Home Depot is launching a new set of Ryobi “titanium” step drill bits, featuring 3 sizes that can be used with cordless drills and impact drivers.
Ryobi says that “the titanium coating provides faster drilling while reducing heat for durability and extended life.”
The new Ryobi step drill bits have a double straight flute design, and markings for each step with alternating stripes for greater visibility.
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Each has a 140° split point tip for less wandering when starting a hole.
The 3 bits feature 1/4″ hex shanks.
Sizes include:
- #6 – 3/16″ to 1/2″
- #12 – 3/16″ to 7/8″
- #13 – 1/8″ to 1/2″
Price: $25
ETA: May 2025
The new Ryobi step drill bits will be available exclusively at Home Depot.
Discussion
These seem to be value-grade TiN-coated impact-rated step drill bits.
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Home Depot already carries step drill bits from Diablo and Milwaukee, and so these Ryobi bits seem to fill in the lower end of the pricing scale.
For those who are new to this type of drilling accessory, step drill bits are mainly used in sheet metal, thinner plates, and thin plastic materials. Each step scrapes the side walls of a hole to create incrementally larger diameters.
Step drills are a quick way to create holes of different sizes.
I think the closest competitor would be this Neiko 3pc spiral flute step drill bit set from Amazon for $18 at the time of this posting.
Other brands have straight flute stepped drill bits for a lot less. Amazon has a basic set for $7, from a brand I’m not familiar with.
I’d trust Ryobi way more than random brands on Amazon, but personally I stick to pro brands of step drill bits.
I bought a set of Milwaukee bits last year on sale at Home Depot, and it’s replaced my old Unibits for step drilling needs.
For years, lots of folks have said that cheap step drills are as good as more premium ones, but I generally prefer to spend more on quality accessories for the many times it does make a difference.
As an aside, I haven’t seen Irwin Unibits for a while, but then I remembered this: Irwin Unibit Step Drill Bits are Now Made in China?.
Back to the point (no pun intended). Ryobi has a new set of $25 impact-rated step drills at Home Depot, and they at least have some nice cosmetics that are typically found on pricier pro-level step drills.
Rog
I’ve learned the hard way not to mess with cheap step bits, but I die a little inside each time I have to buy a good one. Maybe these will fill the gap nicely
Chris
Yeah, it’s either keep buying cheap ones that don’t last, or buy once cry once and buy a really good one.
Jeff
Is there an advantage of choosing straight flute over spiral or vice-versa?
Stuart
In theory, spiral step bits should evacuate chips better, and according to what I’ve heard they cut faster and more aggressively. Ideally, I would use spiral in metal and straight in plastic to avoid snagging or grabbing.
I’ve used both, and apart from size I haven’t put much thought into whether to choose straight or spiral for different materials or applications. I mostly use step drills when I need inexact holes or where the holes will be covered by a grommet or cable gland that has a fitment or compatibility range.
Bjorn Madsen
If you buy spiral, good luck sharpening it!
S
Generally, I’ve found that many of the spiral bits will cut. All of the straight cut versions tend to just push their way through materials instead of cut a hole, which will leave a massive hunk of a burr on the other side.
I’ve used the harbor freight ‘premium’ versions with good success, and many of the Amazon versions under $30, also with good success.
But, as bjorn said, there’s almost no way to sharpen them. However sharpening the straight cut bits really doesn’t happen either.
I do a lot of stainless steel and mild steel drilling at work. For the most part, I try to keep the step bits for alternate in-between sizes the company supplied bits don’t reach. I also always predrill at least 1/8″ before using the step bits. Nearly all of them have horrible first points.
But even when using the ‘free’ company supplied drill bits, I’ll normally also use a step but as a countersink to deburr and clean the drilled hole up for a smoother final fit/finish.
Specifically because the step bits tend to do the job far nicer than any countersink I’ve ever found, and also they do it without chattering. Every countersink I’ve ever tried on metal chatters like it’s the main purpose.
Mark M.
