
Why do drill bits come in different sizes?
This reflects both the smaller drilled hole diameter tolerance possible on smaller holes and the wishes of designers to have drill bit sizes available within at most 10% of an arbitrary hole size. The price and availability of particular size bits does not change uniformly across the size range.
What are the different types of drill bits?
As you will learn, there are numerous types of drill bits, each with their own specific use, and each type comes in many sizes. 1. Drill Bit Set A standard drill bit set consists of several twist bits in consecutive sizes, ranging from 1/16 of an inch up to 1/2 inch in size.
What size of drill bit do I need for a hole?
Paddle bits generally range in size from about one inch up to two or 2 1/2 inches. Holes larger than that typically require a sturdier bit. 3. Hole Saws
Are drill bits the same in every country?
In nearly all other countries, metric drill bit sizes are most common, and all others are anachronisms or are reserved for dealing with designs from the US. The British Standards on replacing gauge size drill bits with metric sizes in the UK was first published in 1959.

Does drill bit length matter?
The shorter length also allows them to be more resistant to breakage, making them ideal for drilling into harder materials and hard metal drilling.
What are the 3 types of sizes of drill bits?
Types of Drill Bits1/16″5/64″3/32″7/64″1/8″9/64″
Are drill bits different sizes?
Bit size reflects the diameter of the body. Some projects call for specific drill bit sizes, but a bit set that includes sizes from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch will work for many jobs around the home and workshop. You can add larger bits — 5/16-inch, 3/8-inch, 7/16-inch and 1/2-inch bits — if you need them.
How long are mechanics length drill bits?
Fractional Inch + 135 ° Drill Bit Point Angle + Split PointDrill Bit SizeDecimal EquivalentOverall Length5/64 in0.07812 in3/32 in0.09382.25 in3/32 in0.09382.25 in7/64 in0.10942.375 in39 more rows
How do I know what size drill bit to use?
How to Choose Drill Bits by SizeUse a bit 1/64” smaller than the target hole size for softwoods.Use a bit exactly the same size as the hole when working on other materials.If you're not sure which to select, choose a drill bit 1/64” larger than the hole you wish to create.
How do I know the size of my drill bit?
Typical drill bits have markings somewhere on the shank above the threads. It's small, but it usually has the drill-bit diameter stamped into the metal; the number is written in fractions. For example, the markings may read: 1/4-inch, 3/6-inch or 25/32.
Do any drill bits fit any drill?
No, not all drill bits fit in all drills. 3/8” sized drills will accept up to 3/8” drill bit shafts. ½” sized drills will accept up to ½” drill bit shafts as well as and 3/8” sized bits.
What are the 5 types of drill bits?
Drill bits are designed to drill holes in a variety of different common materials. These include different types of wood, metal, plastic, ceramic tile, porcelain and concrete.
Do all drill bits fit all drills nails?
Are nail bits universal? Any 3/32 in. in diameter shank nail bit will only work with nail drills that accept 3/32 shanks and 1/8 in. in diameter shank nail bits can only work with nail drills that use 1/8 in.
What are screw machine length drill bits?
Screw Machine Drill Bits (also know as stub or stubby drills) are shorter than standard length Jobber Length Drill Bits. The shorter rugged construction performs well in a broad range of materials. They come in a wide range of sizes, finishes and materials such as High Speed Steel, Cobalt and Solid Carbide.
What is flute length of drill bit?
Flute Length - This is basically the span of the flutes on the drill bit, from the leading edge of the cutting tip just to the end of where the flutes taper out. Flutes - Flutes are the sharp slots that corkscrew upwards along the length of a drill bit.
What does jobber length mean?
The Wikipedia defines jobber-length bits as those for which the length of the flute (the twisted part) is 10 times the diameter of the bit. Thus, a 0.25-inch drill bit should have a flute length of 2.5 inches.
What are the 5 types of drill bits?
Drill bits are designed to drill holes in a variety of different common materials. These include different types of wood, metal, plastic, ceramic tile, porcelain and concrete.
What size is a 3/16 drill bit?
Drill Bit Hole DiametersMetric SizeFractional Size1 mm.03945/322 mm.078711/643 mm.11813/1677 more rows
What size is a number 2 drill bit?
Downloadable versions:Drill sizeDiameter (in)Diameter (mm)2 mm0.07872.0000#460.08102.0574#450.08202.08282.1 mm0.08272.1000147 more rows
What is a number 5 drill bit?
#5 drill bit = 0.2055 inches 0.2055 decimal as a fraction is 411/2000. However, standard fractional drill bits come in intervals of 1/64 inches. Therefore, there are no standard fractional drill bits that are the exact 411/2000 fraction that the #5 drill bit is.
