The best hole saw sets, compared.
Top pick: TOOLMAYS carbide set, 54–105 mm Best value: Amazon Basics bi-metal set, 20–68 mm – Highest value score among the rest: six HSS-M3 cups including 68 mm, two hex arbors and a case, about £12.49, with 4.4 from 607, after the plastic-only material field. Updated October 2026.
A hole saw set is a case of cup cutters, an arbor, a pilot drill and a hex key, used in a drill to cut a round hole. In the UK you buy one for recessed downlights, waste pipes, cable grommets, locks and thin metal knockouts. Quality is the tooth, not the piece count. Carbon steel is for wood, plasterboard and plastic. Bi-metal high-speed steel adds thin mild steel and aluminium. Carbide tips belong only when the listing names stainless, nails or a multi-purpose building material, and you can keep the speed down. You tell a suitable set by the diameters you will use, a stated cutting depth, and an arbor that matches the cup. UK downlights cluster around 65 mm, 68–72 mm and 75 mm. Cups past about 30 mm usually need two mandrels, or a hex shank with the arbor built in. Do not use a toothed hole saw on tile, glass, brick or concrete. Tooth, size and arbor are set out in the [hole saw set buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/hole-saw-set/sub/hole-saw-set-buying-guide).
A hole saw set is a case of cup cutters, an arbor, a pilot drill and a hex key, used in a drill to cut a round hole.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The TOOLMAYS set is six carbide cups at 54, 57, 65, 76, 92 and 105 mm, at £69.99, with two titanium-coated M2 pilots, one arbor and a case. The bullets name timber, plywood, chipboard, plasterboard, thin PVC and plastic, and they name nails, screws and staples. They also say the set is not for metal or ceramic tile, and not to exceed 25 mm per pass. The star line is 5.0 from 3 reviews, and all three texts are marked Canada, so that line is not a UK sample. The spec material field lists carbon steel, high carbon steel, high speed cobalt, titanium and tungsten carbide together. It is a plasterboard and nail-in-wood set in the larger diameters, and three non-UK reviews do not make it the top pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Plasterboard, timber and chipboard with nails, at 54–105 mm, within 25 mm per pass.
Less suitable: Stainless, ceramic tile, or anyone reading 5.0 from three non-UK reviews as a test.
Specifications
Common questions
Which materials are excluded?
The home-and-crafts bullet says not suitable for metal or ceramic tiles, and not to exceed 25 mm depth per pass. Named materials are timber, plywood, chipboard, plasterboard, thin PVC and plastic.
How does the core come out?
The first bullet describes extra-long side slots and a spring. Tilt the saw and the core pops out. No separate punch is listed.
How many reviews are in the saved listing?
The star line is 5.0 from 3. All three texts are marked Canada. One describes a clean cut in 1/2 inch plywood with an 18 V drill on low speed for the larger cups.
The Gunpla carbon-steel set is £14.98 with 15 heat-treated cups from 19 mm to 152 mm, two mandrels at 1/4 in and 3/8 in, and a high-speed steel pilot. The star line is 4.6 from 459 reviews, higher than several bi-metal kits in this comparison, and the named materials are wood, plywood, aluminium sheet and plastic, with downlight and drywall in the title. The use note says to start slowly and to apply water or oil when cutting metal. The title says 21 pieces while the contents are 15 cups plus a plate, a hex key, one drill and two mandrels. UK reviews describe a plastic case that the bullets do not name, and no cutting depth is stated. It is a large carbon range for wood and drywall, and 4.6 here is not a stainless score.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Wood, plywood, drywall and plastic, and light aluminium sheet with fluid, when you need a cup up to 152 mm.
Less suitable: Mild steel plate, stainless, or a buyer counting 21 hole saws from the title.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the largest cup?
The size bullet ends at 152 mm. It lists 15 diameters from 19 mm, plus a plate, a hex key, one drill bit and two mandrels.
Does the listing say to use oil on metal?
Yes. The use note says to start slowly, keep the saw square, and apply water or oil when cutting metal. Named materials are wood, plywood, aluminium sheet and plastic.
Is a case in the bullets?
No. UK reviews describe a plastic case. The bullets do not name one.
