There are several types of electric hammer drill bits?

Electric hammer drill bits are essential tools designed to work with electric hammer drills, which combine rotary motion with axial impact force to penetrate hard materials like concrete, masonry, stone, and brick. These bits are engineered with specific materials, geometries, and shank designs to optimize performance across different applications. Understanding the various types of electric hammer drill bits, along with their associated brands and models, is crucial for selecting the right tool for specific tasks. This guide provides a detailed overview of these bits, covering their classifications, key features, and prominent examples from leading manufacturers.

The material of a hammer drill bit directly influences its durability, cutting efficiency, and suitability for specific materials. The most common materials used in hammer drill bits include carbide, high-speed steel (HSS), cobalt alloys, and composite materials. Each material offers distinct advantages, making them ideal for different drilling scenarios.

Carbide-tipped bits are the most widely used type for heavy-duty drilling in hard materials such as concrete, masonry, and stone. They feature a hard carbide tip brazed or welded to a steel shank, combining the wear resistance of carbide with the toughness of steel. Carbide is a composite material made of tungsten carbide particles bonded with cobalt, offering exceptional hardness (up to 9 on the Mohs scale) and resistance to high temperatures generated during drilling.

Carbide tips are available in different grades, denoted by codes like C2, C3, and C4, which indicate their hardness and toughness. C2-grade carbide is relatively soft but tough, making it suitable for drilling in soft concrete or masonry with minimal aggregate. C3-grade carbide balances hardness and toughness, ideal for general-purpose drilling in medium-hard concrete. C4-grade carbide is the hardest and most wear-resistant, designed for drilling in hard concrete, reinforced concrete (with steel rebars), and abrasive materials like granite.

Leading brands offer a range of carbide-tipped hammer drill bits tailored to specific applications. For example, Bosch produces the Professional SDS-plus-5 X series, a popular choice for general construction. These bits feature a 4-cutting-edge carbide tip with a special sharpening geometry that reduces friction and improves penetration speed. The shank is made of high-quality steel with a corrosion-resistant coating, and the flutes (spiral grooves) are optimized to expel debris efficiently, preventing clogging. The SDS-plus-5 X series is available in diameters from 6mm to 25mm and lengths from 110mm to 600mm, making it suitable for drilling in concrete, masonry, and brick.

Another notable model is the DeWalt DW5204 SDS-plus Hammer Bit, designed for heavy-duty use in concrete and masonry. It features a full carbide tip with a reinforced brazing joint to prevent tip detachment during high-impact drilling. The bit’s spiral flutes are engineered with a variable pitch, which enhances debris removal and reduces vibration, resulting in smoother drilling. The DW5204 is available in diameters from 6mm to 16mm and lengths up to 300mm, making it ideal for both shallow and moderately deep holes in medium-hard concrete.

For professional-grade performance in reinforced concrete, Hilti offers the TE-CX SDS-plus Bit. This bit features a Perma-Set carbide tip, which is laser-welded to the steel shank for maximum bonding strength, ensuring the tip remains secure even under extreme impact. The tip’s unique geometric design includes a centered point for precise positioning and sharp cutting edges that penetrate hard aggregate and steel rebars with minimal effort. The TE-CX series includes diameters from 6mm to 32mm and lengths from 110mm to 600mm, with a special TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride) coating that reduces wear and extends tool life.

High-speed steel (HSS) hammer drill bits are primarily used for drilling in softer materials such as wood, plastic, and thin metal, though they can also be used for light-duty drilling in soft masonry. HSS is an alloy of steel containing tungsten, chromium, and vanadium, which gives it excellent toughness and the ability to maintain hardness at high temperatures (up to 600°C). However, HSS is softer than carbide, making it less suitable for hard materials like concrete or reinforced masonry.

HSS hammer drill bits are often coated with materials like titanium nitride (TiN) or black oxide to improve wear resistance and reduce friction. TiN coating, which has a golden appearance, reduces heat buildup and prevents the bit from sticking to the material being drilled, while black oxide coating enhances corrosion resistance.

Makita offers the B-65399 HSS Hammer Drill Bit as part of its general-purpose lineup. This bit features a fully ground HSS construction with a TiN coating, ensuring smooth cutting and extended life in wood, plastic, and soft metal. The bit has a straight shank (round or hexagonal) compatible with standard chuck hammer drills, making it versatile for home DIY projects and light construction. It is available in diameters from 3mm to 12mm and lengths from 50mm to 200mm, with a 135-degree split point tip for quick penetration and reduced walking (drifting off-center) during drilling.

