Best Drill Bit Set UK: HSS, Masonry and Wood Bits for Trade

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A drill bit set looks like the cheapest thing in the van, which is exactly why so many tradespeople get it wrong. A 200-piece case for £20 feels like a bargain until the 6mm bit blunts in a steel stud and the 8mm masonry bit you needed has gone missing. The bits do the cutting. The drill only turns them.

This guide splits the job by material, because no single set does metal, masonry and wood well. We looked at what is actually listed on Amazon UK, checked each set is in stock with a buy button, and picked six that earn their place in a trade bag. Prices and review counts are as at the time of writing and they move.

Quick Verdict

For metal, the DeWalt Extreme 2 29-piece HSS-G set is the one to buy if you drill steel every week, and the Bosch PointTeQ 25-piece is the sensible value pick at under £20. For masonry, the Bosch CYL-3 seven-piece set has nearly 20,000 reviews and costs about £16. For wood, the Irwin Blue Groove flat bit set covers the sizes you need for running cables through joists.

If you only want one purchase today, buy the Bosch PointTeQ set and the Bosch CYL-3 masonry set. Together they come to roughly £36 and cover most days on site.

Best Drill Bit Sets at a Glance

Set	Type	Price	Best for
DeWalt Extreme 2 HSS-G 29-piece (DT7926)	Metal HSS-G	£72.02	Heavy daily metal drilling
Bosch PointTeQ 25-piece	Metal HSS	£19.97	Value all-rounder
Milwaukee 19-piece 1-10mm	Metal	£30.70	Wide size range, strong brand
Bosch CYL-3 7-piece	Masonry	£16.37	Brick, block and concrete
DeWalt DT6956 5-piece	Masonry	£10.67	Cheap spare masonry set
Irwin Blue Groove 17-piece	Wood flat bits	£31.49	Joists, noggins and studwork

What to Look for in a Drill Bit Set

Match the Bit to the Material

HSS (high speed steel) twist bits are for metal and will also go through timber and plastics. Masonry bits have a carbide tip brazed on and are built to hammer into brick, block and concrete. Wood flat bits (spade bits) are for fast, large holes in timber. Use the wrong one and you blunt it quickly: a masonry bit in steel will overheat in seconds, and an HSS bit in brick is finished after a couple of holes.

HSS, HSS-G and Coatings

Plain HSS is fine for general use. HSS-G means the flutes are ground rather than rolled, which gives a sharper edge, cleaner holes and less walking when you start the cut. Titanium nitride (the gold colour) and black oxide coatings add some wear resistance and help in hot, repetitive work, but a well-ground uncoated bit usually beats a cheap coated one. The point geometry matters too: split points and self-centring tips stop the bit skating across a steel stud.

Case Quality

A good case is part of the product. You want size markings you can read, bits that hold in place when the case is dropped, and a lid that latches. If you work out of a van, a case that stacks or clips into a modular system saves time every day.

Do You Need Hundreds of Pieces?

No. Bulk sets pad the count with tiny sizes and driver bits you already own. Most trade drilling sits between 3mm and 10mm, with the odd 12mm for anchors. Buy a smaller set from a brand you trust and replace the sizes you use most.

The Best Drill Bit Sets for Metal

DeWalt Extreme 2 HSS-G 29-Piece Set (DT7926)

This is the premium option and it is priced like it, at £72.02 at the time of writing. You get 29 ground HSS bits in a compact case, from the Extreme 2 range, in a compact case. It is stocked on Amazon UK with more than 1,400 reviews and a 4.7 star average.

The difference shows on repetitive work. If you are fitting brackets to steel, drilling through unistrut, or working on a job where you will put hundreds of holes through 3mm to 6mm plate, the bits stay sharp noticeably longer than budget sets. Used on a good cordless drill with cutting fluid, they cut cleanly and quickly.

Pros: 29 sizes in a robust case, ground flutes, trusted brand.

Cons: Expensive for a set, and you will probably only use the 3mm to 10mm sizes day to day.

Best for: Fabricators, steel erectors, and anyone who drills metal most days.

Bosch Professional 25-Piece PointTeQ HSS Set

At £19.97 this is the best-value metal set we found, and with more than 8,500 reviews it has been tested by a lot of people. The PointTeQ tip is a self-centring design that bites straight away, so you do not need a pilot hole or a centre punch for most jobs. The set comes in a ProBox case with each size clearly marked.

It is not as long-lived as the DeWalt on hard steel, but for the price you can replace it twice before you reach the cost of the premium set. For electricians, plumbers, joiners and general builders who drill metal a few times a week, it is the sensible choice.

Pros: Very low price, self-centring tip, tidy case, huge review base.

Cons: Not built for all-day steel drilling.

Best for: General trades who need a reliable metal set without the premium price.

