4 mm 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 sockets. The number-of-pieces field says 1, and the surface field lists plastic and wood while the bullets also name stone and metal. One reviewer returned the set because an 8 mm masonry bit was bent, and another said bits broke easily. It earns its place when you want those longer 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: The same shelf-and-plug job as the smaller X-Line sets, plus 50 mm driver bits and a 32 mm wood spade.
Less suitable: A buyer counting 70 drill bits, stainless steel, or mild steel above 6.5 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes of drill bit are listed?
Eleven metal bits from 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 mm to 10 mm, five wood bits from 4 mm to 10 mm, and three spade bits at 16, 22 and 32 mm.
Can the listing be used on more than one material?
The bullets say wood, stone and metal, and compatibility with portable and stationary drills. The surface field only says plastic and wood.
What faults show up in the UK reviews?
One reviewer returned the set because an 8 mm masonry bit was bent. Another said bits broke easily. Several others praise the range and the case.
The Bosch 50-piece X-Line is £14.49 and lists eleven HSS TiN metal bits from 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 mm to 10 mm, and spade bits at 16 mm and 22 mm, plus eighteen 25 mm screwdriver bits and a case. It carries 4.7 from 16,733 amazon.co.uk reviews. The material field says titanium while the metal and spade bits are named HSS TiN, so the gold colour is a coating rather than a cobalt alloy. The weight prints as 18.1 g, which does not sit with a 50-piece case, and the wood diameters are cut off in the amazon.co.uk scope line. UK reviews call it a home set for masonry, metal, wood and screws, and one review says it is a home grab-bag rather than a professional kit. It is the best value here when you want a 7 mm or 10 mm masonry bit and metal holes up to 6.5 mm in the same case.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A shelf or plug in brick at 7 mm or 10 mm, with light metal work that stays at 6.5 mm or under.
Less suitable: Stainless steel, a 5.5 mm masonry hole, or a job that needs the wood diameters printed before you buy.
Specifications
Common questions
What drill bits does the 50-piece set list?
Eleven HSS TiN metal bits from 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm, six masonry bits from 4 mm to 10 mm, two spade bits at 16 mm and 22 mm, plus brad-point wood bits whose diameters are cut off in the raw scope line.
Does the listing include screwdriver bits?
Yes. Eighteen 25 mm screwdriver bits are listed, covering Phillips, Pozidriv, slot, Torx and hex, plus three sockets and a case.
Is this described as a trade set?
UK reviews call it a home set for masonry, metal, wood and screws. One review says it is a home grab-bag, not a professional kit.
The Bosch 91-piece V-Line is £31.52, with metal bits from 2 mm to 8 mm, eleven masonry bits from 3 mm to 10 mm, wood bits from 3 mm to 10 mm, a ratchet screwdriver and a named case. The star line is 4.7 from 9,792 amazon.co.uk reviews. Screwdriver bits are the bulk of the count: 15 at 50 mm and 34 at 25 mm. The material field says plastic and wood, while the bullets name wood, stone and metal, and the socket line says 8 pieces then prints nine diameters. One review says the ratchet failed when a small ball bearing fell out, and others say the rubber bit holders make tools hard to get in and out. It is the mixed set with the widest masonry run in this comparison, at the highest mixed-set price, and the ratchet is the part reviews flag.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Shelves and plugs from 3 mm to 10 mm when you also want a ratchet screwdriver in the case.
Less suitable: A buyer who only needs drill bits, or stainless and sustained concrete.
Specifications
Common questions
What extra tools are in the V-Line set?
The bullets include a ratchet screwdriver, a magnetic rod, a countersink, a universal holder and sockets, as well as the drill and screwdriver bits.
How far do the masonry bits go?
Eleven masonry bits from 3 mm to 10 mm are listed, for masonry, limestone, natural stone and artificial stone.
What failure do UK reviews mention?
One review says the ratchet screwdriver failed when a small ball bearing fell out. Others say the rubber bit holders are cheap and that tools are hard to get in and out of the case.
