Best Drill Bits in the UK

The DEWALT DT71569-QZ is huge. With this universal tool box set, you receive 8 masonry drill bits (between 4 mm and 10 mm), 12 high-speed steel metal drill bits (between 1.5 mm and 7 mm), 12 Torx bits, 26 Philips bits, 4 slotted screwdriver bits, 27 Pozi bits, 4 hole saw bits, 5 nut drivers, 1 pilot drill bit, 1 magnetic bit holder, and the obligatory carry case. Using these accessories, you'll be able to drill into wood, plastic, masonry, and metal objects. The smallest metal drill bits will not be able to penetrate the toughest metals but, aside from them, these little buggers will handle anything.

What's more, the case is compatible with T-STAK drawers (they're sold separately though), enabling even more convenient storage and transportation. The bits come already separated and organised so that you're able to easily find the right one. Not only that, there's also the clip latch on the case that will make sure to prevent accidental openings. The entire plastic case is pretty tough too, which means you do not have to be particularly gentle transporting this combination set.

To give you the gist, the DEWALT DT71569-QZ is what you're going with when you want to absolutely make sure that you always have the right drill bits at hand.

The Makita D-21200 is inventive, that's the word we're going with. See, more often than not, these drill bits are shipped packed into some plastic case that keeps them stored and organised, sure, but, with its rigid construction, does not prevent the bits from shaving and wearing out during transportation. Here, the case is foam-lined, keeping the bits safe and sound even when the road gets bumpy.

Inside this foam-lined case, you'll find 12 drill bits (ranging from 5 to 14 mm) and 5 chisels (2 bull points: 140, 260; 2 cold chisels: 20x140, 20x250; 1 scaling chisel: 40x250). Using the bull point chisels, you'll be able to execute general-purpose demolition and drive holes in brick, block, and concrete objects. Now, the cold chisels will let you remove waste metal when you do not have to keep the finish especially smooth. The scaling chisel stands opposite from the cold chisels, cleaning concrete and allowing you to remove scale and rust.

The bits are prone to heating up, so you'll have to take breaks from time to time. On the upside, they're equipped with SDS-Plus™ shanks, enabling quick and easy replacement.

Bottom line, from drilling into concrete to demolition works, rendering, chasing, and applying fixings, the Makita D-21200 will handle any project.

The Bosch X-Line is the most comprehensive, well-rounded set, packing 15 drill bits (including 5 wood drill bits (between 4 and 8 mm), 5 high-speed steel metal drill bits (sizes from 2 to 5 mm), and 5 masonry drill bits (ranging from 5 to 8 mm), 13 screwdriver bits, a magnetic universal holder, 3 nutsetters (socket wrench bits for key-headed screws), a nutsetter adapter, and even 1 countersink bit.

Using the latter, you'll be able to produce conical and cylindrical sockets necessary for bolts, screws, and rivets. Now, the nutsetters will allow you to remove the most stubborn rusted nuts (7, 8, and 10 mm). When the 15 bits come into play, you can drill not only in wood, metal, and plastic but also stone and masonry. The screwdrivers bits though, whilst functional, are not as different as they could have been.

The bright side is the magnetic universal holder that we have mentioned before, enabling fast bit changes and reliable screw hold in the bit. Meanwhile, the Bosch X-Line case will be able to keep these accessories neat and tidy and accept different accessories (not the ones that are shipped with the case) when necessary.

To sum up, the Bosch X-Line will allow you to make short work of virtually any drilling task, from stone drilling to bit organisation and transportation.

The SS Shovan HSS-SD-3 is not the massive, comprehensive kit comparable to the ones we have reviewed above. No, what you receive here is only 3 high-speed steel step drill bits. Because they're step bits, you can adjust the first one between 4 and 12 mm, choosing from 5 steps, including 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm. The second step bit lets you adjust the size from the same starting point (4 mm) to 20 mm, offering 9 steps (the 2-millimetre increments remain the same, so you can probably figure out what these steps are). The last step bit ranges from 4 to 32 mm, so you'll have 15 step bit options at your disposal.

The lower step sizes become blunt very quickly but, aside from that, these long drill bits are more capable than the rest, with the two-fluted design giving you the necessary sharpness and accuracy to produce smooth cuts. The lightest pressure will allow you to even cut through stainless steel, aluminium, copper, and most metals, let alone wood and plastic. To add more, the bits' edges prevent the metal filings from flying around, keeping the workspace safe and clean.

In short, you put the SS Shovan HSS-SD-3 drill bits in the supplied storage pouch and bring them with you when you need to drill into something tough.

The Tacklife AHS02C-UK Diamond Drill Bits kit is also not the most comprehensive and adaptable package and this is not us knocking on the kit. Quite the opposite, the 10 hole saw bits (ranging between 6 and 50 mm) were not designed to be versatile. They were designed to accommodate DIYers looking to renovate bathrooms and kitchens, making the bits able to drill into glass, ceramic, marble, granite, and porcelain tiles, hence bathrooms and kitchens as the preferred workplaces. Adopting the side-flute hole design, these high-quality bits prevent the dust build-ups inside them, removing the waste to keep the bits clean.

On the construction subject, these drill bits are made from high-strength steel, nickel-plating the surface and diamond-coating the tip heads. This way, the bits become resistant against rust and corrosion, whereas the diamond coating is conductive towards an improved grip. Also, the bits come fitted with laser size markings, so you will not be mixing them up.

The package is shipped without some storage/carry solution, so you'll have to figure out how and where you can store and transport them but, apart from that, the Tacklife AHS02C-UK Diamond Drill Bits will allow you to renovate any kitchen and bathroom without buying large expensive kits.