There are some great Dewalt drill bit deals for the 2024 holiday season.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Pro, beginner, DIYer, hobbyist, woodworker or whatever – good drill bits tend to make drilling projects go a lot smoother.
While not top of the line, I have found Dewalt drill bits to work well for general purpose construction-type and home drilling tasks in a variety of materials.
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These Dewalt drill bits commonly feature “black and gold coatings” – or titanium nitride where specifically mentioned – 135° split point tips, and 3-flat shanks on the larger sizes to reduce spinning in a drill chuck.
They’re advertised as being suited for drilling into wood, metal, and plastic materials.
All of these sets discussed below are packaged in a connectable ToughCase with clear lid.
TL;DR: Get the 14pc set at Amazon or Home Depot for $9.98
Dewalt 14pc Drill Bit Set – $9.98
This set, DWA1184, comes with sizes from 1/16″ to 1/2″, and includes a duplicate 1/8″ bit. The low price and larger sizes make it a fantastic value.
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I think this is the best drill bit bargain of the season. I bought this set before and am likely to buy it again.
Note: I’m seeing FREE no-minimum shipping at Home Depot, and Amazon has free Prime shipping or a $35 minimum for non-members.
Dewalt 10pc Drill Bit Set – $5.97
If you want to spend a little less, the DWA1180 set comes with 10 drill bits from 1/16″ to 5/16″, with duplicate 1/16″ and 5/64″ sizes.
This is a great choice for a replenishment pack if you mainly use smaller sizes.
Note: Home Depot’s online price does not yet match in-store pricing; check back, it’s bound to drop to the same price as in-store.
The DWA1184 14pc set set gives you a broader range of sizes, with the largest drill bits costing more to replace than the promo price for the entire set, while the DWA1180 10pc set gives you more of the smaller sizes that are more easily misplaced or prone to breakage.
Following is a quick comparison table showing what you get with both sets.
| Sizes | 14pc Set DWA1184 | 10pc Set DWA1180 |
| 1/16″ | (1) | (2) |
| 5/64″ | (1) | (2) |
| 3/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 7/64″ | (1) | (1) |
| 1/8″ | (2) | (1) |
| 9/64″ | (1) | |
| 5/32″ | (1) | |
| 3/16″ | (1) | (1) |
| 7/32″ | (1) | |
| 1/4″ | (1) | (1) |
| 5/16″ | (1) | (1) |
| 3/8″ | (1) | |
| 1/2″ | (1) | |
| Buy it at Amazon | Buy it at Home Depot |
If you can’t decide, I’d say go for the 14pc set.
Dewalt 21pc Drill Bit Set – $19.98
This 21pc set, DWA1181, comes with 16 non-duplicate drill bit sizes, compared to 13 for the 14pc set.
Not counting duplicates, the extra sizes in this set include 9/64″, 11/64″ and 15/64″. If you don’t think you’ll need these sizes, the 14pc might be a better choice at half the price.
This set includes drill bit sizes 1/16″ thru 1/4″ in 1/64″ increments, plus 5/16″, 3/8″, and 1/2″. I put together a size chart, which you’ll find below.
Dewalt 21pc TiN Coated Drill Bit Set – $24.98
There’s also this 21pc set, DW1342, with TiN-coated bits. Titanium nitride-coated drill bits typically have greater wear resistance compared to uncoated drill bits.
Compared to the “black and gold” 21pc set discussed above, this one has the same size selection, but different duplicate bits. The other 21pc set has duplication of some of the commonly used mid-size drill bits (3/16″, 1/4″), and this set has duplication of the smaller size drill bits.
Lowe’s online price does not yet match their in-store promotions, but I expect it will soon.
Here’s a comparison of what the two 21pc sets come with:
| Sizes | 21pc Set DWA1181 | 21pc Set DW1342 (TiN) |
| 1/16″ | (2) | (2) |
| 5/64″ | (2) | (2) |
| 3/32″ | (1) | (2) |
| 7/64″ | (1) | (2) |
| 1/8″ | (2) | (2) |
| 9/64″ | (1) | (1) |
| 5/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 11/64″ * | (1) | (1) |
| 3/16″ | (2) | (1) |
| 13/64″ * | (1) | (1) |
| 7/32″ | (1) | (1) |
| 15/64″ * | (1) | (1) |
| 1/4″ | (2) | (1) |
| 5/16″ | (1) | (1) |
| 3/8″ | (1) | (1) |
| 1/2″ | (1) | (1) |
| Buy it at Amazon | Buy it at Lowe’s |
* These sizes are not included in the 14pc drill bit set discussed above.
There’s one more deal, although I would pick the “black and gold” 14pc set featured above over this one.
Dewalt 14pc TiN Coated Drill Bit Set – $19.98
You get 14 pieces in this set, DW1341, with 12 sizes and duplicate 1/16″ and 1/8″ bits. Compared to the sets discussed above, the drill bits in this set have a TiN (titanium nitride) coating.
