Best Steel Drill Bits for 2023: Top 10 Picks

Sometimes it might be quite difficult to find the best steel drill bits. With every niche market offering so many different products, it makes sense that this is the case.

Unfortunately, this very fact can make it incredibly difficult to find the item that best suits your needs, which is why we’ve put together this steel drill bits buying guide.

Our Favorites:

Our Favorite Steel Drill Bits Reviews:

SaleBestseller No. 1
DEWALT Titanium Nitride Coated Drill Bit Set, Pilot Point, 21-Piece (DW1361)
  • DEWALT drill bit set has connectable accessory storage system to optimize storage space
  • Patented bit-bar design of the drill bits set allows easy removal of bits and customizable placement
  • Clear lid of the Titanium Nitride Coated drill bit set allows you to easily see contents at glance
  • Clip latch for secure closing
  • Small Bulk Storage size fits inside the Small and Medium ToughCase plus (sold separately) - Ideal for organizing loose bits
SaleBestseller No. 2
DEWALT Drill Bit Set, Titanium Nitride Coated, 14-Piece (DW1354) , Yellow
  • Connectable accessory storage system to optimize storage space of the drill bits for wood, metal and plastic
  • Patented bit-bar design of the drill bits allows easy removal of bits and customizable placement
  • Clear lid allows you to easily see contents at glance
  • DEWALT drill bit set comes with clip latch for secure closing
  • Small Bulk Storage size fits inside the Small and Medium ToughCase plus (sold separately) - Ideal for organizing loose bits
SaleBestseller No. 3
DEWALT Drill Bit Set, Black and Gold, 14-Piece (DWA1184)
  • 135 Degree Split point tip design to help reduce walking
  • High Speed Steel to be used in plastic, wood, and metal
  • Tapered web design for extreme durability and resisting breakage
  • Black and gold coating to help prevent rust and wear
  • 3-Flats shank to reduce spin-out in the chuck
SaleBestseller No. 4
BOSCH CO14B 14-Piece Cobalt M42 Metal Drill Bit Assorted Set
  • Cobalt M42 drill bit – provides upgraded M42 Cobalt jobber-length bits designed for durability, high heat resistance and Hardened surface for stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, light-gauge metal and aluminum
  • Enhanced M42 alloy material – contains 8% Cobalt alloy that delivers 10x life vs. Standard bits
  • High-heat resistant bits – withstand high-temperature applications for extended periods of time
  • Thick web-helix design – provides additional stability in tough applications
  • Surface-hardened tip – penetrates tough abrasive materials
Bestseller No. 5
Cobalt Drill Bits for Metal and Steel - 13 Piece Set in SAE Sizes (1/16" - 1/4") M35 Fully Grounded 5% Cobalt - Plastic Storage Case Included
  • SET OF 13 COBALT DRILL BITS - In the following imperial sizes 1/4", 15/64", 7/32", 13/64", 3/16", 11/64", 5/32", 9/64", 1/8", 7/64", 3/32", 5/64", 1/16"
  • M35, Fully Ground, 135° Split Point - Our Drill Bits Contain 5% Cobalt, Are Fully Grounded for a Precision Drilling Diameter. 135° Split Point Design Makes it Easier to Drill Repeated Holes in Harder Materials.
  • PLASTIC STORAGE CASE INCLUDED - Incredibly Tough and Durable Plastic Case. Perfect for Keeping Your Cobalt Drill Bits Neatly Organized and Safe.
  • COBALT DRILL BITS ARE THE PERFECT DRILL BITS FOR METAL - As well as other hard materials such as Stainless Steel, Hardened Steel, Cast Iron, Bronze, Titanium, and More!
  • LIFETIME GUARANTEE - Here at Owl Tools (USA Based Company) we only care about your satisfaction. We try our best to ensure each product is in perfect condition before you get it, but if something is not up to your satisfaction, please contact us for a full refund or replacement.
SaleBestseller No. 6
GMTOOLS 29Pcs Cobalt Drill Bits Set, M35 High Speed Steel, 135 Degree Tip, Twist Jobber Length Drill Bit Kit for Hardened Metal, Cast Iron, Stainless Steel, Plastic and Wood with Metal Indexed Storage Case 1/16"-1/2"
  • Perfect Drill Bits: Precision grinding process for a clean surface and high grinding accuracy. Universal round drill shank, widely applicable of tool holding systems and tightly clamped
  • 135° Split Point & Twist Design: The 135 degree fast cutting point is automatically centered and penetrates quickly with less pressure, reducing walking, fully ground drill bit with sharp and durable cutting edge. Twist design for clear chips faster
  • Enhanced M35 Alloy Material: These drill bits contain 5% Cobalt alloy steel, which increases wear resistance and durability. Industry grade 6542 high speed steel drill bit set, harder than 4241 HSS used in other similar drill bits set