What size drill bits are available?
The price and availability of particular size bits does not change uniformly across the size range. Bits at size increments of 1 mm are most commonly available, and lowest price. Sets of bits in 1 mm increments might be found on a market stall. In 0.5 mm increments, any hardware store. In 0.1 mm increments, any engineers' store. Sets are not commonly available in smaller size increments, except for drill bits below 1 mm diameter. Drill bits of the less routinely used sizes, such as 2.55 mm, would have to be ordered from a specialist drill bit supplier. This subsetting of standard sizes is in contrast to general practice with number gauge drill bits, where it is rare to find a set on the market which does not contain every gauge.
What is the most common drill bit size?
In the U.S., fractional inch and gauge drill bit sizes are in common use. In nearly all other countries, metric drill bit sizes are most common, and all others are anachronisms or are reserved for dealing with designs from the US. The British Standards on replacing gauge size drill bits with metric size s in the UK was first published in 1959.
What size drill bit should I use for straight shank?
ANSI B94.11M-1979 sets size standards for jobber-length straight-shank twist drill bits from 1/64 inch through 1 inch in 1/64 inch increments. For Morse taper -shank drill bits, the standard continues in 1/64 inch increments up to 1¾ inch, then 1/32 inch increments up to 2¼ inch, 1/16 inch increments up to 3 inches, 1/8 inch increments up to 3¼ inches, and a single 1/4 inch increment to 3½ inches. One aspect of this method of sizing is that the size increment between drill bits becomes larger as bit sizes get smaller: 100% for the step from 1/64 to 1/32, but a much smaller percentage between 1 47/64 and 1 3/4.
What is fractional drill bit?
Fractional-inch drill bit sizes. Fractional drill bit set by Craftsman. Fractional-inch drill bit sizes are still in common use in the United States and in any factory (around the globe) that makes inch-sized products for the U.S. market.
What is a jobber drill?
The term jobber refers to a wholesale distributor —a person or company that buys from manufacturers and sells to retailers. Manufacturers producing drill bits "for the trade" (as opposed to for specialized machining applications with particular length and design requirements) made ones of medium length suitable for a wide variety of jobs, because that was the type most desirable for general distribution. Thus, at the time that the name of jobber-length drill bits became common, it reflected the same concept that names like general-purpose and multipurpose reflect.
What is the tolerance for smaller drill bits?
In smaller sizes, bits are available in smaller diameter increments. This reflects both the smaller drilled hole diameter tolerance possible on smaller holes and the wishes of designers to have drill bit sizes available within at most 10% of an arbitrary hole size.
What is a drill bit?
Drill bits are the cutting tools of drilling machines. They can be made in any size to order, but standards organizations have defined sets of sizes that are produced routinely by drill bit manufacturers and stocked by distributors.
What is the measurement of drill bits?
Drill bits are available in different materials, lengths, and diameters. Most are measured by the metric units and in the USA it’s imperial units. Drill bit diameter is the most important factor in the drilling process and it should know precisely as much as possible to sharpen or tolerate the diameter.
How many mm is 1 inch?
1 inch is equal to 25.4 mm. By dividing the inches other fractions are introduced. Inches are really popular in the USA but beyond that mostly used the SI units. So we have to interchange the metric units and imperial units.
What material is used for twist drill bits?
Carbon steel is another material of choice for twist drill bits. However, it is not as durable, which is why you might want to stick to drilling timber with it. If you want to work on metals, consider using bits with a coating made of titanium nitride.
How big is a drill bill?
While versatility is not their strongest suit, they are an affordable and reliable choice for drilling timber. They are usually not larger than ten millimeters, and they are easy to work with because of their construction.
Why do you need to wear goggles when sharpening a bit?
However, you need to be careful while working because it produces a lot of fragments and debris. That is why it is important to wear goggles and other protective equipment. You can sharpen the bit by using a grindstone or oilstone, and the process is not demanding.
Why do we call drill bits step and cone?
That is why the step drill bit got its name after its appearance that reminds of shapes. If you move your finger from the top of the drill, it will be like you are coming down the stairs.
Why are spur point bits raised?
You will notice that the spur point bit has multiple spurs on the top. They are raised to help you keep a straight direction during the drilling process. That is what makes this tool suitable for newbies and those who don’t have much drilling experience.
What type of bit to use for cutting metal?
The type of material it can cut will depend on how well the drill constructed. You can choose high-speed steel (HSS) bit , which can withstand extreme temperatures, and that makes it suitable for various applications. These are great for cutting metal and other tough applications.
What materials can you use bits on?