This set swaps the 7/32″ bit from the black and gold set for a second 1/16″ bit.
I found this set advertised in the Lowe’s gift center for $19.98. At the time of this posting, Amazon and Home Depot are beating Lowe’s promo with slightly lower pricing.
Chris
Dewalt drill bits are really good quality. They’re great for all the projects I’ve ever done. Only time I go for my more expensive 115 pc set is if I need a specific size for either clearance or tapping.
I personally like the pilot point ones for most uses.
eddiesky
I have Brad for wood and rarely use. But the 21pc set I use, and mostly realize for pre-drill screws like 3/32 and 1/8″.
Which probably would be better for me to have those in a screw-starter set.
CA
Say you guys ever notice how drill bits are always US and not metric? These black and gold are a very good set for general purpose trade and homeowner use.
Stuart
So are tape measures, fastener sizes, anchors, and similar. I have only ever used metric drill bits when tapping holes in from-scratch fabrications, and even then I mostly stick with SAE. I only go with metric when I have to accommodate things like sensors that have metric studs.
Ian M
I have more of one of these sets, I am in one of the many countries that use the metric system but have been buying them from Amazon as they are good value for me even with the shipping.
In saying that I would prefer them to be metric
Mitherial
Can anyone recommend a good set of *metric* drill bits available in the US?
Mitherial
I have a very large SAE “number/letter” set of bits that approximates metric for most (non-super-tight-tolerance purposes), but it feels aesthetically annoying to have resort to that.
MM
I used to run a machine shop and made mostly metric parts and yet almost never came across the need for a metric drill bit. The usual selection of fractional, wire gauge, and letter sizes tended to cover most things. Sometimes work called for holes with exact round-number metric sizes, but that didn’t require metric drills either. Drill bits do not leave a perfect surface finish and can never be relied on for precise hole diameters. An 8.0mm drill bit will not leave a perfect 8.00mm diameter hole. When precision really matters and a hole must be some exact size the procedure is to drill an undersize hole first and then cut it to finish size with a reamer. In that situation the reamer might be metric but the pilot hole was drilled with whatever happened to be close enough.
Thus, I think metric drills are a bit pointless: for most applications there is surely a fractional, letter, or wire gauge size that is plenty close enough, and when precision is truly required you will probably need reamers rather than drills.
DRT42
Yes. I can’t say that I use metric drill bits more than fractional, but I do have an extensive set and when I need ’em, I really need ’em. Cheap ones from Amazon, better ones from McMaster.
MM
I agree, these are great value. They’re not what I would call “industrial grade” but they’re better than most bits you find at the average hardware or big-box store, they are economical, and the cases are good. I use nicer bits in the machine shop but for general purpose DIY/contractor/around-the-house sort of stuff these are great. I keep multiple sets of these around even though I own nicer drills just to use them for the rougher jobs.
I really wish they’d make a set of ~6in extended length drills. Those are a lot trickier to find at a reasonable intersection between price and quality.
Robert
I bought the 14pc Set DWA1184 last year on your recommendation. In fact, I bought two sets at that time and gave one to a friend as a stocking stuffer.
But recently when I was in a Rockler store, I bought a 25 piece century Brad point set.
https://www.rockler.com/25-piece-hss-brad-point-drill-bit-set-imperial
It’s only HSS, but I don’t know if it’s the flute shape or the Brad point, but I find they cut much faster and smoother. Doing pilot holes is ingrained to me, so the Brad point naturally centers very well in the pilot hole.
I haven’t tried Fisch or Festool bits, maybe they are another jump above.
I do like the Dewalt 1/16 as that size tends to break on me.
Stuart
Jobber length twist drill bits are great for general all-purpose needs.
For finer woodworking, yes, brad point drills work a little cleaner. I like Lee Valley’s – https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/drill-bits/42247-hss-lipped-imperial-brad-point-drills .
For more precise drilling in plastic or metal, I use industrial-grade jobber length twist drills.
For faster drilling in softwood, I use spade or self-feeding drill bits. For cleaner larger hole sizes, Forstner.
I use my Dewalt bits – and others – for general purpose drilling, and reach for others when I need different benefits. I don’t waste the sharp tips of my brad point drill bits unless I need cleaner and perfectly-placed holes. Even then, sometimes I use my Dewalt bits with center punched hole placement.
Utility to price point cannot be beat.
Robert
Stuart, that’s pretty much my strategy in that I do mostly fine wood working. Or to be honest, attempt to do fine wood working. I haven’t thrown away the Dewalt drill bits, I occasionally do make projects out of cheap wood. But mostly I work with second mortgage cost exotics woods, so I really like the smoother holes I found these Century drill bits provide.
JR Ramos
I don’t think these are all that good but they’re better than some and they keep churning them out with these incredible prices so they’re a great value for most people and it’s a good case. We bought a couple for the office – actually thought their plain black steam oxide bits were better quality than the black and gold and held their cutting edges better in various thin metals.