  • Set Includes: 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32, 11/64, 3/16, 13/64, 7/32, 15/64, 1/4, 17/64, 9/32, 19/64, 5/16, 21/64, 11/32, 23/64, 3/8, 25/64, 13/32, 27/64, 7/16, 29/64, 15/32, 31/64 and 1/2 inch bits; Comes in metal indexed storage case for easy storage
  • QUALITY COMMITMENT: If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We provide 30-day money back. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for risk-free shopping!
SaleBestseller No. 7
COMOWARE Step Drill Bit Set & Automatic Center Punch- Unibit, Titanium Coated, Double Cutting Blades, High Speed Steel, Short Length Drill Bits Set of 5 pcs, Total 50 Sizes with Aluminum Case
  • HSS Titanium Coating - High speed steel along with titanium coating ensures outstanding durability and sharpness, can reduces the friction, runs cooler.
  • Meet Your Demands - With the step drill bits we offered, you can process different kinds of diameter holes, which greatly saves you a lot of trouble.Great for metal/wood/plastic countersunk. Suitable for Home DIY, and General Building/Engineering Use.
  • Design - The split point tip is at 118 degrees to increase the wear resistance. The two flute design provides a smoother cutting, allows the material particles escape easily for a much more clean drilling operation.
  • Easy Organizing - A drill bits holder with size index is included in the metal kit for easy storage and organizing without fear of it falling out.
  • Set Includes - The drill bits set includes five common sizes for versatility, can fit the majority of brands currently on the market.
SaleBestseller No. 8
Neiko 10193A Titanium Step Bits, Unibit Set, 28 Sizes, High Speed Steel, Standard (SAE) Step Drill Bit Set, Step Bits for Metal. Unibit Step Drill Bits, Industrial Unibit
  • REPLACES 28 DRILL BITS: This set includes three standard SAE step drill bits that replace 28 individual drill bits allowing for you to spend more time working, than swapping out drill bits.
  • TITANIUM COATED HSS UNIBIT: Made of high-speed steel with titanium coating for added durability and bit life. Suitable to drill though plastic, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and many other types of sheet metal.
  • SMOOTH DRILLING ACTION: Two-flute spiral design provides faster, smoother cutting without walking and a tri-flat shank to ensure a firm grip. Our titanium 2 step bits for metal are perfect for all your DIY, general building, and engineering tasks.
  • COMPLETE STEP DRILL BIT SET: Comes with one 3/16-inch to 1/2-inch six-step bit, 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch nine-step bit, and 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch 13-step bit
  • STEP BIT SET CUTS AND DEBURRS: Cuts through steel, sheet metal and other surfaces with only a small amount of pressure and deburrs as you drill. Our unibit step drill bit is compatible with most drills on the market.
Bestseller No. 9
Sabre Tools 5/16 Inch Cobalt Drill Bits – 5pcs Drill Bits for Metal, M35 Cobalt Metal Drill Bit Set, Pilot Point Tip – Heavy-Duty Drill Bits for Steel, Hard Metal, Cast Iron (5/16" x 4-1/2")
  • What You Get: This drill bit set for metal includes 5 – 5/16 Inch x 4-1/2 Inch bits of the same size.
  • A Must in Your Tool Box: This cobalt drill bit set is designed to surpass your expectations in terms of durability and performance, ensuring fast and easy penetration through hard metals.
  • Heavy-Duty Material: Our drill bits for hardened steel feature a heavy-duty construction made with M35 cobalt, which has excellent durability and superior resistance against abrasion and high heat.
  • Pilot Point Tip: These cobalt drill bits feature a pilot point tip that prevents slipping and can help increase drilling speed while ensuring smooth and easy penetration through hard metals.
  • Wide Range of Applications: Our cobalt drill bits for hardened steel are suitable for hard metals, stainless steel, cast iron, steel, titanium alloy, hard plastics and more, and a wide range of applications such as repair, construction, or woodworking.
SaleBestseller No. 10
DEWALT DWA1181 21-Piece Set Black Oxide Coated Hss Twist Drill Bit Set
  • DEWALT 21-pack black oxide twist drill bit set is ideal for general-purpose drilling materials like metal, hardwood, softwood, PVC and fiberglass
  • Parabolic flute design increases chip ejection in metal and wood drilling applications
  • Black oxide coating helps resist corrosion and increase durability, so your drill bits last longer
  • 135° Split-point tips drill on contact and prevents walking on the hard surface you’re working on
  • 31° Helix reduces over aggressiveness of true parabolic flute, making it ideal for drilling deep holes

Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to find the best steel drill bits?

Here, we’ll be going over a number of factors that you can use to ensure that you’re purchasing the best steel drill bits for you.

Regardless of which type of item you’re looking to buy, chances are that there are existing buying guides on the internet, all of which aim to give you good steel drill bits recommendations.

Despite these recommendations, however, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. In addition to this research, asking yourself the following questions is also super helpful:

  • What features does the steel drill bits need to have to be perfect for my needs?
  • What is my budget?
  • Do I need to purchase a certain brand?

Once you’ve answered these questions and have a good idea of what you’re looking for and the buying process becomes much easier. Keep in mind that when looking for the best product, there’s no need to rush. In fact, very rarely are the ideal products found by choosing the first one you see or by basing your decisions on only one factor. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Now, with the answers to the previous questions in mind, we urge you to use our upcoming buying guide for steel drill bits to find what you’re looking for:

Brand

In some cases, the brand of steel drill bits is very important. For example, if you’re looking for an item that works in tandem with another, you might very well need both products to be the same brand. If this is the case, it’s vital to pay attention to this factor, as choosing the wrong product can mean the difference between wasting your money and buying a great product that functions as it should.

Features

The features in any given steel drill bits are important because they can dictate which version of an item you need and how much money you need to spend. Consider all the key features that you want your item to have and don’t settle for anything that doesn’t check at least ¾ of your boxes.

Reviews

Customer reviews about steel drill bits are crucial – especially when you’re buying a product that costs a lot of money or serves a big importance. Luckily, most products can be found online, which means that it’s common for there to be scores of customer reviews from those who have already purchased any given product.

Pay attention to these reviews. Take note of the pros and cons that they mention, and factor these into your big decision. In some cases, you’ll be forced to sacrifice one con in order to gain a particular pro, but being aware of the potential con is going to be beneficial in either case.

Quality

Of course, quality is key. You don’t want to purchase a low-quality product. If you do, you run the risk of your item breaking, not working properly, or otherwise proving to be very disappointing, as well as a waste of money.

You can compare steel drill bits quality by researching what your potential purchases are made from, contrasting the individual items against each other to discern which one is made of the best materials.

Warranty

Warranty isn’t always going to be important, but it definitely can be. This is especially true if the item in question is tech-related or expensive. A good warranty will be valid for an extended time after purchase and cover a variety of problems ranging from item defects to random accidents, water damage, and other miscellaneous events that could ruin your product.

Conclusion

The quest to find the best steel drill bits can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. It can be made much easier by asking yourself a few simple questions and then thinking critically about the items you want to buy. Consider their features, quality, brand, warranty, and customer reviews and you’re more likely to make a great purchase.