The Moendergo set is £32.29, and the box line lists 11 bi-metal cups from 19 mm to 83 mm, a large mandrel, a small mandrel, a medium adapter, three drills, two hex keys and a case. The star line is 4.6 from 51 reviews. The title says cobalt and 19 pieces, the precision bullet says high-speed steel teeth, and the spec material is alloy steel with a nickel finish. Stainless, mild steel, aluminium, wood, plastic and plasterboard are named, and no cutting depth is stated. Fifty-one reviews is a short sample for a listing that puts stainless in the materials line. It belongs when you want cups past 68 mm in one bi-metal box and you treat the cobalt word as unsettled.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Mixed wood, plastic and thin metal when you need a cup up to 83 mm and can live with the steel-name clash.
Less suitable: A job that needs a stated depth, or stainless treated as proven because the title says cobalt.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this set cobalt or bi-metal?
The title says both cobalt and bi-metal. The precision bullet says high-speed steel teeth. The spec material is alloy steel with a nickel finish.
How many cups are in the box line?
The storage bullet lists 11 hole saws, one large mandrel, one small mandrel, one medium adapter, three drill bits, two hex keys and a box. The title says 19 pieces.
Which machines are named?
Electric drill, impact drill and bench drill. The shank field is straight. Cutting diameter is 83 mm and minimum bore is 19 mm.
The HYCHIKA bi-metal set is eleven cups from 19 mm to 68 mm at £19.99, with a stated cutting depth of 40 mm, two mandrels on 9.5 mm and 11 mm shafts, and a case. Across 4,347 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.5, the largest bi-metal sample in this comparison. The materials line says soft metal, wood, PVC, plastic and gypsum board, and it does not name stainless. The title says 17 pieces while the box line is 11 blades plus mandrels, drills and a hex key, and the style name starts at 20 mm while the size list starts at 19 mm. A review says the larger cups do not fit a standard drill. The spec thickness prints 1.3 mm against a 2 mm wall in the bullet. It is the top pick here for mixed wood, plasterboard and thin soft metal inside 68 mm and 40 mm of depth.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Soft metal, wood, PVC and plasterboard when the hole is 19–68 mm and the depth stays within 40 mm.
Less suitable: Stainless, nail-embedded timber, tile, or a cup larger than 68 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
What cutting depth is on the title?
The title and the contents bullet both state a maximum cutting depth of 40 mm.
Why are there two mandrels?
The mandrel bullet lists two shafts, 9.5 mm and 11 mm, with three drill bits and a hex key. The listing does not say which cup fits which shaft.
Is stainless steel named?
No. The materials line says soft metal, wood, PVC board, plastic and gypsum board.
The HYCHIKA carbon set is thirteen heat-treated high-carbon cups from 19 mm to 152 mm at £19.99, with a stated 25 mm depth, two mandrels and a case. The star line is 4.4 from 7,282 reviews, the largest sample in this comparison. The multi-function bullet says cork, thin PVC and plastic, and not hard board, density board or a computer desk, while the spec also says wood and drywall. Metal is not named. UK reviews include measured shortfalls, a 68 mm cup at 65 mm and a 44 mm cup at 42 mm, and one text mentions a 62 mm cup that this size line does not list. The part number matches the other HYCHIKA set, and the colour field says silver while a bullet says a black surface. It is the widely reviewed carbon box for soft sheet, including a 76 mm cup, and the wrong tooth for steel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Soft wood, drywall, thin PVC and plastic, including a 68 mm or 76 mm hole, within 25 mm of depth.
Less suitable: Hard board, metal, or a hole that must match the printed millimetre without a check on scrap.
Specifications
Common questions
What must it not cut?
The multi-function bullet says cork, thin PVC and plastic, and not hard board, density board or a computer desk.
What is the largest size and the depth?
The contents bullet lists 13 cups from 19 mm to 152 mm, with a maximum cutting depth of 25 mm.
Do reviews agree with the marked sizes?
UK reviews include measured shortfalls: a 68 mm cup at 65 mm, a 44 mm cup at 42 mm, and a 62 mm cup at 59.5 mm. The 62 mm size is not in this listing's size line.
The Flintronic set lists 13 cups from 18 mm to 75 mm at £20.99, including 65 mm and 75 mm, with a stated 25 mm depth and a spring. The star line is 4.4 from 2,778 reviews. One bullet says high-speed carbon steel and another says heat-treated M42 bi-metal, so the tooth is not one material. A later application bullet names steel, castings, aluminium and galvanised pipe after an earlier bullet has named PVC, plasterboard, wood and gypsum. No case is in the listing, and a review says the set arrived in a cardboard box. A note on that page says to keep rpm at or below 1,000 on long jobs. It is a wide diameter run, including two common downlight sizes, with a steel-name clash you should read before you treat it as M42.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Wood, plasterboard and plastic from 18 mm to 75 mm, including a 65 mm or 75 mm cup, if you accept the tooth clash.