The Bosch 103-piece set is £26.99 and lists wood, metal and masonry bits, hole saws at 32, 38, 44 and 54 mm, spade bits at 16 and 22 mm, and screwdriver bits at 25 mm and 50 mm. Across 7,379 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.7. Masonry bits are five sizes, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm, so 7 mm is missing, and metal bits run up to 7 mm with several repeated small sizes. The scope line does not name a case. The surface field says metal only, the item-length field says 1 cm against case dimensions of 37.3 x 33.9 x 26.1 cm, and reviews say bits snapped under heat and pressure and that the plastic case is poor quality. It is the box to open when you also want those hole saws. A plug hole does not need a 103-piece count.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home jobs that need a plug hole and a 32–54 mm hole saw in the same purchase.
Less suitable: A 7 mm wall plug, stainless steel, or a buyer who only needed five masonry bits.
Specifications
Common questions
Are hole saws included?
Yes. The bullets list hole saws at 32, 38, 44 and 54 mm, plus a centring drill, and spade bits at 16 and 22 mm.
What masonry sizes are listed?
Five masonry bits at 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 mm. Metal bits run up to 7 mm, with several repeated small sizes.
How do UK reviews describe the bits?
Reviews call the range useful for home jobs. Others say bits snapped under heat and pressure, blunt and break easily, and that the plastic case is poor quality.
The BLACK+DECKER A7188 is a 50-piece mixed set at £15.00, with 4.6 from 11,666 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets name metal, wood and stone, a magnetic bit holder, a chamfer and a storage case, and they do not list individual diameters. The shank field says SDS-Plus and the bullets never mention SDS-Plus, so that cell is not a reason to chuck the bits in a rotary hammer. The item-type name is in Spanish, and the bullets also say lot ferrules, wicks and needle. Several UK reviews say a small screw holds the case shut and that the case is hard to open if you miss it, and others say bits snapped when used as pilots in OSB and timber. It is a widely reviewed £15 case whose Amazon page still leaves the millimetres off the bullets.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A household mixed case at about £15 when you already know the diameters from another source and only need stone, wood and light metal.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs the millimetres on the Amazon page, or an SDS rotary-hammer job.
Specifications
Common questions
Which materials does the BLACK+DECKER listing name?
The bullets say metal, wood and stone, plus a magnetic bit holder, a chamfer and a storage case. Individual bit diameters are not listed.
Does the listing say the shank is SDS-Plus?
The shank field says SDS-Plus. The bullets do not mention SDS-Plus.
What do UK reviews say about the case?
Several reviews say a small screw holds the case shut and that the case is hard to open if you miss it. Other reviews say bits snapped when used as pilots in OSB and timber.
The Bosch Professional PointTeQ set is nineteen black-oxide HSS bits from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm in 0.5 mm steps, listed at £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. Reviewers praise sharp bits in thick steel and the size steps, and others say a bit snapped on first use or after prolonged use. It is the mild-steel pick here when you need half-millimetre steps up to 10 mm, and the wrong box for a wall plug.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Mild steel, cast iron and the other metals named on the listing, when you want a size every 0.5 mm up to 10 mm.
Less suitable: Brick or block, thin sheet that grabs a twist bit, or stainless steel.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sizes are in the PointTeQ set?
Nineteen HSS twist bits from 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm in 0.5 mm steps, with a round shank. The title names a ProBox.
Are masonry or screwdriver bits included?
No. The scope is metal twist bits only. The bullets name drill drivers, bench drills and rotary combi drills for steel, cast iron and plastic.
What do UK reviews report about durability?
Reviewers praise sharp bits in thick steel and the size steps. Others say a bit snapped on first use or after prolonged use, and that a few bits were less sharp than expected.
The Hurricane set is 230 titanium-coated 4241 HSS twist bits from 1 mm to 10 mm, listed at £41.69 in a plastic box, with a straight shank and a 135 degree split point. Across 1,127 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.5. The size line repeats the small diameters: 32 pieces at 1 mm, 30 at 1.5 mm and 30 at 2 mm, down to one piece each at 9, 9.5 and 10 mm. The 5 mm count is printed twice, as 12 pieces and then as 8. The listing names wood, cast iron, aluminium alloy, plastic and fibreglass, and it does not include masonry or screwdriver bits. Some reviews call the bits sharp, and others say almost every bit used snapped, or that bits were blunt after the first hole in mild steel sheet. At this price you are buying spare 1 mm bits, not a wider size range than the 19-piece PointTeQ set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Replacing snapped 1–3 mm bits often, in wood, cast iron, aluminium, plastic or fibreglass.
