The best hinge drill bits, compared.
Top pick: Trend QR/DBG/SET 3-piece guide – Highest score among self-centring sets with a large review count, with No.6, No.8 and No.10 labelled on the bullets. Best value: Ancable 2.4 / 2.8 / 3.6 mm set – The lower-priced self-centring set with a large review count, at the same 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm pilots. Updated October 2026.
A hinge drill bit is the cutter you use when a hinge has to sit true, for the screw or for the cup. On a UK door or cabinet you meet two jobs. A self-centring guide sits in a countersunk leaf or lock faceplate and drills a short pilot on that centre. A 35 mm boring bit cuts a concealed cabinet cup and will not centre a screw in a leaf. You tell a usable one by the sleeve, the screw-gauge labels, or a cup you can measure against the hinge sheet. A 1/4 inch hex suits a quick-change chuck. An impact-driver line is not hammer mode. Match the piece count to the size list. Fractions up to 1/4 inch are larger holes, not better butt-hinge pilots. For a cup, measure the stop against the hinge sheet. Public sheets ask for about 13 mm, 12.8 mm or 11 mm. The article number wins. Clamp the work and wear eye protection. A bit does not make a fire-door hinge acceptable. How to choose is in the [hinge drill bit buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/hinge-drill-bit/sub/hinge-drill-bit-buying-guide).
A hinge drill bit is the cutter you use when a hinge has to sit true, for the screw or for the cup. On a UK door or cabinet you meet two jobs.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you drilling?
The Trend QR/DBG/SET, listed at £15.95, is three HSS self-centring guides labelled No.6 at 2.4 mm, No.8 at 2.8 mm and No.10 at 3.6 mm, on a 1/4 inch hex. Across 1,629 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.4 stars, buyers use the sprung sleeve to start a pilot in the middle of a butt-hinge or lock-plate countersink. The bullets say the sleeve comes apart so the bit can be replaced, and they mention quick chucks and impact drivers, which is not a reason to use hammer mode. UK reviews in this file say the sleeve stops early, so the pilot is only part-depth and people finish with another bit of the same diameter. The dimensions line prints 1 x 2 mm, and the diameter field shows only the 2.4 mm bit, so the spec table does not describe the whole set. At 230 g, with Taiwan named as the country of origin, it is the top pick here for labelled hinge pilots if you clear the dust windows and accept a short travel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three labelled gauges for butt hinges and lock plates, and you will finish a deep screw with a matching twist bit.
Less suitable: You need a 35 mm cabinet cup, a full-length screw hole in one pass, or hammer mode.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Trend listing say it fits an impact driver?
The bullets say quick chucks and impact drivers, and a 1/4 inch hex shank. They do not mention hammer mode.
Which screw sizes does this set print?
The included line and the bullets say one No.6 at 2.4 mm, one No.8 at 2.8 mm and one No.10 at 3.6 mm.
Does the page say how deep the sleeve drills?
It does not print a travel distance. UK reviews in the saved listing say the sleeve stops early and that people finish the hole with another bit.
The Qianeffort set, listed at £7.98, is four self-centring bits from 5/64 inch to 11/64 inch on a 1/4 inch hex, including a size above the usual No.6 to No.10 trio. The star line is 4.4 from only 18 amazon.co.uk reviews, so the average looks strong and the sample is thin. The material field says brass high-speed steel, which mixes two descriptions, and the cutting-diameter field shows one figure, 4.32 mm, for four sizes. One review says the springs collapsed on first use and the remaining springs were swapped to finish the job. The other four reviews in the file are short and positive. The bullets say the sleeve comes apart for cleaning and the surface field says wood. At 140 g it is a cheap four-size trial, and the 4.4 does not outweigh eighteen reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low-priced extra size beyond 3.6 mm and you accept a very small review sample.
Less suitable: You are hanging several doors and want a large UK review count behind the springs.
Specifications
Common questions
How many bits are in the Qianeffort set?
The bullets and the pieces field say four: 5/64, 7/64, 9/64 and 11/64 inch, on a 1/4 inch hex.
Does the listing say it drills metal?
A question on the page asks about metal. The bullets say wood and board. The surface field says Wood.
What do the five reviews say failed?
One review says the springs collapsed on first use and the remaining springs were swapped to finish the job. The other four reviews in the file are short and positive.