Less suitable: Stainless or cast iron treated as a settled rating, or a buyer who needs a case named on the page.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the stated cutting depth?
The 13-piece bullet says the maximum cutting depth is 25 mm. The spec item thickness is also 25 mm.
Does the listing include a case?
No. A review says the set arrived in a cardboard box, not a carry case.
What speed limit is in the note?
The note says to keep rpm at or below 1,000 on long jobs, and that the cups carry a thin anti-rust oil.
The Amazon Basics kit is six HSS-M3 bi-metal cups at 20, 25, 35, 40, 51 and 68 mm, at £12.49, with two hex arbors and a case measuring 24.9 × 16.5 × 6 cm. Across 607 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4. The first bullet names mild steel, aluminium, plastic and plasterboard, while the compatible-material field says plastic only. The 1/4 in arbor is listed for 14–30 mm cups and the 7/16 in arbor for 32–152 mm cups, so the 68 mm cup uses the larger arbor. Cutting depth is not stated. Reviews include a rounded pilot, a snapped saw and fast wear on metal, and the listing says the small mandrel can tighten and need a wrench. It is the best value here when the holes stay inside those six sizes, including 68 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Mild steel, aluminium, plastic and plasterboard at 20, 25, 35, 40, 51 or 68 mm, when a stated depth is not required.
Less suitable: Stainless, cups above 68 mm, or a cut that has to reach 40 mm deep.
Specifications
Common questions
Which arbor fits the 68 mm cup?
The contents bullet says the 1/4 in hex arbor with a 75 mm pilot fits 14–30 mm cups, and the 7/16 in hex arbor with a 75 mm pilot fits 32–152 mm cups. 68 mm is in the second range.
What does the listing say after a cut?
The small mandrel may tighten from torque, and a wrench may be needed to remove it. Sheet speeds are referred to the manual and are not printed in the saved listing.
Which materials are in the first bullet?
Mild steel, aluminium, plastic and plasterboard, for carpentry, construction and plumbing.
The BULLITT set is three hex-shank cups at 20, 25 and 32 mm, listed at £25.99 in a tin box, with a spring inside the cup. The bullet says M42 high-speed steel with 8% cobalt and a sheet limit of 1.6 mm in mild steel, stainless and aluminium. Across 121 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4. Several UK reviews say the ejector spring pops out, breaks on first use or is too stiff, and one review says a new 20 mm cutter did not cut stainless, while other reviews praise thin-metal cuts and the spring when it stays in place. The spec material field says high speed steel rather than repeating the cobalt line. It is the thin-sheet set here when the hole is one of those three sizes and the sheet is within 1.6 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Knockouts and thin sheet up to 1.6 mm at 20, 25 or 32 mm, in a drill or an impact driver.
Less suitable: Downlights, plate thicker than 1.6 mm, or a job that depends on the spring ejecting every slug.
Specifications
Common questions
How thick a sheet does the listing allow?
The bullet says these saws are designed to drill up to 1.6 mm in mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium. The spec item thickness is 1.6 mm.
Will they fit an impact driver?
The title says impact. The shank is hex. The device field says impact drills and drills. A tin box is included.
What do the reviews say about the spring?
Several UK reviews say the ejector spring pops out, breaks on first use, or is too stiff. Others praise the spring when it stays in place. One review says a new 20 mm cutter did not cut stainless steel.
The Mollom TCT set is ten carbide cups from 16 mm to 54 mm at £59.39, and the bullets name stainless steel plate, hard metal, iron, mild steel, alloy steel, aluminium, FRP and plastic. Across 3,360 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.3. The same bullets say the set is not for tile, glass, concrete or stone, and neither a cutting depth nor a case is named. Reviews describe teeth leaving the cup after one thin sheet, and other reviews describe clean cuts in thick steel when the speed stays low and cutting fluid is used. The packing line lists two pilots and two stepped bits while the included-components line says four pilots, and the arbor itself is not stated. It is the stainless-named set here when the hole stays inside 16–54 mm, and the wrong box for a plasterboard ceiling or for tile.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Thin stainless and other hard metal inside 16–54 mm, with low speed and cutting fluid.
Less suitable: Plasterboard downlights, tile, glass, brick or concrete, or any job that needs a stated depth and a case.
Specifications
Common questions
Which metals does the Mollom listing name?