Kind note on TiN if I may. You said: “Titanium nitride-coated drill bits typically have greater wear resistance compared to uncoated drill bits.”
This really isn’t so accurate, especially when drilling with a hand held drill vs. a press and/or a situation with better controlled conditions. Ti adds some hardness but at the cutting edge, especially if drilling metal, it really doesn’t do much appreciably. What it does great is add some lubricity. That makes it excellent for wood and pretty decent for aluminum where cold galling happens with bright or steam coatings. The quality of the steel rod is still way more important (as are the drawbacks when drilling with a hand drill). Now…if you have controlled conditions and you look at the basic Ti coatings on an end mill, you can better gain the advantages of what Ti offers in terms of durability. Twist drills, by hand, in metal…yeah, forget that marketing bullet point. At some point in the late 90s to mid 2000s the accessory marketers changed what they were saying about TiN twist bits and now the whole world thinks they’re so much more durable. When VA and others introduced them to the consumer market in the early 90s-ish they were more honest about it and pushed lubricity for faster and easier drilling in wood. Additionally, a great many of the “TiN” twist bits from China have a very poor coating, not like the hand-me-down that the industrial world gave consumers in the USA decades ago. Some are just worthless as a coating but they look gold (Harbor Freight has a couple flavors of those as do the majority of cheapie China-direct brands). DeWalt’s coating is ok, not great, same for their flavor of HSS in my experience. But as a knock-around general purpose set they’re fine for most people. Replace them with quality individual bits as needed.
If people have to use box stores I try to steer them toward the Cle-Line bits at Lowes. The Century Drill & Tool twist bits at Northern Tool used to be pretty darn good but last time I was in that store I took a peek and the bits did not seem to be the same quality anymore (would probably pick the DeWalt over those now).
Metabo has some good sets as well and those are occasionally at good sale prices.
JR Ramos
I meant to also say that the “black and gold” finishes on their and some other bits may actually outperform the cheap TiN finishes on their own and many other less expensive bits. Don’t get sold on the coating for this level of general purpose drill bits.
Stuart
They’re generally marketed as being more wear resistant. Dewalt: “Titanium Nitride Coating for Longer Life.” Of course there are exceptions to generalizations, but we’re not talking about garbage no-name drill bits from HF or online marketplaces.
These are general purpose construction tool brand-grade drill bits.
A single USA-made 1/4″ HSS drill bit with 135° point starts at around $4 at MSC, and some require purchasing a 12-pack. That’s just one size. If I’m installing shelves, building raised garden beds, or rough-prototyping a jig for one-time use, these Dewalt bits are just fine.
I replace my Dewalt drill bits with more Dewalt drill bit sets, and I save higher quality industrial bits for when it’s beneficial to reach for them.
JR Ramos
I know what they’re marketed as and I’m saying it’s generally BS in regard to coatings on hand held drilling twist bits. Spreading that misinformation (which it is, at this point and in these applications, generally…now) doesn’t help. Much prefer people learning the true how’s and why’s of the tools they buy and/or use…the info is out there and always has been. Marketers are a different breed and after a couple decades the misinformation just flows and flows and zillions of people don’t know any better.
I mean these bits are what they are, and they’re “ok” for the most part – not arguing “industrial” suitability, just pointing out the realities of TiN via history and factual application.
Don’t base pricing on MSC or McMaster, etc…unless that’s all you have. Norseman 1/4″ bits come in a 2-pack (retail carding) for about $6 or less…some supply houses will sell them individually (that would be their M7 black-and-gold premium…steam oxide and bright are less expensive usually, a little).
MM
I would agree with this. I noticed longer life on production end mills, drills, and indexable carbide tooling with proper coating selection. However, that is assuming production in a machine shop setting once all the correct speeds & feeds have been optimized. I feel that for general use drills being used in hand tools the failure method of a bit is rarely by truly wearing it out the way one might in a CNC machine. It is more likely the bits are accidentally broken or the tips chipped, overheated, or the tip is damaged by contact with abrasive materials, and coatings don’t help there. Also there is a big difference in coating thickness and quality between industrial cutting tools and the kind of thing you see at a big box store. Part of that is the type of coating used. TiN is one of many fancy coatings you might find on industrial tooling but it seems to be the only one commonly found on consumer grade drills, probably because of it’s attractive color.
NoDak Farming
I sure like my Norseman drill bit set. They’ve been fantastic and because I have access to an Acme Tools store, it’s easy to walk in and buy an individual replacement bit. But I did just today buy the $10 Dewalt set featured in this story. They have been mentioned before on Toolguyd. And there are always so many favorable mentions in the comments sections, that I thought I should finally try them out. The nice plastic case helps sell the bits too.
SK
Hello, does anyone know the difference between Dewalt drill bits marked
“15/64 605 vs. 15/64 503”? Thx!
Stuart
It likely has to do with different drill bit series. Do the drill bits have different tips or surface finishes?