Best Drill Bits for Metal in 2021: Complete Reviews

When your main tasks for upcoming projects are going to rely on you being able to successfully drill into metal, you’ll want to be sure that you have the best drill bits for metal.

Metal drill bits can be useful for everything, from building a boat to putting together a new piece of furniture or simply hanging up decorations.

There are lots of times when these drill bits will be the best choice for the project at hand.

Even when they are the best choice, however, it might not always be obvious which drill bit is going to work the best.

Today, learn about the top options to use when you’re going to be working with metal sheets or similar materials on your next project.

Best Drill Bits for Metal

1. DEWALT Titanium 21-Piece Drill Bit Set

The DEWALT Titanium 21-Piece Drill Bit Set is a great mid-range set of drill bits that is appropriate for metalworks.

Does that make them the right set for your needs?

Review

The DEWALT Titanium 21-Piece Drill Bit Set is a reliable product from a well-known brand.

People often turn to DEWALT for buying not only drill bits but also for investing in drills themselves.

The drill bits in this set are of metal, wood, and plastics materials. Today’s review focuses on why they are a great option for metal-related projects.

• Speed Tip

The speed tip on these makes it so that you can very easily drill through soft materials.

It has the right cut and sharp tip necessary for cutting quickly.

That being said, your can cut into very hard metals with these drill tips if you cut at a low speed rather than trying to race through it.

The tips can get through softer and thin sheets of metal easily without going too slowly. However, you have to drill harder metals slower to prevent excess heat build-up.

• Shank Prevents Spin

The shanks on these drill bits are three flat shanks that prevent spin while you are drilling. This is important for drilling accurate and straight holes.

What’s more, no need for special chuck adapter to fit these into most standard drills.

• Durable Organizer

Many found that the case included with these bits is one of the best around. It is durable and easy to use and keeps everything organized.

The case is a good size, too. It can fit into a large pocket or into a tool bag without the bits coming loose.

Even then, it remains hassle-free to take the bits out when you need to use them.

• Titanium-Coated HSS

The drill bits are titanium-coated HSS, which gives them a longer life than standard HSS drill bits.

The titanium-coating improves the drilling ability when working with non-ferrous metals.

• Various Sizes

This 21-piece set includes sizes that range from 1/16 up to ½ of an inch, so you will be able to handle most of your drilling needs with this single set.

PROS

• Titanium-coated HSS
• Great for many metals and soft materials
• Easy to fit into drills
• High-quality case included
• Great for home use

CONS

• Not professional-grade
• Very small sizes are less durable

2. CO-Z 5-Piece Step Drill Bit Set

Next up is the CO-Z 5-Piece Step Drill Bit Set.

This affordable set of step drill bits is a great option to use for boat enthusiasts who like working on their own boats.

Review

This five-piece set of step drill bits from CO-Z boasts cobalt HSS tips that are of titanium coating for a great balance of price and durability.

The bits have five sizes, and each one can cut up to 10 different steps depending on how you use them.

• 50 Sizes in Total

In total, these step drill bits can create 50 different sizes; each drill bit has 10 steps.

The drill bit will hop smoothly between each step, depending on what size hole you need to make.

While some drill bits “hop” too much between steps, this one does so smoothly so that you can continue working without interruption.

You also get the step rings with labels, so you always know what steps you are working with.

• Non-Walking Design

When using a step bit, it is especially important that the bit doesn’t lead to the drill rocking back and forth, or the hole will not be even.

The non-walking drill tip on these bits helps to ensure that they can drill smoothly into sheet metal without sliding to the sides and causing unwanted openings.

Smooth hole drilling is possible with these step bits.

• Organized Case

The bits in this set are in a well-organized case.

This case keeps the bits in place with their size labels so that you will be able to quickly recall what sizes you have available.

• Smooth Cutting

In addition to cutting without moving from side to side, these step bits have two flutes to ensure smoother cutting.

The two-flute design ensures any metal shavings from the drilling process are far from where the cutting is happening.

This lets the bit continue to work without the metal flakes getting in the way.

PROS

• Different sized bits for different metal thicknesses
• Up to 50 different sizes possible
• Smart design for better cutting
• Cobalt with titanium-coating
• Well-labeled bits and case

CONS

• Finish burns off quickly
• Case durability issues

3. Neiko 3-Piece Titanium Step Drill Bit Set

This Neiko 3-Piece Titanium Step Drill Bit Set comes with three different high-speed steel drill bits that can create 28 sizes of holes between the different steps.

Will this be enough to make it a good choice for your project?

Review

This three-piece set from Neiko is from high-speed steel.

The steps of the bits included with this set are as follows:

1. 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, ½ inches
2. 1/8, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 13/32, 7/16, 15/32, ½ inches
3. 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, ¾ inches

In addition to the exact step sizes being different on each of these bits, the size of the shaft differs, as well.

However, the tri-flat shanks have universal sizing to work with most drills.