The bullet names stainless steel plate, hard metal, iron, mild steel, alloy steel, aluminium, FRP and plastic. It says the set is not recommended for tile, glass, concrete or stone.
What is in the box?
The packing bullet lists 10 TCT cups from 16 mm to 54 mm, 2 pilot bits, 2 stepped bits and 3 hex keys. The included-components line says 10 carbide hole saws, 4 pilot bits and 3 hex keys.
Does the listing include a case?
No case is named in the bullets or the spec lines.
The Dokka Chain HSS set lists cups at 16, 18, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mm, with a hex shank and a stated 25 mm cutting depth, at £14.99. The star line is 4.2 from 19 reviews, a thin sample beside the sets that carry thousands of ratings. The materials bullet names timber, plywood, MDF, plastics and thin non-ferrous metals, and a case is included. The title and the piece count say 8 while the size bullet names six cups, and the model number is UK-hsset-6pcs. The surface field says plastic. It is a small-diameter HSS kit for wood and thin non-ferrous sheet when 35 mm is enough, and it is not a stainless set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cable and pipe holes in timber, plywood or thin plastic, up to 35 mm and 25 mm deep.
Less suitable: Stainless sheet, downlights, or anyone treating 19 reviews as a large sample.
Specifications
Common questions
How many hole saws are listed?
The size bullet names six cups: 16, 18, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mm, plus a hex key and a case. The title, set name and piece count say 8. The model number is UK-hsset-6pcs.
What cutting depth is stated?
The precision bullet states a 25 mm cutting depth.
Can the listing be used on metal?
The materials bullet names timber, plywood, MDF, plastics and thin non-ferrous metals. The shank field is hex. A case is included.
The Oudtinz set is thirteen heat-treated carbon-steel cups from 19 mm to 127 mm at £18.99, with two mandrels, a hex wrench and a PVC plate. The use bullet says normal wood, thin PVC and plastic, and not metal. The star line is 4.0 from 103 reviews, and of 26 texts in the file only one is marked United Kingdom. That review says the saws are sharp and that the drill sometimes jams. Another review says the carton said 16 pieces and held 11. A storage box is only a question on the page, and no cutting depth is stated. It is a wood-and-plastic range up to 127 mm with a clear not-for-metal line, and a thin UK review sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Normal wood, thin PVC and plastic up to 127 mm when metal is off the job.
Less suitable: Any metal, or a buyer who needs a UK review sample and a stated depth.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing allow metal?
No. The use bullet says normal wood, thin PVC board and plastic, but not metal.
What makes up the 16 pieces?
The size bullet lists 13 blades from 19 mm to 127 mm. The pack bullet adds two mandrels, one hex wrench and one PVC install plate.
Where were the written reviews posted?
Of 26 texts in the saved listing, one is marked United Kingdom. That review says the saws are sharp but the drill sometimes jams. The star line is 4.0 from 103.
The Ribowri listing is one adjustable cutter from 40 mm to 200 mm at £79.90, with twin blades, a transparent PC dust cover and two spare pilot bits. The bullets name plasterboard, plywood, MDF and wood-based sheet for recessed lights, ceiling speakers and vent holes. The saved listing has no customer-review line, so there is no star rating to read and the row cannot carry an award. Weight prints as 3 kg on the spec and 3.2 kg in a bullet. Metal cutting is asked on the page and left unanswered. It is a single-head plasterboard cutter when you need a diameter the fixed cups here do not list, and it is not a metal set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A plasterboard or sheet-wood hole between 40 mm and 200 mm when no fixed cup in the basket is the right diameter.
Less suitable: Metal, tile, or any buyer who wants a review sample before paying £79.90.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes can it cut?
The kit bullet says one adjustable cutter from 40 mm to 200 mm, with twin blades, a transparent PC dust cover and two spare pilot bits.
Which materials are named?
Plasterboard, plywood, MDF and common wood-based sheet, for recessed lights, ceiling speakers and vent holes. Metal cutting is asked and not answered.
Is there a star rating?
The saved listing has no customer-reviews line and no review texts.
Twelve hole saw sets on amazon.co.uk were scored on 19 October 2026 from listing facts and review notes, not from a lab test. Stars, review sample, fit for the job and value are weighted 40, 20, 25 and 15. A listing with no customer-review line scores 0 and cannot take an award. The highest total is the top pick. The highest value score among the others is best value. None of these scores is a durability test.
Stars
40%Star points are the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, then times 40, rounded to the nearest whole number. A listing with no customer-review line scores 0 overall and cannot take an award.