Milwaukee 19-Piece Drill Bit Set 1-10mm

The Milwaukee set covers 1mm to 10mm in 19 pieces, which means you get half-millimetre steps in the sizes that matter for tapping, clearance holes and fixings. It costs £30.70 at the time of writing and has more than 2,200 reviews.

The range is the selling point. If you drill and tap, or fit hardware that needs a particular clearance, the intermediate sizes save you from going up a size and living with a sloppy hole. It sits neatly between the Bosch and the DeWalt on price and on quality.

Pros: Wide size range in half-millimetre steps, respected brand, mid-range price.

Cons: Stops at 10mm, so you will need separate bits for larger holes.

Best for: Anyone who drills and taps, or needs accurate clearance holes.

The Best Drill Bit Sets for Masonry

Bosch Professional CYL-3 7-Piece Set

This is one of the best-selling masonry sets on Amazon UK, with nearly 20,000 reviews, and it costs £16.37 at the time of writing. The set runs from 4mm to 10mm and uses carbide-tipped bits designed for concrete, brick and block in a hammer drill.

On real jobs, the bits hold their cutting edge well in brick and standard block, and they clear dust efficiently. Used in a hammer drill at a steady pace with the dust cleared out regularly, they will do plenty of holes before they need replacing. For heavier concrete work, or anything over about 10mm, you are better off switching to SDS Plus, which is covered in our SDS Plus drill bit set guide.

Pros: Excellent reviews, covers the common sizes, low price.

Cons: Not for large-diameter holes or reinforced concrete.

Best for: Fixing brackets, plugs and anchors in brick and block with a hammer drill.

DeWalt DT6956 5-Piece Masonry Set

A cheap, compact set at £10.67 with over 400 reviews. It is not as comprehensive as the Bosch set, but the DeWalt name on the bit means consistent quality, and a five-piece set is easy to keep in a tool pouch. We would not use it as your only masonry set, but it makes a useful spare to keep in the van or second bag.

Pros: Very cheap, small enough for a pouch, good brand.

Cons: Fewer sizes than the Bosch set.

Best for: A spare masonry set for the van or a second bag.

The Best Drill Bit Set for Wood

Irwin Blue Groove 4X Flat Bit Set, 17-Piece

For wood, flat bits are the quickest way to cut large holes for cables and pipes through joists, studs and noggins. The Irwin Blue Groove 17-piece set costs £31.49 at the time of writing. The bits are made to cut quickly through softwood and sheet materials.

Flat bits are rough on the exit side of the hole, so clamp a scrap piece behind the timber or drill from both sides if finish matters. For first fix, where holes are hidden under floorboards and plasterboard, the speed is what you are paying for.

Pros: Wide range of sizes, fast cutting in softwood.

Cons: Rough exit holes; not for fine joinery.

Best for: First-fix electricians and plumbers drilling through joists and studs.

How to Make Drill Bits Last

Most bits die from heat, not wear. Run HSS at a moderate speed with light, steady pressure rather than leaning on the drill, and use a few drops of cutting oil on steel. Back the bit out regularly in deep holes to clear swarf. With masonry, switch the drill to hammer, let the bit do the work, and pull it out now and then to clear the dust, because a clogged hole generates heat that will soften the carbide braze.

Keep your sets in their cases and put bits back after use. Loose bits in a bag knock their tips against each other, and the sharp edge goes before you have drilled a single hole.

FAQs

What is the best drill bit set for a tradesperson?

There is no single set. For general trade use, pair the Bosch PointTeQ 25-piece for metal with the Bosch CYL-3 for masonry and add flat bits if you work in timber. If you drill steel all day, step up to the DeWalt Extreme 2.

Can I use one set for metal, wood and masonry?

You can use HSS bits in wood, but not in masonry. Mixed sets exist, but they compromise on each material. You will get better results and longer life from buying a dedicated set for each.

What does HSS-G mean?

HSS-G is high speed steel with ground flutes. Grinding gives a sharper, more accurate cutting edge than rolled bits and helps the bit start without walking.

Are expensive drill bits worth it?

If you use them every day, yes. A premium bit costs more per piece but lasts longer, cuts faster and saves time on the job. If you drill occasionally, a mid-range set like the Bosch PointTeQ is enough.

Do I need SDS Plus bits instead of masonry bits?

If you have an SDS drill and regularly drill concrete or holes over 10mm, yes. SDS Plus bits are designed for hammer action and hold up far better in tough material. For occasional fixings with a standard hammer drill, round-shank masonry bits are fine.

Final Thoughts

Buy by material and buy the best you can reasonably afford for the work you do most. A decent metal set, a decent masonry set and a flat bit set will cover almost any job, and none of them cost the earth. Look after them and they will earn their keep many times over.