The HPHOPE bit, listed at £12.99, is one 35 mm cemented-carbide cup cutter with a round shank and a depth stop the bullets call 12.7 mm, also written as 1/2 inch. It is 4.3 from 47 amazon.co.uk reviews, a smaller sample than the jig listing. The pieces field is 1, the point is a brad point, and the flutes are described as Forstner. One of the UK reviews says the hole measured 36 mm, and another says the flange stops the cut at about 12 mm, short of the printed stop. The title mentions four teeth and a bullet mentions three edges. The angle field is stored as 9E+1 degrees, which is not a specification you can set a drill to. It suits a single shallow cup if you measure the first hole in an offcut, and it is not a self-centring screw guide.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a single 35 mm cutter with a stated stop and you will check the first hole against the hinge sheet.
Less suitable: You need a proved 35.0 mm diameter, a positioning fence, or a pilot for butt-hinge screws.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this HPHOPE bit include a depth stop?
The bullets say a depth stop on the head limits the hole to 12.7 mm, which they also write as 1/2 inch.
Is the shank a 1/4 inch hex?
The shank field says Round. The listing does not call it a hex self-centring guide.
Do the reviews agree it is 35 mm?
The spec says 35 mm. One of the six UK reviews says the hole measured 36 mm. Another says the flange stops the cut at about 12 mm.
The WangLaoWu listing, at £6.59, is a 35 mm concealed-hinge cutter sold with a plastic boring guide, not a sprung pilot for hinge screws. It is 4.2 from 534 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets claim a fence from 3 mm to 7 mm, a depth collar, a carbide tip, two locating pins and a hex wrench, while the included-components field only says Hinge and the material field says alloy steel. Many of the UK reviews in this file say the jig is too thick, has to be flipped, or should be ignored, and that the useful part is the cutter. The spec shank is straight, so it is not a 1/4 inch hex self-centring guide. At 138 g it can cut a few cabinet cups if you mark the door from the hinge sheet yourself. A seller line about 95 percent of hinges is a bullet, not a count, and this score is not a best-value award.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are cutting a few 35 mm cabinet cups and you will mark the centre yourself rather than trust the plastic fence.
Less suitable: You need a self-centring pilot for door-hinge screws, or a fence you can follow without checking the hinge sheet.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a self-centring screw bit?
No. The listing is a 35 mm concealed-hinge boring guide and a cup bit. The spec shank is straight, not a sprung 1/4 inch hex pilot.
What does the box contain?
The included-components field says Hinge. The bullets say one 35 mm guide, one carbide-tipped 35 mm bit, two locating pins and a hex wrench.
Do the reviews trust the plastic fence?
Many of the first 50 UK reviews say the jig is too thick, has to be flipped, or should be ignored, and that the useful part is the cutter.
The Ancable three-piece set, listed at £9.99, prints the same 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm pilots as the Trend QR bullets, on a 1/4 inch hex. It is 4.2 from 342 amazon.co.uk reviews, which is a useful sample at this price. The bullets describe door, window and cabinet hinge pilots with side gaps for dust, while the surface field says Glass, so the spec line and the job disagree. One UK review says the bits are not size-marked, although the bullets claim they are, and reviews mention a grub screw the bullets do not describe as a spare-bit system. The angle field is typed as 1/4 degrees, which is not a usable point angle. At 110 g it is the lighter of the two three-size sets. It is the best value here for those three millimetre pilots if you clear a clogged sleeve and check that the hex actually seats in the chuck.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the three common hinge pilots cheaper than the Trend set and you will clear dust before the next hole.
Less suitable: You need sizes printed on the bits, a glass cutter, or a 35 mm cup.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes does the Ancable set include?
The bullets say 5/64 inch (2.4 mm), 7/64 inch (2.8 mm) and 9/64 inch (3.6 mm). The cutting-diameter field shows only 3.6 mm.
Does the listing say it is for glass?
The surface-recommendation field says Glass. The bullets and the highlight describe door, window and cabinet hinge pilot holes.
Do the reviews say the bits are marked?
One UK review says the bits are not marked with their sizes. The bullets say the sizes are clearly marked.