Review sample
20%The review-count band runs from 20 points at 10,000 or more reviews down to 4 points for 1 to 49 reviews, and 0 when there is no review line. A large sample is not a stainless test.
Fit for the job
25%Fit starts at 8 and adds points when the tooth matches the materials named, a depth or sheet limit is stated, a case is named, and an arbor or shank is stated. A listing that contradicts itself loses points. The score is capped at 25.
Value in this set
15%Value is one price-and-evidence band for this set of shelf prices. The highest value score among the products that are not the top pick is best value. A missing review line scores 0.
Start with the tooth, then the diameters you will use, then a stated depth and the arbor. Piece count and a low price come after those four. The notes below follow that order for these twelve amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a cutting test.
A hole saw set is a case of cup cutters, an arbor, a pilot drill and a hex key. You fit a cup in a drill and cut a round hole. In the UK the usual jobs are recessed downlights, waste pipes, cable grommets, locks and thin metal knockouts. Quality is the tooth, not the piece count on the title. Carbon-steel cups often run to 127 mm or 152 mm and stay on soft sheet: wood, plasterboard and thin plastic.
A 17-piece or 21-piece title often counts mandrels, drills and a hex key, not extra cups. In this set, several titles disagree with the size list. Read the diameters you will use, then the fittings.
Carbon steel stops at wood, plasterboard and thin plastic. Bi-metal is the mixed default for thin mild steel and aluminium. A carbon cup up to 152 mm is still the wrong tooth for steel.
Larger means slower. Starrett's UK catalogue, for that maker's bi-metal saws, puts mild steel near 165–115 rpm at 52–76 mm, with stainless slower. Use cutting fluid on metal. Do not use hammer mode, and unplug before you change a cup.
The tooth has to match the material. Carbon steel stops at wood, plasterboard and thin plastic. Bi-metal is the mixed default for those plus thin mild steel and aluminium. A carbide set for stainless is not the same cutter as a multi-purpose carbide set for plasterboard and nails. When to pick each tooth is set out in [bi-metal and carbide hole saws](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/hole-saw-set/sub/hole-saw-set-bi-metal-vs-carbide).
Buy the fitting first. UK downlights cluster around 65 mm, 68–72 mm and 75 mm, and a 76 mm saw is the usual stand-in. There is no single British Standard hole. A set that stops at 68 mm misses the 75 mm cluster. A set that runs to 152 mm is still the wrong tooth if the cup is carbon steel and the job is steel. Depth is the next limit. One kit in this set states 40 mm. Others state 25 mm, or 25 mm per pass. If the sheet is thicker than the cup, you cut from both sides or you use another tool.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are fitting a few downlights or cable holes and you have already bought the fittings. You want a case and a carbon or bi-metal cup around 65–76 mm. The HYCHIKA carbon set lists 68 mm and 76 mm, a stated 25 mm depth and a case, about £19.99, with 4.4 from 7,282 reviews. The listing says it is not for hard board or metal, and UK reviews include cups that measured short of the printed size.
You also cut PVC and thin aluminium, so you want bi-metal around 20–68 mm with two arbors. The HYCHIKA bi-metal set states a 40 mm depth, two mandrels and a case, about £19.99, with 4.5 from 4,347 reviews. It names soft metal, wood, PVC and plasterboard. It does not name stainless.
You are cutting thin stainless or a fuse-board knockout and you want a stated limit, not a 152 mm carbon cup. The BULLITT set is three hex-shank cups at 20, 25 and 32 mm, with a stated 1.6 mm sheet limit, about £25.99, with 4.4 from 121 reviews. UK reviews split on the spring and on one stainless cut.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026, the top pick is the HYCHIKA bi-metal set, about £19.99, with 4.5 from 4,347 reviews. Eleven cups run from 19 mm to 68 mm, the title states a 40 mm cutting depth, and two mandrels are listed. The materials line says soft metal, wood, PVC, plastic and gypsum board, and it does not name stainless. The best value is the Amazon Basics kit, about £12.49, with 4.4 from 607 reviews: six HSS-M3 cups including 68 mm, two hex arbors and a case. The compatible-material field says plastic only. Neither score is a lab test.
Amazon Basics bi-metal set, 20–68 mm
Highest value score among the rest: six HSS-M3 cups including 68 mm, two hex arbors and a case, about £12.49, with 4.4 from 607, after the plastic-only material field.
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 checked on 19 October 2026.
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 checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these hole saw sets.