As the word suggests, you use these bits on masonry materials. They can handle stone, concrete, brick, and other applications because their construction is durable and sturdy.
What are the different types of drill bits?
The different types of drill bits include, but are not limited to, wood, masonry, and metal drill bits. The names of these pieces reflect the kinds of materials that they are most ideal for drilling into.
What size drill bit is heavy duty?
The larger drill bits that go up to 1/2 inch measurements, on the other hand, are considered to be heavy duty. These are the drill bits that you will use when you are trying to cut through the more solid and durable materials.
What is a 3/8 inch drill bit?
Take a 3/8 inch drill bit, for example. These types of drill bits are considered to be light duty, meaning that they are not used for drilling through strong and extra durable materials like another type of drill bit would be.
Why aren't all drill bits universal?
Another reason why all drill bits are not considered to be universal among any type of drill is the fact that different drilling tasks will require different shapes, sizes, and strengths of drill bits.
What is a small drill bit used for?
Smaller drill bits can be used for the normal day to day tasks, whether you are a homeowner making small cosmetic repairs or you work in a repair shop and frequently need to put your power drill to use for everyday projects.
Where is the shank on a drill bit?
This can be found on the opposite side of the sharp end of the bit, and is the area that is directly connected to the actual drill.
Can you buy a drill bit that is different size?
If you ever happen to need a different size drill bit that did not come with your accessory package, you will be able to purchase the correct size from anywhere and use it, as long as the size of the shaft permits.
What does the length of a drill bit do?
The length provides the depth of the hole that you are going to do with this bit .
What are drill bits made of?
Drill bits made of low carbon steel are made from as little as 0.005 – 0.3% carbon, and require constant sharpening and polishing, which is why they are inexpensive to purchase so you get what you paid for.
What is a spade bit?
Spade Bit. As its name suggests, this spade shaped drill bit is equipped with a flat blade, and two cutters which helps centralize and secure its drilling position. A fairly moderate sized instrument, the spade bit has a diameter of 1 1/2 inches, and is used mostly by woodworkers.
Why do woodworkers use spade bits?
Powered by an electric drill, woodworkers use spade bits as a means to prevent cracking, and further defects in their woodwork.
What is a drill?
The drill is a cutting (drilling) device, which finds application in creating holes in a material. The drill creates round holes, despite it happens in different shapes and sizes. In accordance with this, we can get holes of any size and model if we use a drill. The structure of the drill is not complicated.
What is a twist drill?
Twist bits, or twist drills as they are commonly called, are tools usually used by your repairmen in your home reparations. Twist bits can be operated with both a manual drill, as well as an electric drill, and are available in sizes 0.8mm to 12 mm.
What is the most important part of a chip?
The spiral part is the most important part since it is this part that is used for control during cleaning of the bit from chips.
What do you need to know about drill bits?
There are some basic concepts you need to know for you to understand what bits are required for what drills and for which applications they are used. The first thing (and probably most important) is to always match the size of the drill bits shank (the end you would put into the drill) to the size of drill you are using.
What are the Different Drill Bit Types and What Drills Do They Fit?
There are so many different types of drill bits that have their specific uses. I know, it can be a bit intimidating. In this section, I am going to show you that you don’t need to feel inadequate in your drill bit to drill compatibility knowledge.
Can I Use Normal Drill Bits in an SDS Drill?
SDS, which stands for a Slotted Drive System, will not accept normal (regular) drill bits.
What are the Best Drill Bits?
Right? All this talk about different bits and drills but what is the best bit? The best drill bit is a drill bit that will fit in your drill (3/8” or 1/2”) and is made to accomplish what you want to accomplish.
What would happen if he knew what a drill bit for metal or wood looked like?
If he knew what a drill bit for metal or wood looked like he could have drilled the holes quite easily and not have ruined some of my bits made for wood.
What is a SDS drill?
SDS drills are typically used drilling into concretes and other harder materials. Chances are you won’t use one of these drills unless you rent one to break up concrete in your basement to rough in some plumbing or some other heavy-duty home renovation project.
What are brad point twist bits made of?
Most people will use brad point twist bits made for wood, metal or plastic. They will also most likely have drills and buy bits ...
What to know before buying a drill bit?
Before you begin buying a drill bit, it is important to know exactly what duty it is that you need it for. Are you drilling into metal or wood? Or do you need to carry out precision drilling on rigid materials such as glass? What you are drilling into is the first criteria you have to consider.
What are the colors of drill bits?
High-speed steel drill bits are usually black because of the oxide or carbonitride coating. Titanium nitride coated drill bits are golden, and cobalt drill bits are gold, silver, and sometimes blue.
What is the difference between titanium and cobalt drill bits?
