12V Max Brushed Powerful Cordless Impact Drill Driver Tool Li-Ion battery 1/4 in

There’s an old saying in mechanical matters, that you don’t need a drill bit, you need a hole. The homely truth of that is threefold. First, how you make the hole is up to you. Second, so long as you go about it efficiently and end up with a smooth-walled and geometrically accurate hole, that’s what counts. Finally, it’s less about the tool and more about the end result. Example: A beautiful-looking drill bit that performs poorly is of no use.

So if you want a hole, you must want a drill bit. And chances are you need more than one drill bit, you need a set, at least a small one. And there are as many drill bit sets as there are holes to drill—which, of course, varies by material.

How To Select a Set

The world of drill bits is a wide one, as our selections below attest. But there’s no sense in getting bogged down in complexities–the fine points belong to industrial users. For the rest of us, all we really need to know are the basics. That’s why we separate out bits for making holes in wood, metal, masonry (concrete or stone), and tile/glass. Some of the drill bits do a pretty good job making holes in more than one material. Keep in mind in selecting a drill bit set that the quality of the hole you’re making may be important. The difference between a perfectly round and smooth-walled hole for furniture making is a lot different than a rough-and-ready hole bored in framing lumber, though both holes are made in wood. So think about the material, the hole itself, and how you want to make it.