I think cheap ones are OK if you’re drilling soft material and non-critical stuff. But agree that crying once for a nice one/set is worth the investment if you have hard-use applications. I also learned that hex shank can be super handy if you’re drilling in a recessed location…slap an extension on it and keep going. Vs. the old style round or round/flat shank.
Roger
I can already say that HF versions will, more than likely, perform better than these. I really like Dewalt’s performance but the price is like x3. Pros/prosumers need to stay away from ALL Ryobi bits.
Saulac
Anyone attempted to sharpen these drill bits successfully?
Stuart
Seeing as how these Ryobi step drill bits haven’t hit the market yet, no.
In general, there’s a bunch of social media content showing people attempting to sharpen step drill bits.
S
Despite some try’s, I’ve never had any real success sharpening similar designs.
chip hershberger
Yes I’ve had multiple of the large Irwin 1 3/8 or around 34mm sharpened several time for around $8 per unit.
Joe E.
I recently used a *brand unknown* set from Amazon that I borrowed from one of our techs at work. I had to drill 3 holes in the fiberglass door of a ’98 Camaro to access the power window motor rivets. The step bits did a nice job at making clean holes without chewing up the fiberglass like a standard drill bit would have. I need purchase my own set, so these Ryobi’s might fit the bill.
Robert
Are step drills really that useful? It seems that unless the desired hole diameter exactly matches the max diameter of the step drills, it’s too easy to make too large a hole.
I see a lot of promotions for step drills. Last I remember was from Drill Hog. As Drill Hog is USA made, and I’ve been very pleased with their extra long drill bits, I would buy the step drills from them, if I thought the product category was useful.
Stuart
Yes, step drill bits are very useful. Drill Hog has a terrible reputation, I avoid them.
If you’re worried about making mistakes, be careful and don’t ram through your workpiece. It’s no different from everything else.
You see a lot of promotion because this is the type of tool many DIYers don’t yet have but can be easily convinced they need. Some do, others don’t.
They’re always around. Unsure as to whether you need step drills? Keep your wallet in your pants until that changes.
My first step drill bit was an Irwin Unibit #2 similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Unibit2T-Titanium-Nitrate-16-Inch/dp/B00075RGWI/?tag=toolguyd-20 . I’m not sure what I’d start off with these days.
MM
I use step drills often. They’re great for drilling holes in thin materials, but more importantly they’re great for enlarging existing holes, even in fairly thick materials if you can access both sides.
I’ve used Irwin before but in my opinion they are not worth the price. Neiko is good value for money. They’re not the best quality but they’re solid and very reasonably priced. Norseman are excellent quality, though you pay for it.
Rog
A good step bit is worth its weight in gold when you need it
S
My favorite part of step bits is the controlled countersink that really helps finish off any burrs that a lot of holes would otherwise require other tools or processes to get a professional finished surface.
Currently still on my 1-2 year old harbor freight ‘premium’ ‘hercules’ version, and a few Amazon jerax tools 5-step(1/4-3/4″) thick materials versions. The jerax version has worked so well, a few other coworkers have picked them up for the same reasons.
Jerry
I think I will wait and see more reviews before I would buy these. While I use step bits a lot, Ryobi accessories have been hit or miss for me. Some things have been about as good as premium brands at a lower cost, other things have just been lower priced and lower performing. I have hopes this would be a decent set for $25, but I think I’ll just wait and see. The best step bits for the money I have used have been the Temu brand, Neiko has been pretty good to me, but their step bits have been hit or miss, as well. One will be really good, the next will dull quickly, but overall have been good enough for the price. Ryobi seems to be stepping up their game lately, so I do have high hopes for these (their Cobra clone pliers you can order online are amazing for the price – 90% as good as the real thing, at 1/2 the price – sometimes on sale for 1/3 the price).
Mark S
Harbor Freight has 3 price point step bits. The middle of the road ones seem to be an incredible value and perform quite well. My biz partner used a middle grade one to drill holes in unistrut about 150 times and it still had a bit of life left. Not bad for $30. It was an 1-3/8″ one i believe.