But there are some differences. Titanium drill bits are covered in titanium nitride or titanium carbon atite. These two coat the surface of the bit to preserve it against heat. Cobalt drill bits have no covering and are built from steel alloy and cobalt. They also deflect heat when revolving. Cobalt drill bits can be intensified without damage, preserving their protections, making them the better choice.
What are the pros and cons of a diamond drill bit?
Its pros are various. It comes with a Diamond-coated tip. It Works on masonry and tiles. It is also known for its hard-wearing. This drill bit has two cons. The first one is that it is difficult to master the technique, and the second one is that it works at slow speeds.
What are countersink bits?
Countersink bits conceive beveled openings at the top edge of a pilot hole. Usually, they come in 13 mm, 16 mm, and 19 mm, and there are several variations for drilling metal and wood. They are used in combination with countersink screws and rivets that sit flush with the material’s surface.
What is carbide drill bit?
A carbide drill bit is a level up in potential from a cobalt drill bit. They are typically used in the expert arena to drill the most difficult material. They deflect heat, so maintain a cutting edge for longer, and run at higher rapidities.
What is a brad point drill bit?
The brad point drill bit has a similar shape as the twist bit, but the tip is formed like a “W.” That permits the outer points to start cutting the hole before the center point contacts the material . Sizes are from 3 mm to 10 mm. It means you get lighter resistance and a more precise hole. Brad-point drill bits are excellent for drilling wood and plastic, as well as particular tasks like Dowling. These tools often have a depth stop to enable you to choose the necessary depth of the hole you drill.This piece has many pros; the main one is certainly the less resistance factor. Also, it is great for detailed jobs as it can offer a depth stop. However, it has some cons too. These bits can be very hard to sharpen. Moreover, they are not suitable for hard materials.

Overview
Metric drill bit sizes
Metric drill bit sizes define the diameter of the bit in terms of standard metric lengths. Standards organizations define sets of sizes that are conventionally manufactured and stocked. For example, British Standard BS 328 defines 230 sizes from 0.2 mm to 25.0 mm.
From 0.2 through 0.98 mm, sizes are defined as follows, where N is an integer from 2 through 9:
• N · 0.1 mm
Fractional-inch drill bit sizes
Fractional-inch drill bit sizes are still in common use in the United States and in any factory (around the globe) that makes inch-sized products for the U.S. market.
ANSI B94.11M-1979 sets size standards for jobber-length straight-shank twist drill bits from 1/64 inch through 1 inch in 1/64 inch increments. For Morse taper-shank drill bits, the standard continues in 1/64 inch increments up to 1¾ inch, then 1/32 inch increments up to 2¼ inch, 1/16 in…
Number and letter gauge drill bit sizes
Number drill bit gauge sizes range from size 80 (the smallest) to size 1 (the largest) followed by letter gauge size A (the smallest) to size Z (the largest). Although the ASME B94.11M twist drill standard, for example, lists sizes as small as size 97, sizes smaller than 80 are rarely encountered in practice.
Number and letter sizes are commonly used for twist drill bits rather than other drill forms, as the r…
Screw-machine-length drill
The shortest standard-length drills (that is, lowest length-to-diameter ratio) are screw-machine-length drills (sometimes abbreviated S/M). They are named for their use in screw machines. Their shorter flute length and shorter overall length compared to a standard jobber bit results in a more rigid drill bit, reducing deflection and breakage. They are rarely available in retail hardware stores or home centers.
Jobber-length drill
Jobber-length drills are the most commonly found type of drill. The length of the flutes is between 9 and 14 times the diameter of the drill, depending on the drill size. So a 1/2 in (12.7 mm) diameter drill will be able to drill a hole 4+1/2 in (114.3 mm) deep, since it is 9 times the diameter in length. A 1/8 in (3.175 mm) diameter drill can drill a hole 1+5/8 in (41.275 mm) deep, since it is 13 times the diameter in flute length.
Aircraft-length drill
Extended-reach or long-series drills are commonly called aircraft-length from their original use in manufacturing riveted aluminum aircraft. For bits thicker than a minimum size such as 1⁄8-inch (3.175 mm), they are available in fixed lengths such as 6, 8, 12 or 18 inches (152, 203, 305 or 457 mm) rather than the progressive lengths of jobber drills.
The image shows a long-series drill compared to its diametric equivalents, all are 11⁄32 inch (8.73…
Center drill bit sizes
Center drills are available with two different included angles; 60 degrees is the standard for drilling centre holes (for example for subsequent centre support in the lathe), but 90 degrees is also common and used when locating holes prior to drilling with twist drills. Center drills are made specifically for drilling lathe centers, but are often used as spotting drills because of their radial stiffness.