Your drill is only as capable as the bits and accessories you put in it. The right drill bit turns a five-minute task into a one-minute task, while the wrong bit chews up material, wanders off-center, and snaps. Here is a guide to the essential drill bits and accessories that expand what your drill can do.

Power Drill Accessories Guide

Twist Drill Bits

Standard twist bits handle most drilling tasks in wood, plastic, and soft metal. They come in fractional sizes (1/16 to 1/2 inch) and are sold in indexed sets.

High-speed steel (HSS): The standard material. Good for wood, plastic, and aluminum. Affordable and available everywhere.

Cobalt (HSS-Co): Harder than standard HSS. Maintains its edge in stainless steel, cast iron, and hardened metal. Worth the extra cost if you drill metal regularly.

Titanium-coated: HSS bits with a titanium nitride coating that reduces friction and increases wear resistance. A good middle ground between HSS and cobalt.

Brad-point bits: A specialized twist bit with a sharp center point and outer spurs for clean, precise holes in wood. The center point prevents wandering and the spurs score the wood fibers for a clean edge. Essential for visible woodworking projects.

Spade Bits

Flat, paddle-shaped bits for boring large holes (3/8 to 1-1/2 inch) in wood quickly. They cut aggressively and leave a rough hole, making them ideal for running wire and pipe through framing but poor for visible work.

For cleaner results, drill halfway through from one side, then flip the workpiece and finish from the other side to avoid blowout.

Forstner Bits

Forstner bits bore flat-bottomed, clean-edged holes in wood. They are the go-to bit for counterbored holes, concealed hinge cups, and decorative work. Available from 1/4 inch to 2 inches and larger. They work best in a drill press but can be used carefully in a handheld drill at low speed.

Hole Saws

A circular saw blade mounted on an arbor for cutting large-diameter holes (3/4 inch to 6 inches) in wood, drywall, and thin metal. Used for running pipes through walls, installing door locksets, and creating round openings in workshop projects.

Bi-metal hole saws handle both wood and metal. Carbon steel hole saws are cheaper but limited to wood and plastic.

Self-Feed Bits

Large-diameter bits (1 to 4-5/8 inch) with aggressive cutting teeth and a threaded tip that pulls the bit through the wood. Designed for electricians and plumbers who need to bore large holes through studs and joists quickly. They require a powerful drill and a firm grip.

Driver Bit Sets

Impact-rated driver bits are essential for your impact driver. Look for bits labeled “impact ready” or “impact rated” — they are made from tougher steel that withstands the hammering action.

Essential driver bits:

Phillips #2 (the most-used size)
Phillips #1 and #3
Square drive #1 and #2 (Robertson)
Star (Torx) T15, T20, T25
Hex socket adapters for driving nuts and bolts

Buy multi-packs of #2 Phillips bits. They are consumables that wear out with use.

Useful Attachments

Right-angle attachment: Converts your drill to drive at 90 degrees. Essential for drilling and driving in tight spaces like between studs for electrical work.

Flexible shaft: A bendable extension that lets you drill and drive around corners and into awkward spaces.

Depth stop collar: A collar that slides onto a drill bit and limits how deep you drill. Critical for consistent counterbore and hinge holes.

Countersink bit: Drills a conical recess for a screw head to sit flush with or below the surface. Available as standalone bits or as combination pilot-and-countersink bits.

Step bit: A cone-shaped bit with stepped diameters for drilling various size holes in sheet metal and thin materials. One bit replaces an entire set of standard bits for sheet metal work.

Maintaining Drill Bits

Keep bits in an indexed case or magnetic rack, not loose in a drawer
Sharpen twist bits on a bench grinder or with a dedicated drill bit sharpener
Replace bits with chipped or broken cutting edges
Use cutting oil when drilling metal to reduce heat and extend bit life
Run at lower speeds for larger bits and harder materials

The Starter Kit

For a well-rounded drill bit collection, start with:

29-piece HSS twist drill set (1/16 to 1/2 inch)
Set of brad-point bits (1/8 to 1/2 inch)
Set of spade bits (3/8 to 1 inch)
6-piece bi-metal hole saw set
30-piece impact driver bit set

This covers the vast majority of drilling and driving tasks you will encounter.