Best Drill Bit for Steel (2026): 4 Picks for the Home Garage

A steel bracket with a hole in the wrong place is a familiar garage job: the part needs a new hole, the drill needs a bit that will cut steel without wandering, and the bit needs to stay sharp through the cut. A best drill bit for steel is the bit for that job, and the picks below are cobalt twist sets, a titanium step bit set and a titanium nitride set, compared by material, size range, point, shank and case from each listing.

GarageToolHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Picks for the garage

#	Product	Shop Score	Buy
1	MACXCOIP 29Pcs(1/16"-1/2")	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
2	ZELCAN 5PCS Titanium HSS Step Drill Bit Set	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Cobalt Drill Bit Set - 13Pcs M35 HSS Twist Drill	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	BOSCH TI5IM 5-Piece Assorted Set Titanium Nitride	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

MACXCOIP 29Pcs(1/16"-1/2")

MACXCOIP·9.6/10 Shop Score

i

The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

29-piece M35 cobalt HSS twist bit set, 1/16 to 1/2 in, with a 135 degree split point and an index storage case.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 29 pieces from 1/16 to 1/2 in, the widest range here
• M35 cobalt HSS for hardened metal and stainless steel
• 135 degree split point, self-centering to prevent walk-off
• Index storage case for easy storage and sorting

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• No weight is stated
• No safety listing is stated
• Shank type is not stated

2

ZELCAN 5PCS Titanium HSS Step Drill Bit Set

ZELCAN·9.6/10 Shop Score

i

The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

5-piece titanium-coated HSS step bit set with 50 sizes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in, a 1/4 in hex shank and a storage case.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 50 sizes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in across 5 bits
• Titanium-coated HSS for harder materials
• 1/4 in hex shank with quick-release slot
• Four-spiral flute design evacuates chips from the hole

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• No weight is stated
• No point angle is stated
• No safety listing is stated

3

Cobalt Drill Bit Set - 13Pcs M35 HSS Twist Drill

SEDIANAS·9.5/10 Shop Score

i

The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

13-piece M35 cobalt HSS twist bit set, 1/16 to 1/4 in, with a 135 degree split point and an orange plastic case.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• M35 cobalt HSS with Cobalt 5% for heat resistance
• 135 degree split point for precise, faster drilling
• Fully ground twist design clears particles faster
• Orange plastic case with size index for organizing

Cons

• No warranty term is stated
• Range stops at 1/4 in, so larger holes need another set
• No weight or dimensions are stated
• No safety listing is stated

4

BOSCH TI5IM 5-Piece Assorted Set Titanium Nitride

Bosch·9.5/10 Shop Score

i

The Shop Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs performance (35%), build (25%), value (25%), safety (10%, where it applies) and warranty (5%), using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick ›

5-piece titanium nitride coated twist bit set with an impact-rated hex shank, a no-skate tip and an included case.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Titanium nitride coating for less friction
• Impact-rated hex shank for higher torque
• No-skate tip for accurate starts
• Laser marking clearly identifies diameter

Cons

• No size range is stated
• No warranty term is stated
• Only 5 pieces, the smallest count here
• No safety listing is stated

Best drill bit for steel picks compared

Every rating comes from the brand’s listing and is not a shop test (gathered 11 November 2026). Where a listing contradicts itself, both figures are shown.

How the points were given

Each bit set is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, with the weights published on our How We Pick page. None states a UL, ETL or CSA listing, so all score zero on safety, and none states a warranty term.

No score drops under 9.2 or climbs past 9.8; a tool’s place inside those bounds is set by its weighted point total. Only powered tools, or tools with stated safety features, get safety points. Everything else is rated out of 90.

What the listings tell you

We read 4 drill bit listings. 2 state M35 cobalt steel, 1 is a step bit set with 50 sizes, and 2 state a 135 degree split point. Only 1 states a weight, and none states a warranty term or a safety listing. 1 set lists no size range at all.