The KAHEIGN set, listed at £9.99, is an HSS self-centring range from 5/64 inch to 1/4 inch plus a 5 mm bit, on a hex shank. It is 3.8 from 306 amazon.co.uk reviews, so the sample is large and the rating is the weakest of the sets with hundreds of reviews. The title and the pieces field say 17 pieces, while the size bullet lists about eight bits and an Allen key. The seller note says a low speed, usually 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, and that a faster speed will run off centre, break or jam the bit. One review says the smaller bits can centre and the larger sizes are too small for the nose to seat in a standard internal-door hinge hole. Other reviews report jammed sleeves and bits that fall apart. The cutting-diameter field shows only 5 mm. It is only worth opening if you need those larger fractions, and door-hinge reviews say those sizes do not centre.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already know you need a larger fraction than a No.10 pilot and you will ignore the 17-piece title.
Less suitable: You are fitting ordinary internal-door hinges and expected every bit in the box to centre in those countersinks.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set contain 17 drill bits?
The title and the pieces field say 17. The size bullet lists 5/64, 7/64, two 9/64, 11/64, 13/64, 5 mm and 1/4 inch, plus one Allen key.
What speed does the listing tell you to use?
The notes bullet says a low speed, usually between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm, and that a faster speed will run off centre, break or jam the bit.
Do the reviews say it suits internal door hinges?
One review says the smaller bits can centre and the larger sizes are too small for the nose to seat in a standard internal-door hinge hole. Other reviews report jammed sleeves and bits that fall apart.
The Bubuny set, listed at £10.59, is a 1/4 inch hex self-centring range from 5/64 inch to 1/4 inch plus 5 mm. Only five amazon.co.uk reviews sit behind a 3.4 star line, which is too small a sample to rank against sets with hundreds of reviews. The title, the set name and the pieces field say 9, while one bullet says a complete 8 piece set and then lists an extra 9/64 inch bit and a hex key. The spec material says Metall and the bullets say HSS, so the steel claim is not one sentence. Of the three review texts in the file, one is positive about centring door hardware, one says a smaller bit is off centre and burred, and one says some bits were faulty out of the packet. It weighs 240 g. The bullets also name impact drivers, which still does not mean hammer mode. Five reviews and a piece-count clash leave this as a listing to skip on the evidence here.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are not choosing this set on the five reviews in the file.
Less suitable: You want a door-hinge pilot with a large UK review count and a piece count that matches the size list.
Specifications
Common questions
How many bits does Bubuny say are in the box?
The title, the set name and the pieces field say 9. One bullet says a complete 8 piece set and then lists an extra 9/64 inch bit and a hex key.
Does the listing name an impact driver?
The bullets say a 1/4 inch hex for electric drills, quick chucks and impact drivers. One of the three reviews also says the hex fitted an impact driver.
What do the reviews say about the points?
One review is positive about centring door hardware. Another says a smaller bit is off centre and burred. A third says some were faulty out of the packet.
The LYZHZHIUONGEI set, listed at £5.59, is three self-centring bits at 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm plus a hexagon spanner, on a 1/4 inch hex. The saved listing has no Customer Reviews line and no review text, so the display score stays at 0 and this note does not invent a star rating. The bullets say the bits are steel and name timbers and boards, while a question on the page asks about metal and there is no surface-recommendation field to answer it. The weight field says 18.3 g, which is very light for three guides, and the unit-count field says 1 against a pieces field of 3. A spare bit is not listed, only the spanner. Without reviews there is nothing here to confirm that the sleeve returns or that the sizes are marked on the steel. It is the cheapest three-size packet in the table, and the missing star line is why it is not a best-value pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already accept an unrated listing and you only need the three sizes printed on the page.
Less suitable: You want a star line, a review count, or any evidence the sleeve centres a hinge screw.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes are in this set?
The bullets say 5/64 inch (2.4 mm), 7/64 inch (2.8 mm) and 9/64 inch (3.6 mm), plus one hexagon spanner.
Is there a star rating?
The saved listing has no Customer Reviews line and no review text. The rating is not stated.
Does the listing say it drills metal?
A question on the page asks about metal. The bullets say timbers and boards. There is no surface-recommendation field.
Eight hinge drill bits on amazon.co.uk were scored from the listings in this folder. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are those UK pages. No lab test. The stored score is 0–100 and was not recalculated here. Stars are worth 40, the review sample 25, fit for the job 20 and value in this set 15. A 35 mm jig is not scored as a cheaper pilot. The top pick is the Trend QR/DBG/SET, the highest score among self-centring sets with a large review count. The best value is the Ancable three-piece set, the lower-priced self-centring set with a large review count. WangLaoWu also stores 80 and is a 35 mm jig, so it has no award. LYZHZHIUONGEI has no star line, so its score stays 0.
