Best Drill Bit Sets for Wood & Metal
Here is the honest truth the big kit boxes hope you miss: no single set drills wood and metal equally well. Brad-point bits cut clean wood holes but die in steel; cobalt bits eat steel but wander in wood. Buy two small quality sets instead of one giant mediocre one — this guide shows exactly which.
What to Look For
- Two sets, not one: brad-point for wood, HSS or cobalt for metal.
- Split-point tips (135°): start without walking, especially in metal.
- Right steel: HSS for occasional metal, M35 cobalt for stainless and hard steel.
- Skip the 200-piece kits: soft steel, dull on arrival, dreadful cases.
Top Picks
1. Fisch 7-piece brad-point bit set Best for wood
Austrian-made brad points that cut glass-clean holes with zero wander — the set woodworkers graduate to and never leave.
Check price on Amazon →2. DeWalt 29-piece cobalt drill bit set Best for metal
M35 cobalt jobbers that hold an edge in steel and stainless, in a real index case — the home-shop metal standard.
Check price on Amazon →3. Ryobi 25-piece black oxide bit set Best budget
Twenty-five 135° split-point bits for the price of lunch — perfectly good for wood, plastic, and thin metal.
Check price on Amazon →What to Avoid
Avoid
- Titanium-coated mystery steel — the coating wears off and the soft core dulls fast.
- 200+ piece kits — you pay for quantity in drill-destroying dullness.
- Masonry bits for wood or metal — carbide tips chip and skate on anything but masonry.
Also in the toolbox
- Automatic center punch — dimpled starts, zero bit-walking
- Cutting fluid for metal drilling — doubles bit life in steel
FAQ
Can I use wood drill bits on metal?
Brad-point bits cut metal poorly and lose their center spur fast — the spur that makes them precise in wood is fragile in steel. Keep a wood set and a metal set; using each where it belongs makes both last years.
What is the difference between HSS, cobalt, and titanium bits?
HSS is the baseline steel for wood, plastic, and soft metal. Cobalt (M35/M42) is harder steel that holds its edge in stainless and hard alloys. Titanium is usually just a coating on HSS — nice when new, ordinary once it wears.
Why do my drill bits keep breaking in metal?
Almost always speed and pressure: too fast, too hard, no lubricant. Slow down (under 500 RPM in steel), ease up, add cutting oil — and never side-load a small bit.
Keep Reading
- Drill Bit Size for Screws (Pilot & Clearance)
- Pilot Hole Size Chart for Wood Screws
- How to Drill a Pilot Hole
- Best Screws That Don’t Strip
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