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Heavy Duty Drill Bits For Steel

Find heavy duty drill bits for steel by comparing options suited to your material and drilling task. Check the bit material, diameter, and shank compatibility to narrow your choices, and confirm that each metal drill bit is rated for the type of steel you plan to drill.

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  1. Irwin - Unibit #9 X 6 L High Speed Steel Step Drill Bit Square Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J78G5L26ZV

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel step drill bit with a square shank, offering extended durability for tough jobs.
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    Your price for this item is $83.51

  2. Yard Butler - Roto Planter 24" Garden Digging Auger Drill Bit - Bulb Planting Tool, Multi-Use, Heavy-Duty IRP-3

    SKU: J739HLFS8P

    Product Description

    A heavy-duty, powder-coated steel auger drill bit for effortless bulb planting, soil aeration, and weed removal.
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    Your price for this item is $31.95

  3. Irwin - High Speed Steel Letter U Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J3Z2TYQL42

    Product Description

    A durable high-speed steel drill bit offering excellent strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general use.
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    Your price for this item is $26.03

  4. Irwin - 4 1/8 L High Speed Steel Letter I Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQPS7

    Product Description

    A high speed steel drill bit offering strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general purpose use.
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    Your price for this item is $22.42

  5. Irwin - 4 3/4 L High Speed Steel Letter Q Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQLK5

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit with straight shank offers strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance.
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    Your price for this item is $24.58

  6. Irwin - 4 1/8 L High Speed Steel Letter J Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQPPS

    Product Description

    A high speed steel drill bit with straight shank, offering strength, heat, and wear resistance.
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    Your price for this item is $22.42

  7. Irwin - 4 1/8 L High Speed Steel Letter F Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQPPW

    Product Description

    A high speed steel drill bit offering strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general purpose use.
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    Your price for this item is $21.67

  8. Irwin - High Speed Steel Letter R Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQLZR

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit offering strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general-purpose drilling.
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    Your price for this item is $25.30

  9. Irwin - High Speed Steel Letter T Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J3Z2TYQLZ4

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit offering excellent strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general use.
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    Your price for this item is $26.03

  10. Irwin - 28 X 2-7/8 in. L High Speed Steel Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ89ZFJ6

    Product Description

    A high speed steel wire gauge bit with a straight shank, ideal for precise drilling in wood, metal, and plastic.
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    Your price for this item is $17.97
    Save $0
    The previous price was $18.10

  11. Irwin - #2 X 3 7/8 L High Speed Steel Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ89Z5H2

    Product Description

    A high speed steel wire gauge drill bit offering strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance for general use.
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    Your price for this item is $18.97

  12. Irwin - 3/16 X 3 1/2 L Chrome Vanadium Steel Percussion Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J7XJ8PK6FW

    Product Description

    A chrome vanadium steel drill bit with patented flute geometry for faster, cleaner rotary percussion drilling.
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    Your price for this item is $20.51

  13. Irwin - 1/2 X 6 L Tungsten Carbide Tipped Rotary Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PZ46R

    Product Description

    A durable rotary drill bit with a tungsten carbide tip and straight shank for concrete and brick.
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    Your price for this item is $25.06

  14. Irwin - 32 X 2-3/4 in. L High Speed Steel Jobber Length Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J7XJ89ZF27

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit with straight shank, offering strength, heat resistance, and precise performance.
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    Your price for this item is $17.90
    Save $0
    The previous price was $18.03

  15. Irwin - 17 X 3-3/8 in. L High Speed Steel Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ89Z545

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel wire gauge bit with a straight shank, ideal for precise drilling in wood, metal, and plastic.
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    Your price for this item is $18.26
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    The previous price was $18.39

  16. Amber Sporting Goods - Irwin Tools IRWIN Drill Bit Set, Cobalt Alloy Steel, 15-Piece (316015)

    SKU: J7XJ8PFJZ7

    Product Description

    A durable 15-piece cobalt steel drill bit set in a molded ABS resin case with clear size markings.
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    Your price for this item is $57.54
    Save $4
    The previous price was $62.47

  17. Irwin - 1/4 X 4 L Tungsten Carbide Tipped Rotary Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PZ495

    Product Description

    A durable tungsten carbide-tipped rotary drill bit with a straight shank, ideal for concrete and brick.
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    Your price for this item is $19.05

  18. Irwin - 3/16 X 4 L Tungsten Carbide Tipped Rotary Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PZ49L

    Product Description

    A durable tungsten carbide-tipped rotary drill bit with a slow spiral flute for concrete and brick.
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    Your price for this item is $18.86