Stars
40%Amazon rating divided by 5, times 40. No rating line scores 0. The figure is the UK listing, not a lab grade.
Sample
25%log10 of the review count, times 8, capped at 25. No rating line scores 0. A high star line on a handful of reviews stays a small sample.
Fit for the job
20%Taken from the listing conflicts already stored: size labels, piece count, material lines, and whether the tool is a pilot or a 35 mm cup.
Value in this set
15%Taken from the GBP shelf price beside the review count. A 35 mm jig is not scored as a cheaper self-centring pilot.
Name the hole before the price. A countersunk leaf needs a self-centring pilot. A concealed cabinet hinge needs a 35 mm cup and that hinge’s depth. The notes below follow that order for these eight amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a drilling test.
A hinge drill bit on a UK listing is one of two tools. A self-centring guide sits in a countersunk hinge screw hole and drills a short pilot on that centre, for butt hinges, leaf hinges and lock faceplates. A 35 mm boring bit cuts the recess for a concealed cabinet hinge. The cup bit will not centre a screw in a leaf, and the sprung guide will not cut a cabinet cup. Name the hole before you compare prices.
A sprung guide centres a screw in a countersunk leaf. A 35 mm bit cuts a cabinet cup. One will not do the other job, even when both titles say hinge.
A title can say 17 pieces while the size bullet lists about eight bits and a key, or say 9 while a bullet says 8. Read the size list.
The sleeve has to sit in the countersink before the drill turns. Dust in the windows stops the return, and a short travel still needs a matching twist bit for a deeper screw.
Name the hole first. A countersunk leaf, a butt hinge or a lock faceplate needs a self-centring set. A concealed cabinet hinge needs a 35 mm cup bit and the depth on that hinge’s sheet. Match the pilot to the gauge on that maker’s column. One published set for No.6, No.8 and No.10 uses 2 mm, 2.75 mm and 3.5 mm. Another prints 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm for the same gauge names. Do not merge the two kits, and do not treat either column as the British Standard for a No.8 screw.
Expect short sleeve travel and dust in the windows. Reviewers say the bit stops early and that sleeves clog. Clear the windows and finish with a normal bit of the same diameter if the screw needs a deeper hole. Read the piece count against the size list before you trust a 17-piece or a 9-piece title. For a cup, measure the stop rather than the seller’s sentence. One listing prints 12.7 mm. Source sheets say about 13 mm, 12.8 mm and 11 mm, so the article number on the hinge wins.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are hanging a few butt hinges or lock plates and you want three labelled gauges plus a scrap test. The Trend QR/DBG/SET is about £15.95, with No.6, No.8 and No.10 printed, and 4.4 from 1,629 reviews. UK reviews say the sleeve stops early, so finish a deep screw with a matching twist bit.
You need a 35 mm recess and you will measure the stop against the hinge sheet. The HPHOPE bit is about £12.99, one carbide cup with a stop the bullets call 12.7 mm, and 4.3 from 47 reviews. One review measured 36 mm, so check the first hole in an offcut. A cheap plastic fence is optional.
You want the same 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm trio for less, and you will clear a clogged sleeve. The Ancable set is about £9.99, with 4.2 from 342 reviews. The surface field says Glass while the bullets describe hinge pilots, and one review says the bits are not size-marked.
In this set of eight amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick for a self-centring pilot is the Trend QR/DBG/SET at about £15.95, with No.6, No.8 and No.10 labelled and 4.4 from 1,629 reviews. The best value for those three millimetre sizes is the Ancable set at about £9.99, with 4.2 from 342 reviews. WangLaoWu also scores 80, at about £6.59, and it is a 35 mm jig, so it is not the best-value pilot. A cup and a screw guide are different tools. None of these scores is a lab test, and a bit does not certificate a fire door.
Trend QR/DBG/SET 3-piece guide
Highest score among self-centring sets with a large review count, with No.6, No.8 and No.10 labelled on the bullets.
Ancable 2.4 / 2.8 / 3.6 mm set
The lower-priced self-centring set with a large review count, at the same 2.4 mm, 2.8 mm and 3.6 mm pilots.
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 sources from the research digest, last checked on 21 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 from the UK listings in this comparison. We did not lab-test these hinge drill bits.
