Best Drill Bits
What are the Best Drill Bits for Metal, Masonry & Most Materials?
To find out what are the best drill bits, we carried out several tests including drill bit durability tests and drilling speed tests. There are many different types of drill bits available. We tested the new Adiseal Ultimate drill bits against the best metal drill bits and best masonry drill bits from top brands including products from DeWalt, Bosch, Makita and Milwaukee.
Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bits and masonry drill bits were found to be the best drill bits in our tests. They were found to be the most durable in our tests, drilling more holes than the competitor drill bits. They also drilled faster than any other drill bit in the drilling speed tests.
Best metal drill bit test procedure
To find out what the best metal drill bit is, we carried out a series of tests with drill bits from several different brands such as Milwaukee Cobalt Red, DeWalt Extreme, Bosch Cobalt, and Makita along with the new Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit. Using a Scheppach DP60 drill press, the test was to drill as many 10mm holes as possible in 6mm thick stainless steel (SUS304). To conduct a fair and accurate test, the we set the drill press to maintain a consistent speed of 400 rpm. We also attached a 5kg weight to the drill press arm during each hole’s drilling, maintaining uniform force and RPM for fairness.
For wear resistance testing purposes, the drilling was carried out without lubricants, coolants, or cutting oils, although these can help reduce the bit’s temperature and extend its lifespan. The drilling processes were video recorded and timed using video timestamps.
The results of the test showed the new Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit emerged as the clear winner, surpassing all competitors in both the number of holes drilled and the time taken to drill each hole. Below is a table of the results.
Best metal drill bit durability test results
| 10mm metal cobalt drill bit | Total number of holes drilled (in 6mm stainless steel) |
| Adiseal Ultimate cobalt | 135 holes |
| Milwaukee cobalt red | 75 holes |
| DeWalt Extreme cobalt | 39 holes |
| Bosch cobalt | 15 holes |
| Makita cobalt | 12 holes |
Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit drilled 135 holes in total which was 9 times more holes than the best metal cobalt drill bit from Bosch (which only managed 15 holes in total). It also drilled more than 3 times the number of holes than the best DeWalt metal cobalt drill bit (which managed 39 holes in total). Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bits was easily the most durable metal drill bit.
Best metal drill bit speed test results
Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit also outperformed all other metal drill bits in terms of drilling speed. With the same test as before, we also measured the time it took to drill each hole. We worked out the average of the first 10 holes and listed the results in the table below. The Adiseal Ultimate metal bit consistently drilled holes significantly faster than any other bit, demonstrating its exceptional efficiency and time-saving capabilities.
| 10mm metal cobalt drill bit | Average time to drill each hole (in 6mm stainless steel) for first 10 holes |
| Adiseal Ultimate cobalt | 31.7 seconds |
| DeWalt Extreme cobalt | 38.5 seconds |
| Milwaukee cobalt | 55.8 seconds |
| Makita cobalt | 69.9 seconds |
| Bosch cobalt | 132.4 seconds |
Adiseal Ultimate at an average of 31.7 seconds per hole, was over 4 times faster than the best cobalt metal drill bit from Bosch which took on average 132.4 seconds per hole.
Please note, these are our test results from internal testing. We have recorded a video of each hole being drilled. These videos are available on request for your test accuracy verification purposes.
Several non-cobalt metal drill bits like the Milwaukee Thunderweb, were also tested but excluded from the chart for fairness purposes. The non-cobalt Bosch PointTeq metal drill bit did not manage to drill any holes in the 6mm thick stainless steel SUS304 in our tests.
Best value for money drill bit
A more durable drill bit with longer life can be more value for money as they can drill more holes, overall costing less per hole. Cheaper drill bits may end up costing more money over time if they wear out quickly and drill fewer holes than longer lasting bits. Calculate the cost per hole by dividing the drill bit’s price by the total number of holes drilled. Cheaper bits might actually have a higher cost per hole than more durable ones. In our test, Bosch PointTeQ’s non-cobalt bit failed to drill any holes, while the Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit successfully drilled 135 holes in total.
Example of cost per hole
To compare costs, let’s consider drilling 10 holes in 6mm stainless steel with the Adiseal Ultimate and the best Bosch cobalt drill bits.