  19. Irwin - 1/8 X 3 L Tungsten Carbide Tipped Rotary Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PZ49Q

    Product Description

    A durable rotary drill bit with a tungsten carbide tip and slow spiral flute for concrete and brick.
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    Your price for this item is $18.63

  20. Irwin - 1/4 X 12 L High Speed Steel Masonry Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PKR78

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel masonry drill bit with patented flute geometry for fast, efficient dust removal and durability.
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    Your price for this item is $27.35

  21. Irwin - Turbomax 1/16 X 1 7/8 L High Speed Steel Drill Bit Straight Shank 2 pc

    SKU: J7XJ89Q545

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit set with a straight shank and advanced tip for faster, longer-lasting drilling.
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    Your price for this item is $18.69

  22. Irwin - 55 X 1-7/8 in. L High Speed Steel Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ89ZF9X

    Product Description

    A high speed steel drill bit designed for precise holes in wood, metal, and plastic applications.
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    Your price for this item is $17.79
    Save $0
    The previous price was $17.92

  23. Irwin - 56 X 1-3/4 in. L High Speed Steel Jobber Length Wire Gauge Bit Straight Shank 1 pk

    SKU: J7XJ89ZF9S

    Product Description

    A high-speed steel drill bit with a straight shank for precise holes in wood, metal, and plastic.
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    Your price for this item is $17.90
    Save $0
    The previous price was $18.03

  24. Irwin - 1/2 X 6 L Cobalt Steel Drill Bit Straight Shank 1 pc

    SKU: J7XJ8PVW25

    Product Description

    A cobalt steel drill bit designed for drilling into hardened steel, alloys, titanium, and stainless steel.
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    Your price for this item is $25.56
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Heavy duty drill bits for steel are designed to handle the heat, friction, and cutting resistance that make drilling metal more demanding than drilling wood or plastic. Choosing the best drill bits for steel starts with identifying the material you need to drill, whether it is mild steel, stainless steel, or hardened steel. High-speed steel (HSS) drill bits can be suitable for general-purpose drilling in mild steel, while cobalt drill bits offer greater heat resistance for tougher applications, including many stainless steel drilling tasks. Common cobalt grades include M35, which contains approximately 5% cobalt, and M42, which contains approximately 8% cobalt. Because the cobalt is part of the alloy rather than a surface coating, these bits retain their material properties after proper sharpening. Titanium nitride-coated drill bits can reduce friction and improve wear resistance, but the coating does not make them equivalent to cobalt or carbide drill bits. For hardened steel, carbide drill bits may be necessary, although their brittleness makes them better suited to rigid, controlled setups than freehand drilling. Features such as a 135-degree split point can help reduce wandering and make it easier to start accurate holes in metal. Getting reliable performance from heavy duty steel drill bits also depends on matching the bit size, drilling speed, and technique to the job. Larger-diameter bits generally require lower spindle speeds, and stainless steel typically benefits from slower cutting speeds than mild steel to help control heat. Follow the drill bit manufacturer’s speed recommendations and use a cutting fluid suitable for the metal to reduce friction and support chip removal. Secure the workpiece with clamps or a vise, mark the hole location with a center punch where appropriate, and apply steady feed pressure so the cutting edges remove material rather than rub against the surface. This is particularly important with stainless steel, which can work-harden if the bit repeatedly rubs without cutting. A pilot hole can help with some larger holes, while a step drill bit rated for steel is a practical option for enlarging holes in thin sheet metal. For thicker stock or repeated precision drilling, a drill press provides better stability and alignment than a handheld drill. Whether you are comparing a cobalt drill bit set for steel, individual metal drill bits, or replacement bits for workshop projects, check the supported materials, shank compatibility, diameter range, and recommended drilling depth to find an option suited to your equipment and workload.

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FAQ

Common materials include high-speed steel (HSS), cobalt-alloy high-speed steel, and carbide. Some drill bits also have surface treatments or coatings, such as black oxide or titanium nitride. Product descriptions typically list the bit material separately from its coating.

Cobalt drill bits contain cobalt within the steel alloy itself. Titanium-coated drill bits typically have a high-speed steel body with a titanium-based surface coating, such as titanium nitride. One term describes the bit’s underlying material, while the other describes its coating.

HSS stands for high-speed steel, a category of tool steel used to manufacture drill bits and other cutting tools. You may also see designations such as M35 and M42, which identify cobalt-containing grades of high-speed steel.

A twist drill bit has spiral grooves, called flutes, along its body and cutting edges at its tip. This familiar design is common among metalworking drill bits. The term describes the bit’s shape rather than its material or coating.

The shank is the end of a drill bit that attaches to the tool. A round shank is cylindrical, while a hex shank has six flat sides. These terms describe the attachment portion of the bit, not its cutting tip or material.