The best wood drill bits, compared.
Top pick: Nituaeu 36-piece brad set with limit rings Best value: Bosch PRO 7-piece brad point set – Lowest saved price among listings that score at least 70 and have at least 50 reviews: about £6.12, with 4.6 from 17,972 reviews, for 3–10 mm. Updated October 2026.
A wood drill bit bores timber, board, or a plastic the listing names. It is not a masonry bit and not a router cutter. In the UK you buy one for a clean hole up to about 10 mm, a rough hole around 16–32 mm, a deep hole, or a flat-bottomed cup. You tell a suitable wood drill bit by the cutting diameter, the tip, the shank the chuck can hold, and whether a length is printed. A brad point uses a centre point and spurs for a cleaner small hole. A spade bit is a paddle for a faster large hole, and it will not open a hole that is already there. An auger is for thicker timber. A Forstner bit leaves a flat bottom, including many 35 mm hinge cups. Match the shank to the chuck, and treat a hex shank as impact-rated only when the listing says so. That split between a clean small hole and a fast large hole is set out in the [brad point and spade comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/wood-drill-bit/sub/wood-drill-bit-brad-point-vs-spade).
A wood drill bit bores timber, board, or a plastic the listing names. It is not a masonry bit and not a router cutter.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What hole are you drilling?
Nituaeu NV676310_01 is £5.55 for fifteen 3 mm, ten 4 mm and eight 5 mm brad-point bits, plus limit rings and a 2.5 mm wrench. The page shows 5.0 from two reviews, which is why the comparison score is capped at 55. The rings are the useful extra if you need a repeatable depth on those three sizes, and the bullets say the wrench adjusts them. There is no 8 mm or 10 mm bit, and the shank is not printed. The bullets exclude concrete, metal, stone and glass. A perfect star line from two reviews is not a reason to skip a set that actually lists 6–10 mm. It is a depth-stop kit for tiny holes.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want repeatable depth on 3, 4 and 5 mm holes and you accept a two-review sample.
Less suitable: Choosing a main wood set from the star line, or any hole of 6 mm and above.
Specifications
Common questions
What do the 36 pieces include?
The bullets say fifteen 3 mm, ten 4 mm and eight 5 mm bits, plus limit rings for those three sizes and a 2.5 mm wrench.
How do the limit rings work on this listing?
The bullets say the rings set drilling depth and the 2.5 mm wrench adjusts them. No separate instruction sheet is quoted.
What will it not drill, according to the bullets?
Concrete, metal, stone and glass. Named woods and boards are softwood, hardwood, plywood, MDF, acrylic and plastic.
The SHALL SH121001EU set is eight carbon-steel spade bits from 6 mm to 32 mm, each listed at 150 mm, for £10.99 on amazon.co.uk. Across 1,042 reviews the line is 4.7, which is the largest sample among the spade sets in this comparison. The 1/4 inch hex suits a quick-change holder, and the bullets include a storage bag. The surface field says wood and does not say hardwood, so oak is not a stated job. One UK review used the set in an impact driver, but the listing does not say it is impact-rated. A paddle of this size leaves a rough exit and will not open a hole that is already there. It is the top pick here for a documented 6–32 mm set with a named length, not a clean furniture bit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the 6–32 mm paddle sizes, a stated 150 mm length, and a bag, and the hole does not have to look finished.
Less suitable: Clean dowel or furniture faces, hardwood the listing does not name, or opening a hole that is already drilled.
Specifications
Common questions
Which diameters are in the set?
The bullets list 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 32 mm, each 150 mm long.
Does it include a case?
The bullets include a storage bag for the eight bits.
Does the listing say impact-rated or hardwood?
The surface field says wood. The listing does not say hardwood and does not say impact-rated.
Meccion’s HssWoodBit01 pack is ten 3 mm HSS brad-point bits at £8.99, with a titanium finish field and a round shank. The listing shows 4.7 from only six reviews, so the comparison score is capped and the star line is a small sample. Bullets claim M2, hardness up to HRC62, and more than five times the life of a carbon-steel wood bit. Those are seller claims, not measurements. One saved review cites five 6 mm bits at a different price, which does not match this ten-by-3 mm title. Named surfaces include softwood, hardwood, MDF, plywood, plastics and acrylic. It is a refill for the size that snaps, and a poor substitute for a 3–10 mm set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You keep snapping 3 mm pilots and you want HSS spares rather than another mixed set.
Less suitable: A general wood kit, or anyone treating the hardness line as a tested life.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the pack?
The title says ten 3 mm brad-point bits. It is not a mixed-size set.
What machines do the bullets name?
Electric drills, bench drills and cordless drills, with a round shank and no extra adaptor.
