Best Drill Bits 2026: HSS and Titanium Bit Sets Compared

The DEWALT 14-piece drill bit set addresses the two most common drill bit frustrations: wandering on metal surfaces and slipping in the chuck. The 135-degree split point eliminates the need to center-punch before drilling metal, and the cutting geometry produces cleaner entry holes in both metal and wood. The three-flat shank grips the chuck positively at high torque. The 14 pieces cover sizes from 1/16 to 1/2 inch in the most commonly needed fractional steps -- the gap in the set is the very small bit sizes below 3/32 inch, which most homeowners never need. DEWALT quality control at this price tier is consistent and the case organization is practical. At $15 this is an obvious choice over bargain bits that dull within a few sessions.

The Amazon Basics multi-bit set combines drill bits with a selection of driver bits (Phillips, flathead, Torx, hex) in a single organized case, which is practical for homeowners who need both capabilities and want one storage location. The drill bits are standard HSS, which is adequate for occasional wood and plastic drilling. For metal drilling at any frequency, the DEWALT split-point bits are a better choice. The driver bits are the real value-add here -- a complete selection for driving screws eliminates the need to keep track of separate bit sets. At $25 for the combination set, this is a reasonable all-in-one solution for homeowners with occasional drilling and driving needs rather than regular shop or renovation work.

This 29-piece M35 cobalt HSS set fills the middle position between the budget DEWALT 14-piece and the premium IRWIN cobalt set on this page — cobalt construction for metalworking capability at a lower price than the IRWIN 3018002. M35 cobalt steel (5 percent cobalt alloyed throughout) resists heat buildup during extended drilling in hardened steel, stainless, and cast iron, which causes standard titanium-coated HSS bits to soften and lose their edge within a few holes. The 29-piece size range covers metalworking tasks from small-diameter pilot holes through 1/2-inch diameters for structural fastener clearances. Storage case with labeled slots keeps all 29 sizes accessible and organized. The honest trade-off versus the IRWIN set on this page is quality control consistency. IRWIN manufactures to tighter tolerances with more consistent heat treatment across production batches — the cobalt content distribution and point geometry on IRWIN bits are more uniform from bit to bit. Off-brand cobalt sets from unspecified manufacturers have variable grind angles and cobalt distribution that can lead to some bits performing significantly better or worse than others in the same set. At $56.99 versus $155.99 for the IRWIN, the price difference is significant. For a metalworker who needs cobalt bits and cannot justify the IRWIN investment, this set is a reasonable alternative — just use slower speeds, consistent pressure, and cutting fluid on hardened materials to protect the edges.

The DeWalt DW1361 titanium pilot point set is the value choice on this page for general-purpose drilling — the right set for a buyer who primarily drills wood, plastic, aluminum, and mild steel and wants a complete 21-piece set with DeWalt quality control at a mid-range price. The pilot point tip is the differentiating feature: it contacts the work surface with a small centered geometry before the full cutting diameter engages, preventing the bit from skating on smooth metal or skipping off wood grain. For everyday tasks — pilot holes for wood screws, wall anchor holes, hardware clearance holes, electrical box cutouts — the pilot point makes each hole start cleaner and faster than a standard 118-degree general-purpose tip. On this page alongside the Amazon Basics set, the off-brand cobalt set, and the IRWIN cobalt set, the DW1361 occupies the accurate value position: not suitable for hardened or stainless steel, but significantly more capable and consistent than the Amazon Basics set for sustained use, and about one-third the price of the IRWIN cobalt when hardened steel drilling is not a requirement. Titanium nitride coating extends edge life beyond standard black oxide and bare HSS, though the coating does wear with heavy use and does not regenerate — once worn through, the underlying HSS is exposed. For a homeowner or contractor who drills wood and light metal regularly, the DW1361 is the practical everyday set on this page.

The IRWIN 3018002 M35 cobalt set is the premium recommendation on this page for metalworking — the set to buy when the project involves hardened steel bolts, stainless fasteners, cast iron, or any material that destroys standard HSS bits within a few holes. IRWIN manufacturing quality distinguishes this set from the off-brand cobalt option on this page: consistent cobalt distribution through the steel, precise 135-degree split-point geometry ground to tighter tolerances, and quality control that ensures the cutting characteristics labeled on the index are reliable across all 29 pieces. The integral cobalt does not wear off as a coating would — the full M35 alloy from tip to shank means the heat-resistance and hardness of cobalt drilling apply for the entire useful life of each bit. At $155.99, the IRWIN cobalt set costs three times the off-brand cobalt set and more than three times the DeWalt titanium set on this page. That price makes sense specifically for metalworking: a professional machinist, fabricator, or HVAC installer who regularly bores through stainless sheet metal, hardened structural fasteners, or automotive cast iron will recoup that investment quickly in bits that do not dull after five holes. For a homeowner who encounters hardened steel once a year — cutting a bolt or drilling a broken screw — buying individual cobalt bits in the needed size is more economical. The IRWIN set earns its position as the top recommendation for anyone for whom metalworking is a regular part of the workflow.