The DEWALT DW1361 is our everyday pick, the IRWIN 3018002 is the metal specialist, and Milwaukee and Makita offer two impact-ready options.
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A drill bit set should match the material and the tool that will drive it. A homeowner drilling wood and light metal needs a different set than a fabricator working in stainless steel, while an impact-driver owner needs a 1/4-inch hex shank.
These four picks cover those distinct use cases. Each recommendation is tied to an exact model so the product button does not drop you into a generic search page.
Quick Comparison: Best Drill Bit Sets 2026
- Best overall: DEWALT DW1361, a 21-piece titanium nitride set for conventional drills and drill-drivers.
- Best for metal: IRWIN 3018002, a 29-piece M-35 cobalt set with 135-degree split points.
- Best full impact-ready set: Milwaukee 48-89-4631, a 23-piece 1/4-inch hex set.
- Best compact impact-ready set: Makita B-65399, a 14-piece 1/4-inch hex set.
1. DEWALT DW1361 Titanium Pilot Point: Best Overall
The DEWALT DW1361 covers sizes from 1/16 inch through 1/2 inch in a 21-piece case. DEWALT specifies titanium nitride coating, Pilot Point tips that start on contact, no-spin shanks, and a tapered web intended to reduce breakage.
That combination makes it the broadest everyday choice in this roundup for wood, plastic, and light-metal jobs with a conventional drill or drill-driver. Move to a cobalt set for frequent hard-metal work, or one of the hex-shank sets below if a quick-change impact-driver collet is essential.
IRWIN's 3018002 set uses M-35 high-speed steel with 5% cobalt and includes 29 sizes from 1/16 inch to 1/2 inch in 1/64-inch increments. Its 135-degree split points are designed to start with less walking, and bits larger than 3/8 inch use reduced shanks.
Unlike a surface coating, the cobalt is part of the bit material, so the bits can be resharpened without removing the core material advantage. This is the specialized choice for buyers who regularly drill steel, stainless steel, or cast iron and value a complete fractional size range.
3. Milwaukee 48-89-4631 SHOCKWAVE RED HELIX: Best Full Impact-Ready Set
The Milwaukee 48-89-4631 is a 23-piece set with 1/4-inch hex shanks for impact drivers and drill-drivers. Milwaukee specifies a QUAD EDGE tip, VARIABLE HELIX flute, and a thicker tapered web designed around faster starts, chip removal, and bit strength.
Choose it when you want a larger impact-ready assortment. The hex shanks fit a standard quick-change impact-driver collet directly, while also working in compatible drill-driver chucks.
4. Makita B-65399 Impact GOLD: Best Compact Impact-Ready Set
The Makita B-65399 offers 14 titanium nitride-coated bits with 1/4-inch hex shanks. The set runs from 1/16 inch through 1/2 inch and uses 135-degree split-point geometry intended to start faster and reduce walking.
Makita rates the bits for 1/4-inch hex impact drivers and lists wood, plastic, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, cast iron, and stainless steel among the applications. Pick this over the Milwaukee when you would rather carry a smaller case than a broader set of intermediate sizes.
How We Chose
We did not test these bits in a workshop. This guide compares current manufacturer specifications, material, point geometry, shank type, size coverage, and the job each set is designed to perform. We also verified that each purchase button resolves to the exact named model. See our methodology for the full process.
How to Choose a Drill Bit Set
Match the bit to the material
General-purpose titanium nitride-coated high-speed steel bits suit common wood, plastic, and light-metal jobs. Cobalt-alloy bits are the better fit for repeated drilling in harder metals. Concrete, brick, tile, and glass require material-specific bits that are outside this twist-bit roundup.
Round or no-spin shanks belong in a keyed or keyless drill chuck. A 1/4-inch hex shank locks into a quick-change impact-driver collet and can also be held by many drill chucks. Check the tool and chuck before buying.
Buy the size coverage you will use
A compact set saves space, while a larger indexed set adds intermediate sizes that matter when matching fasteners, taps, or precise hole requirements. The 29-piece IRWIN set offers the most complete fractional progression here; the Makita offers the lightest carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
For occasional work in softer metal, a suitable high-speed steel or titanium nitride-coated bit may be enough. For repeated work in steel, stainless steel, or cast iron, choose a cobalt-alloy bit such as the IRWIN M-35 set and follow the bit manufacturer's speed, pressure, lubrication, and safety guidance.
Can drill bits be used in an impact driver?
Use bits with a 1/4-inch hex shank that the manufacturer rates for impact drivers. The Milwaukee and Makita sets in this guide meet that requirement. A round-shank bit does not lock directly into a quick-change impact-driver collet.
What is the difference between titanium and cobalt bits?
Titanium nitride is a surface coating on the bit. Cobalt is alloyed into the high-speed steel itself. Sharpening eventually removes a surface coating at the cutting edge, while a cobalt-alloy bit retains cobalt throughout the material.