Buying guide: choosing a drill bit for steel

Cobalt vs titanium coating

M35 cobalt is the material for hardened metal: the MACXCOIP and the SEDIANAS sets are M35 cobalt HSS, and the SEDIANAS listing states Cobalt 5% for heat resistance and hardness. The ZELCAN step bits are titanium-coated HSS, and the Bosch bits carry a titanium nitride coating for less friction. Cobalt suits hard steel, while a coating suits lighter steel and sheet metal work.

Twist bit or step bit

A twist bit drills the hole; a step bit enlarges it in stages. The ZELCAN set is the step bit here, with 50 sizes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in across 5 bits, and a four-spiral flute design that clears chips from the hole. The twist sets cover 1/16 to 1/2 in for the MACXCOIP and 1/16 to 1/4 in for the SEDIANAS. For the choice between hole saws and step bits, see hole saw vs step bit for metal.

Size range and piece count

Piece count follows range. The MACXCOIP set has 29 pieces from 1/16 to 1/2 in, the SEDIANAS set has 13 pieces from 1/16 to 1/4 in, and the ZELCAN set has 5 bits with 50 sizes. The Bosch set has 5 pieces and lists no diameters, so check the laser marking on each bit before the first hole.

Split point and shank

A split point centers the bit so it does not walk off the mark. The MACXCOIP and the SEDIANAS sets state a 135 degree split point, and the Bosch states a no-skate tip for accurate starts. On shanks, the ZELCAN uses a 1/4 in hex shank with a quick-release slot, the Bosch uses an impact-rated hex shank, and the SEDIANAS lists a round straight shank.

What the listings do not state

No listing here states a warranty term or a safety listing, so both score zero across the picks. Only the Bosch listing states a weight, 0.04 lb, and only the MACXCOIP and the ZELCAN listings state case dimensions. The SEDIANAS listing states no weight or dimensions, and the Bosch listing states no size range.

Garage Fit Check

• Each set here comes with a case: an index storage case for the MACXCOIP, an orange plastic case for the SEDIANAS, a storage case for the ZELCAN and an included case for the Bosch.
• Check the shank before the first job: the ZELCAN uses a 1/4 in hex shank and the Bosch an impact-rated hex shank, while the SEDIANAS lists a round straight shank.
• For sheet metal, the ZELCAN step set covers 50 sizes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in, with clear size markings on each bit.
• For hardened steel, the M35 cobalt sets suit the job: the MACXCOIP covers 1/16 to 1/2 in and the SEDIANAS covers 1/16 to 1/4 in.
• Before the first hole, check the size index on the case and the markings on each bit, and keep the case closed so bits stay sorted.

FAQ: garage tools

Are step drill bits good?

For enlarging holes in metal, yes: the ZELCAN step set covers 50 sizes from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in, with four cutting blades and a four-spiral flute design that clears chips from the hole. A step bit moves through its sizes on a single bit, so it suits enlarging holes in metal.

What is a step drill bit for metal?

A step drill bit carries steps of increasing diameter on a single bit. The ZELCAN set has 5 bits with 50 sizes, from 1/8 to 1-3/8 in, and a 1/4 in hex shank. Each step drills a larger hole, so one bit covers many sizes.

How do you use step drill bits?

Start with the smallest step and work up through the sizes on the bit until the hole is the size you need. The ZELCAN set marks each size on the bit and lists steps per bit: 6, 13, 9, 12 and 10 steps. The 1/4 in hex shank with a quick-release slot makes bit changes quick.

What is HSS step drill bit?

HSS is high speed steel, the base metal for twist and step bits. The ZELCAN set is titanium-coated HSS, and the MACXCOIP and SEDIANAS sets are M35 cobalt HSS. The coating adds hardness for faster cutting through harder materials, per the ZELCAN listing.

How to use a step drill bit set?

Pick the bit with the size range you need, chuck it by the 1/4 in hex shank, and drill through the steps to the size you want. The ZELCAN set comes with a storage case, and clear size markings on each bit show which step you are on.

Related: the best step drill bit, the best quick change drill bit set, the best angle grinder for metal work and our engine and shop equipment hub.