Where do the hardness figures come from?
The bullets say hardness up to HRC62 and more than five times the life of a carbon-steel wood bit. Those are seller claims.
The Bosch PRO set 2607017034 is seven brad-point bits in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm, at a saved amazon.co.uk price of £6.12. The saved listing shows 4.6 from 17,972 reviews, the deepest review line in this comparison. The included-components line does not list 9 mm, even though the item-type name mentions it, so do not assume a 9 mm bit is in the box. UK buyers often praise the cut and complain that the flip case is fiddly or arrives broken, and the components string does not name a case. Bosch Professional GB lists total lengths of 61, 75, 86, 93, 109, 117 and 120 mm for the same part, while the saved Amazon line is about 60–120 mm, so measure before you trust a working length. UK reviews of both Bosch sets here mention a 3 mm bit snapping under side load. It is the best value for clean holes up to 10 mm, not a large-hole kit and not a lab result.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want clean holes from 3 mm to 10 mm, including 6, 8 and 10 mm dowels, and you can live with a fiddly case.
Less suitable: Holes from 16 mm to 32 mm, a 9 mm bit you must have in the box, or a hex shank for a quick-change holder.
Specifications
Common questions
Which diameters are actually listed?
The included-components line lists 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm. It does not list 9 mm, although the item-type name does.
What shank does it use?
A straight cylindrical shank for a three-jaw chuck. The listing does not say hex and does not say impact-rated.
What does the material field say?
The amazon.co.uk material field says wood. The bullets say the set is for drilling wood. A steel grade is not printed on the listing.
Bosch Mini-X-Line 2607019580 is listed at £6.67 with 4.6 from 3,916 reviews, and the material field says high speed steel. The title says 7 pieces, the bullets list 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 mm, and the pieces field says 1, so the page does not settle what is in the box. The bullets do name a plastic box, which is more explicit than the PRO components line. No overall length is printed. UK reviews of the Bosch sets in this comparison mention the 3 mm size breaking when the drill is cocked. At 67 pence more than the saved PRO price, you are paying for a muddled piece count rather than a wider job. Check the diameters in the parcel before you treat this as an eight-size set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already want a Bosch brad set in the 3–10 mm band and you will count the bits when the parcel arrives.
Less suitable: You need the contents line to match the title before you order, or you need holes above 10 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
How many bits are listed?
The title says 7 pieces. The bullets list 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 mm. The pieces field says 1.
What steel does the listing name?
The material field says high speed steel. The finish field says silver.
Is a box included?
The bullets say a handy plastic box is included. They do not give a length for each bit.
WORKPRO’s W004602A is eight carbon-steel spade bits in the same 6–32 mm steps as the SHALL set, listed at 152 mm and £13.99. It scores 4.5 from 294 reviews, a smaller sample than SHALL at a higher price. The bullets name cork, hardwood, PVC and plastics, which is a wider surface claim than a wood-only field. One UK review notes about 1 mm of wobble, so a hole that must sit dead centre still needs a careful start. The listing does not say impact-rated, and the power-source field says hand_powered, which does not match a drill bit. The pouch is named. It is the spade set to read when the listing must say hardwood, though the extra pounds do not buy a cleaner exit than any other paddle.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 6–32 mm hex spade set whose bullets actually name hardwood, and you can check the point seats before the cut.
Less suitable: The lowest price for these diameters, a clean show face, or a listing that must say impact-rated.
Specifications
Common questions
Which diameters are in the set?
The bullets list 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 32 mm, with a total length of 152 mm.
Does it include a case?
The bullets include an organiser for the eight bits.
Does the listing name hardwood?
Yes. The bullets say cork and hardwood as well as PVC and plastics. They do not say impact-rated.
The MOXPIFY pack is three 6 mm alloy-steel auger bits, each 300 mm long, on a hex shank, at £9.99. The star line is 4.3 from 48 reviews, a modest sample for a long bit that can bind. The listing does not name a case, and the specification fields do not say the bit is impact-rated even though the page asks about an impact drill. Some UK review titles name other diameters, including 16 mm, so those comments may not describe this 6 mm bit. A 300 mm length can cross timber a 60–120 mm brad bit cannot, and the screw tip can pull hard enough to stall the drill. Several UK reviews of this long 6 mm style describe a snap on an early hole in softwood. It is a depth tool for a 6 mm hole, not a general wood set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a 6 mm hole through thick timber and you will clear chips instead of forcing a stall.
Less suitable: A mixed-size kit, a 16 mm hole, or anyone reading a 16 mm review title as this ASIN.
Specifications
Common questions
What size is this pack?
The title and the included-components line say three bits, each 6 mm by 300 mm.