Less suitable: A first household set, brick, or anyone who wanted 230 different sizes.
Specifications
Common questions
Why are there 230 bits for sizes up to 10 mm?
The size line repeats the small diameters: 32 pieces at 1 mm, 30 at 1.5 mm and 30 at 2 mm, down to one piece each at 9, 9.5 and 10 mm.
Does the set include masonry bits?
No. The listing names wood, cast iron, aluminium alloy, plastic and fibreglass. There are no masonry bits and no screwdriver bits.
What do UK reviews say about snapping?
Some reviews call the bits sharp and good value. Others say almost every bit used snapped, or that bits were blunt after the first hole in mild steel sheet.
The DelitonGude listing is five step bits said to cover 44 sizes, in an aluminium case at £22.99. The star line is 4.3 from 46 reviews, and the review texts in the file are from Germany and France rather than the United Kingdom. The bullets name steel sheet, aluminium sheet, wood and plastic plates, and say the plate must be thinner than the step height. Stainless is asked on the page and not answered. The title says high-speed steel with a titanium coating, while the material field says cobalt steel, so the cobalt word is not settled. Individual steps are not listed, and no shank is given. Those non-UK reviews praise the case and plastic work, and report early wear in metal. It is a sheet-and-plate box with a steel-name clash, not a cobalt set you can treat as proven on stainless.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Thin steel, aluminium, wood or plastic plate, when you accept that the steps are not printed and the cobalt line conflicts.
Less suitable: Stainless steel, brick, or 10 mm angle and other stock thicker than thin sheet.
Specifications
Common questions
What does the DelitonGude listing claim to drill?
The bullets name steel sheet, aluminium sheet, wooden plates and plastic plates, and say the plate must be thinner than the step height. Stainless steel is asked on the page and not answered.
Is the steel HSS or cobalt?
The title says high-speed steel with a titanium coating. The material field says cobalt steel, and the finish field says Titan.
Are the written reviews from the UK?
No. The star line is 4.3 from 46 on the amazon.co.uk listing. The review text in the saved listing is from Germany and France. Those reviews praise the case and plastic work, and report early wear in metal.
The LSLANSOON set is five titanium-coated HSS step bits plus an automatic centre punch in an aluminium box, listed at £12.99. The star line is 4.0 from 199 reviews, a thinner sample than the Bosch mixed sets. The bullets name sheet metal, wood and plastic, and they say five bits can stand in for 50 diameters, though the individual steps are not listed. A bullet says a 118 degree split tip while the cutting-angle field prints 1183 degrees. Masonry is absent, and the shank is straight. One UK review says a stainless worktop was drilled, while other reviews, including several from Canada, say the bits were dull and would not cut mild steel or plastic. It is the cheaper sheet-metal box in this comparison, with the angle clash and the mixed cutting reports as the limit.
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, a job that needs the step diameters printed before you buy, or stainless treated as a proven result.
Specifications
Common questions
What does this step set include?
Five titanium-coated HSS step bits, one automatic centre punch and an aluminium storage box. The piece-count field says 5.
Which materials does the listing name?
The surface field says metal. The bullets also name sheet metal, wood and plastic, and say five step bits can replace 50 individual bits.
Do the reviews agree on cutting?
One UK review says a stainless worktop was drilled. Other reviews, including several from Canada, say the bits were dull and would not cut mild steel or plastic.
Eleven drill bit sets on amazon.co.uk were scored from the shelf prices, star lines and listing text, plus the review notes saved with those listings. There was no lab test. Stars are worth 40, the review sample 20, fit for the job 25 and value in this set 15. Star points are the amazon rating divided by 5, times 40, rounded. A listing with no customer-review line would score 0 and could not take an award. Every listing here has a review line. The highest total is the top pick. The highest value-part score among the others is best value. None of these scores is a durability test.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, times 40, rounded to the nearest whole number.
Sample
20%10,000 or more reviews score 20. The bands then step down: 1,000–9,999 score 16, 200–999 score 12, 50–199 score 8, 1–49 score 4, and no review line scores 0.
Fit for the job
25%Start at 8. Add points for a mixed wood, metal and masonry set, a metal-only HSS run to 10 mm, or a single-job step or spade set, then for a named case, a stated shank and a steel or tip line that does not clash. A contradiction on material, angle, piece count, wood sizes, weight or shank subtracts 4. The floor is 0 and the cap is 25.