Adiseal Ultimate 10mm metal drill bit price: £10.14
Cost per hole (£10.14 / 135 holes): £0.076666
Cost to drill 10 holes with Adiseal Ultimate metal cobalt: £0.77
Bosch cobalt metal drill bit price: £8.31
Cost per hole (£8.31 / 15 holes): £0.554
Cost to drill 10 holes Bosch metal cobalt: £5.54
Difference: £5.54 / £0.77 = 7.19
As can be seen in the calculation above, it is over 7 times more expensive to drill each hole with the best metal cobalt drill bit from Bosch compared to Adiseal Ultimate metal cobalt drill bit. Based on cost per hole, Adiseal is more value for money. We have not even included the extra savings that can be made on the energy required to drill each hole.
Other advantages of the Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit include bigger chip removal and cleaner cut holes compared to the competitor bits.
Materials
Adiseal Ultimate best cobalt metal drill bit is also suitable at drilling many other materials including:
- Stainless steel
- Hardened steel
- Metal
- Aluminum
- Bronze
- Brass
- Copper
- Cast iron
- Plain carbon steel
- Wood
- Plastic
- Fiberglass
- Plus many other materials
Best masonry drill bit
Drilling into abrasive materials like concrete can wear out drill bits, especially if they are not durable. It can also take some time and energy to drill into.
The Adiseal Ultimate range also includes the fastest no-hammer masonry drill bit and multi-material drill bit. It was found to be the best masonry drill bit in our tests. It had the fastest drilling speed when drilling without hammer function on the drill. Drilling without hammer function provides numerous advantages over hammer drilling including:
- lower noise
- lower vibration damage
- less chance of breaking the substrate
Adiseal Ultimate carbide masonry drill bit can drill into brick, concrete, wood, cinder block, plaster and many other building materials. Adiseal Ultimate carbide drill bit has been demonstrated to be the best heavy duty masonry drill bit with a hex shank.
What materials can these drill bits drill
Adiseal Ultimate best masonry drill bit & multi-material drill bit can drill into many different materials including:
- Brick
- Concrete
- Stone
- Tile
- Ceramic
- Marble
- Wood
- Plastic
- Fiberglass
- Plasterboard
- Cement board
- Cinder block
- Plus many other building materials
Where to buy drill bits for metal
In the UK to buy the best metal drill bits or to buy the best masonry drill bits, please contact us for details of your local stockist. For other countries, please visit www.guglue.com
Frequently asked questions about the best drill bits
The toughest drill bits are crafted from carbide, a highly durable and wear-resistant material. Typically employed for drilling into tough materials like metal, concrete, and stone, carbide drill bits also excel in precision drilling due to their ability to maintain a sharp edge over prolonged use.
For thick steel drilling, the best option is a cobalt drill bit. Made from a durable alloy of cobalt, tungsten, and chromium, cobalt drill bits excel in hard material drilling such as steel, cast iron, and stainless steel. Their high heat tolerance is essential for thick steel drilling, as the process generates considerable friction and heat.
The hardest masonry drill bits are typically crafted from tungsten carbide, renowned for its extreme hardness and durability. Tungsten carbide surpasses the materials it drills into, like concrete, brick, and stone, making it ideal for prolonged use without premature wear or breakage.
Carbide drill bits are known for their outstanding strength and durability, ideal for heavy-duty drilling. Crafted from a blend of tungsten and carbon, they offer remarkable hardness and wear resistance, making them perfect for drilling into tough materials such as metal, concrete, and stone.
Cobalt drill bits excel in drilling hard materials, offering durability and wear resistance. On the other hand, HSS drill bits are versatile and cost-effective, making them suitable for a broader range of drilling tasks.
Adiseal Ultimate drill bits surpass Makita drill bits in various tests. The Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit drilled 135 holes in stainless steel, while the Makita metal drill bit managed only 12 holes. Moreover, the Adiseal Ultimate metal drill bit exhibited more than double the speed of the Makita drill bit when drilling into 6mm thick stainless steel (SUS304).
Suhail Matadar
Suhail Matadar has extensive experience in the construction industry as an electrician, involved in installing, inspecting, and testing electrical systems in various projects. He excelled in sales, working for a major UK wholesaler, selling construction products to professionals and the DIY market. Suhail's background includes working at a leading home emergency repair company dealing with trades people. With a BEng (Hons) degree in Electronic Engineering, Suhail has worked with PLCs in the nuclear fuel manufacturing industry. During his studies, he gained practical experience at a chemical manufacturing company known for producing award-winning cleaning, hygiene, and livestock protection products for over a century. Currently, Suhail runs a global business specialising in supplying, researching, testing, and distributing chemical construction products like adhesives and sealants.