Does it include a case?
No case is named in the listing.
Is it stated for an impact drill?
The page asks the question. The specification fields do not say impact-rated. The shank field says hex.
Aoyfuwell’s JN-NEW-018 is eight high-carbon-steel spade bits in 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 32 mm at £6.99. It scores 4.2 from 62 reviews, below the SHALL set on both stars and sample size. The bullets name softwood, hardwood, PVC and plastic, but they do not print an overall length and they do not name a pouch. The seller’s HRC55–HRC60 line is a claim, not a measurement on the listing. UK reviews of this cheaper spade row include bending and heat. The included-components field says 1 even though the title says eight bits. You get the same diameter list for less money, and you give up a stated length and the larger review sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want those eight paddle sizes at the lowest saved price and you can measure length yourself.
Less suitable: You need a printed length, a bag, or a review sample closer to a thousand.
Specifications
Common questions
Which diameters are in the set?
The bullets list 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25 and 32 mm. They do not print an overall length.
Does it include a case?
The page asks. The bullets do not name a pouch or a box.
What materials do the bullets name?
Softwood, hardwood, PVC and plastic, on bench drills and hand drills. The HRC range is the seller’s claim.
FORUMALL TO01 is 24 carbon-steel brad-point bits at £5.55: twelve 3 mm, six 4 mm and six 5 mm, in a plastic box. The star line is 4.2 from 23 reviews, too thin to treat as a durability test. The bullets say black oxide while the finish field says Chrome, so the coating is not settled on the page. There is no 6, 8 or 10 mm bit, so a dowel or a bolt hole in those sizes is outside the pack. Length is not printed. The round shank is meant for a three-jaw chuck. It is a spare box for the three smallest sizes, not a wood drill set that covers ordinary furniture holes.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own 6–10 mm bits and you want cheap spares in 3, 4 and 5 mm.
Less suitable: A first wood kit, dowels at 6, 8 or 10 mm, or any hole above 5 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sizes are in the 24 pieces?
The bullets say twelve 3 mm, six 4 mm and six 5 mm. There is no 6 mm or 10 mm bit.
What finish is printed?
The bullets say a black oxide finish. The specification field says Chrome.
Will it fit a standard chuck?
The bullets say a round shank for a 3-jaw chuck, including cordless and corded drills and drill presses.
The METOTY bit is a single 16 mm by 155 mm auger in 1045 carbon steel, with a 6.35 mm hex, at £6.99. It scores 4.1 from 59 reviews. The bullets say the hex fits drills and impact drivers, which is the only impact-driver claim among these listings, and they also say both three flutes and two spirals. UK reviews mention sleepers, a 10 inch post, joists, jamming, a snapped shaft, and a bit that blunted after six holes in 4x4 softwood. Some review titles name other diameters, so treat those as unverified for this ASIN. At 155 mm it will not reach as far as the 300 mm 6 mm auger. It is a short 16 mm ship auger, with more pull than a spade bit and a known risk of jamming in dense timber.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one 16 mm auger around 155 mm long and you accept that sleepers and posts can stall it.
Less suitable: A clean small hole, a 300 mm reach, or a buyer who needs the flute count to be consistent on the page.
Specifications
Common questions
What size is the bit?
The title says 16 mm by 155 mm, with a 6.35 mm hex shank.
Does the listing mention an impact driver?
Yes. The bullets say the hex fits drills and impact drivers.
Can the bullets be read as a metal bit?
The page asks about metal. The stated surfaces are wood, board, plastic, PVC and drywall, not metal.
DTGN’s pair is two 35 mm carbon-steel Forstner bits, 90 mm overall, with a 10 mm round shank, at £14.79. The listing is 3.8 from 16 reviews, and the saved UK review text is three short reviews. One UK review says the bit did not cut hardwood. The other two are essentially that it does the job and that it is good value. The bullets exclude concrete, steel, ceramic and glass, and they say to use a drill press for diameters over 35 mm, while this pair is exactly 35 mm. A carbide Forstner such as the 26 mm Famag at £60.75 is a different tool. Your chuck has to open to 10 mm. It is a flat-bottom 35 mm option for softwood, plywood and MDF, not a hardwood hinge bit you can lean on.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a flat 35 mm recess in softwood, plywood or MDF and you can keep the drill square.
Less suitable: Hardwood hinge cups, freehand work if you cannot hold the rim square, or a carbide bit in the £60 class.
Specifications
Common questions
What size are the bits?
The bullets say two bits, 35 mm cutting diameter, 90 mm overall length, and a 10 mm round shank.
What should it not be used on?
The bullets exclude concrete, steel, ceramic and glass. Named materials are softwood, plywood, MDF and common plastics.