Value in this set
15%One price band only, using the shelf price, whether masonry bits are named, and whether the review count clears 1,000. The 34-piece is the only listing under £11 with masonry bits and 1,000 or more reviews, so that part scores 15.
Start with the material, then the diameters, then the steel. A piece count and a titanium title come after those three. The notes below follow that order for these 11 amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a drilling test.
A drill bit set is a boxed assortment, not one geometry. In the UK you are usually fitting shelves, wall plugs and flat-pack furniture, or drilling mild steel and thin sheet. Wood, masonry and metal need different bits. A brad-point or spade bit is for wood. A carbide masonry bit is for brick and block. A high-speed-steel twist bit is for metal. A step bit is for thin sheet. A mixed set is only as good as that split. Read the size range, not the piece count.
A 70-piece or 91-piece title is mostly screwdriver bits. A 230-piece title can be many copies of 1 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm. Nineteen bits from 1 mm to 10 mm in 0.5 mm steps are a different product. Read the diameters.
Titanium nitride is a coating. Cobalt is in the steel only when the listing says HSSE or M35. If the title and the material field disagree, prefer the bullet. A 4241 HSS kit is not M35, and the DelitonGude cobalt line conflicts with a high-speed-steel title.
A twist bit can grab in thin sheet. Cromwell specifies HSS step drills for sheet up to about 3 mm. Do not hammer an HSS bit into concrete. A mixed masonry bit is for the plug sizes printed on the listing. It is not a silica-dust control, and it is not an SDS-plus bit for sustained concrete.
Match the bit to the material before you read the piece count. Brad point or spade for wood, carbide for brick and block, HSS twist for metal, step bit for thin sheet. In this set the mixed boxes are the Bosch X-Line cases, the V-Line, the 103-piece and the BLACK+DECKER A7188. The PointTeQ 19-piece and the Hurricane 230-piece are metal twist bits. The LSLANSOON and DelitonGude boxes are step bits.
Point and shank decide whether the bit walks and whether it fits the drill. A 135 degree split point is the usual self-centring metal tip. The Hurricane listing states 135 degrees. A 118 degree point is a general tip that can walk. The DelitonGude listing states 118 degrees. The LSLANSOON bullet says 118 degrees and the cutting-angle field prints 1183 degrees, so do not treat that angle as settled. A round shank suits a three-jaw chuck. The PointTeQ set states a round shank.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one mixed case for a shelf or a plug in brick, and the metal holes can stay at 5 mm or under. The Bosch 34-piece X-Line is about £10.63, with masonry bits at 5, 5.5, 6, 7 and 8 mm. The star line is 4.7 from 28,187 reviews.
You want a metal size every 0.5 mm from 1 mm to 10 mm, with cutting fluid, and you do not need a wall plug. The Bosch PointTeQ 19-piece is about £14.12, black-oxide HSS, with 4.5 from 5,060 reviews. It has no masonry bits.
You want spade bits for cable or pipe holes in softwood or particleboard, from 13 mm to 25 mm. The Bosch Expert six-piece set is about £23.95, with a 1/4 inch hex and 4.8 from 21 reviews. The listing says it is not for hardwood.
In this set of 11 amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bosch 34-piece X-Line. The score is 92. The shelf price is £10.63, with 4.7 from 28,187 reviews. It is the only listing under £11 with masonry bits and more than 1,000 reviews, so the value part is 15. Metal bits stop at 5 mm, and the wood diameters conflict between two lines. The best value is the Bosch 50-piece X-Line at £14.49, with 4.7 from 16,733 reviews. Its value part is 12, the same as the 70-piece and the BLACK+DECKER set, and £14.49 is the lowest of those three shelf prices. Masonry bits run from 4 mm to 10 mm and metal bits stop at 6.5 mm. The weight field prints 18.1 g. The other nine have no award. None of these scores is a lab test.
Bosch 50-piece X-Line
Value part 12, tied with two dearer sets, and the lowest of those shelf prices at £14.49. Masonry from 4 mm to 10 mm and metal to 6.5 mm, with 4.7 from 16,733, after the 18.1 g weight line.
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, plus the ISO 5468 catalogue entry cited there. 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 for this comparison. We did not lab-test these drill bit sets.