• Easily Identifiable

Each of these step bits has the sizes clearly engraved into the inside of the flute on the step bit.

This makes it so that you can clearly see which size you are on even when you have already started drilling.

• Better Cutting Angle

The split point on these step bits is a 135-degree tip. This angle helps to ensure that you can cut into the metals more effectively and speedily.

Additionally, this angle does not wear out as quickly as others, so you can expect the tip to have a good amount of durability.

• Good Construction

These step bits are from HSS and with titanium coating for better durability.

They will be able to cut through plastic, copper, stainless steel, copper, and more for multiple drillings without wearing out.

The bits also have a two-flute design that pushes away metal flakes when cut from the material.

Thanks to this, the drill can continue to cut effectively without getting caught up or sent off course.

PROS

• Can be used with or without oil
• Good range of sizes
• Stay sharp if you go slowly
• Flakes easily moved out of the way via flukes

CONS

• Metal flakes can build up on sheet backing
• May need to sand

4. Neiko Quick-Change Step Drill Bit Set

The Neiko Quick-Change Step Drill Bit Set boasts three different step bits that are easy to change, but are they just as easy to use?

Review

This set from Neiko features quick-change HSS titanium-coated drill bits.

Their design is a spiral groove for better removal of flakes and other debris that could obstruct your drilling.

With the complete kit, it is possible to drill 31 different step sizes.

• Strong Materials

These step drill bits are made from HSS that has a titanium-coating; this coating makes the base material even more durable.

With the added durability, these drill bits can work through different types of metals as well as plastic.

As such, you can be sure that even after multiple drillings, the drill bits will continue to be functional.

• Two-Flute Design

The spiral flutes on these drill bits ensure that all build-up materials are easily moved out of the drill bit so that it can continue to drill cleanly.

Two flutes make a huge difference when it comes to drilling smoothly, and you’ll definitely feel the difference when using this type of step drill.

• Universal Shank

The shank on these drill bits is a ¼-inch hex shank, which is known to fit into most drills.

Additionally, hex shanks are good for keeping the motion steady while you are drilling since they can be gripped very circularly in the drill.

• Smooth Cutting and Entrance

The design of these drill bits is perfect for entering into various materials smoothly and then continuing to cut evenly.

The degree of the tip of the drill bit ensures that the drill bit will make its initial cuts into the material very smoothly.

The way that the steps are set up on the drill bit helps to transition smoothly as you go from size to size. This makes a big difference as you are drilling.

PROS

• Perfect for at-home use
• Easy to cut with
• Makes a huge range of sizes
• Easy to attach to drills
• Smooth transitions

CONS

• Not appropriate for industrial applications
• Wear quickly on tough materials when not used slowly

5. COMOWARE 10-Step Drill Bit

Finally, let’s take a closer look at the COMOWARE 10-Step Drill Bit. Will the 10 sizes that can be cut by this drill bit be enough?

Review

This step drill bit from COMOWARE can cut these sizes with just a single bit: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, one, one and ⅛, one and ¼, and one and ⅜ inches.

Though this is just a single bit, it can do the work for many different boat projects.

• HSS with Titanium-Coating

This drill bit is made from high-speed steel, and it has a titanium coating on it.

The titanium coating ensures that the durability and sharpness of the bit will last longer. This is because it lowers the amount of friction that causes the bit to degrade over time.

Additionally, titanium runs cooler while drilling than the HSS, so this helps to ensure the longevity of this bit, as well.

• Various Materials

This drill bit can be used on a variety of sheet metals as well as copper, plastic, wood, boards, and more.

Because of its small size, it’s not an ideal choice to cut through materials that are thicker than ⅜ inches.

Still, it might be used with the addition of cooling oil and slow, consistent pressure.

• 118-Degree Split Point

This particular design from COMOWARE has a split point tip set at 118 degrees.

This particular angle should help to improve the wear resistance of the bit so that it can last through even more uses.

• Three-Flat Shank

In addition to the overall good design, the actual shank on this drill bit is a three-flat shank.

These types of shanks are known to grip more successfully in most drill types, which means that the chances of slipping or shedding will be significantly reduced.

Slipping can be a bit problem when you are using step bits because of the way they hop between sizes, so this shank design is ingenious.

PROS

• Can be used with cutting oil
• Titanium coating prevents immediate friction problems
• Does the work without added force
• Great for at-home use

CONS

• Not strong enough for some commercial applications
• Long-term durability issues

Final Verdict

When it comes to your next project, having a variety of the best drill bits for metal on hand will be very useful.

For those working on boats, in particular, the Neiko 3-Piece Titanium Step Drill Bit Set is going to be a great option.

The huge range of sizes that can be covered with this set makes it so that you can handle any types of metal sheets that you need to work with, as well as hinges and other important pieces.

For those who need something other than a step bit, the DEWALT Titanium 21-Piece Drill Bit Set is a great option that can handle cuts through various metals with ease.

Check out more of Boat Diaries’ drill bits recommendations here.