Does the listing require a drill press?
It says to use a drill press for diameters over 35 mm, and to keep the tool vertical. This pair is 35 mm.
Eleven amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the listing text and the saved review notes. There was no lab test. The score is the amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, times 60, plus up to 25 from the size of the review sample, then the penalties below. The highest score is the top pick, once. Best value is the lowest saved price among listings that score at least 70 and have at least 50 reviews. None of these scores is a durability test or a certificate.
Star rating
60%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, times 60. This part uses the star line only.
Review sample
25%Up to 25 points from the size of the review count. A high star line on a handful of ratings stays low, and under 20 reviews the whole score is capped at 55.
Listing consistency
15%This part does not add points. A contradictory piece count or diameter list removes 12. A contradictory finish line removes 8. The cap for under 20 reviews also sits here.
Start with the hole, not the piece count. A clean hole up to about 10 mm, a rough hole around 16–32 mm, a deep hole, and a flat 35 mm cup are different cutters. Then check the printed length, the shank, and the materials the listing actually names. Softwood is the easy case. Hardwood, PVC and acrylic only count when they are printed. Stars are the amazon.co.uk average, not a lab result.
A wood drill bit is a cutter for timber, board, or a plastic the listing names. It is not a masonry bit and not a router cutter. UK buyers usually have one of four holes in mind: a clean hole up to about 10 mm, a rough hole in the 16–32 mm band, a deep hole through thicker timber, or a flat-bottomed cup, often 35 mm for a hinge. The tip decides the hole more than the piece count. A brad point has a centre point and spurs.
Twenty-four or thirty-six bits can still be only 3, 4 and 5 mm. Read the diameter list. A title and a components line that disagree have not told you what is in the box.
A paddle needs solid timber to start. It will not open a hole that is already there, and the exit is rougher than a brad point. Pressing a smoking bit only makes more heat and more dust.
A hole at the support, or wider than a quarter of the depth, is outside the LABC zone for a solid timber joist. Deeper than 250 mm, or an I-joist, is a joiner or an engineer, not a longer bit.
Diameter and tip decide the hole. A brad point, with a centre point and spurs, is the usual choice for a cleaner hole, and the sizes that show up for that job are often 3–10 mm. A spade bit is a paddle for a faster hole, commonly in a 6–32 mm list, and it leaves more tear-out. It will not open a hole that is already drilled. An auger, with a screw tip and flutes, is the type when the timber is thicker than a short brad bit. The screw can pull hard enough to stall the drill.
Length and shank are the next checks, and they are not the same number as the diameter. Brad-point sets in this kind of listing often run about 60–120 mm overall, changing with the diameter. Spade sets are often about 150–152 mm. One auger style is 6 mm by 300 mm. Another is 16 mm by about 155 mm. If the page prints no length, do not invent one from the piece count, and measure before you rely on a working length. A round shank needs a three-jaw chuck.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want clean holes from about 3 mm to 10 mm, including ordinary dowel sizes, and you can live with a fiddly case. The Bosch PRO 7-piece lists 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm at a saved price of about £6.12, with 4.6 from 17,972 reviews. The components line does not list 9 mm.
Check the joist zone before you choose a length. For one 16 mm hole, the METOTY auger is 16 mm by 155 mm with a 6.35 mm hex, at about £6.99 and 4.1 from 59 reviews. The bullets mention drills and impact drivers. Sleepers and posts can stall it, and 155 mm is not a 300 mm reach.
You need a flat-bottomed 35 mm recess in softwood, plywood or MDF, and you can keep the drill square. The DTGN pair is two 35 mm carbon-steel Forstner bits, 90 mm overall, with a 10 mm round shank, at about £14.79. One UK review says it did not cut hardwood. A carbide bit in a higher price class is a different tool.
In this set the top pick is the SHALL 8-piece spade set. It has the highest score, from 4.7 and 1,042 reviews, a 6–32 mm list at a stated 150 mm, and a saved price of about £10.99. The surface field says wood, not hardwood, and a spade bit will not enlarge a hole that is already there. The best value is the Bosch PRO 7-piece. It is the lowest saved price among the listings that score at least 70 and have at least 50 reviews, at about £6.12 with 4.6 from 17,972 reviews, for clean holes from 3 mm to 10 mm. The components line does not include 9 mm. Neither score is a lab test.
Bosch PRO 7-piece brad point set
Lowest saved price among listings that score at least 70 and have at least 50 reviews: about £6.12, with 4.6 from 17,972 reviews, for 3–10 mm.
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 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures on the listings.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listings checked on 22 October 2026. We did not lab-test these wood drill bits.