Another example is the Milwaukee 48-89-2300 HSS Hammer Bit, designed for multi-material use. This bit combines an HSS body with a carbide tip for limited masonry drilling, making it suitable for tasks that involve switching between wood, metal, and soft brick. The bit’s flutes are designed with a parabolic shape to expel chips efficiently, and the shank is hexagonal to prevent slipping in the drill chuck. It is available in diameters from 4mm to 10mm and lengths up to 150mm, making it a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts and handymen.

Cobalt alloy hammer drill bits are a variation of HSS bits, with cobalt added to the steel alloy (typically 5-8% cobalt) to enhance hardness and heat resistance. This makes them more durable than standard HSS bits, especially when drilling in hard metals like stainless steel, cast iron, and high-carbon steel. While primarily designed for metal drilling, cobalt alloy bits can also handle light-duty masonry work, though they are less effective than carbide-tipped bits for concrete.

Cobalt bits are often used in industrial settings where high precision and durability are required. They retain their cutting edge at higher temperatures than HSS bits, making them suitable for prolonged drilling sessions without frequent sharpening.

Irwin Tools produces the 3018002 Cobalt Alloy Hammer Drill Bit Set, which includes bits ranging from 3mm to 10mm in diameter. These bits feature a cobalt alloy construction with a black oxide coating for corrosion resistance and a 135-degree split point tip for accurate drilling. The flutes are designed to clear chips quickly, reducing heat buildup and improving performance in metal. The set is compatible with both rotary and hammer drills, making it versatile for metalworking and light masonry tasks.

Dormer Pramet offers the A112 Cobalt Hammer Bit, a professional-grade option for heavy-duty metal drilling. This bit features a 5% cobalt content, a bright finish for easy chip visibility, and a parabolic flute design for efficient chip removal. It is available in diameters from 2mm to 16mm and lengths up to 200mm, with a round shank that fits standard drill chucks. The A112 is ideal for drilling in stainless steel, alloy steel, and cast iron, as well as soft masonry in industrial applications.

Hammer drill bits are also classified based on the materials they are designed to drill into. Different materials require specific tip geometries, flute designs, and material compositions to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Concrete is a composite material consisting of aggregate (sand, gravel), cement, and water, which hardens into a dense, rigid structure. Drilling in concrete requires bits with hard, wear-resistant tips and efficient debris removal systems to handle the abrasive aggregate. Concrete bits typically have carbide tips and deep, wide flutes to expel concrete dust and small fragments.

For general concrete drilling, the Bosch Professional SDS-max-9 series is a top choice. SDS-max is a larger shank system designed for heavy-duty hammer drills, and these bits are built for deep, large-diameter holes in concrete and reinforced concrete. The SDS-max-9 bits feature a C4-grade carbide tip with a chisel-like design that breaks through aggregate and rebars, while the extra-wide flutes ensure rapid debris removal. They are available in diameters from 16mm to 50mm and lengths from 300mm to 1000mm, making them suitable for structural construction projects, such as installing anchor bolts or plumbing pipes.

Hilti TE-YX SDS-max Bit is another high-performance option for concrete, particularly in reinforced structures with high rebar density. This bit features a wear-resistant carbide tip with a special “rebound control” design that reduces vibration when hitting steel, preventing tip damage. The flute geometry is optimized to clear concrete chips quickly, even in deep holes, and the shank is reinforced to withstand high impact forces. The TE-YX series includes diameters from 18mm to 60mm and lengths up to 1200mm, making it a favorite among professional contractors.

Masonry refers to materials like brick, block, and stone, which are less dense than concrete but still require robust bits for drilling. Masonry bits often have carbide tips but with slightly different geometries than concrete bits, as masonry materials are more porous and prone to crumbling. The tips are usually sharper and more pointed to prevent chipping, and the flutes are designed to collect fine dust.

The DeWalt DW5470 SDS-max Masonry Bit is engineered for drilling in brick, cinder block, and limestone. It features a carbide tip with a 4-point design that ensures precise positioning and reduces chipping, while the spiral flutes are narrower than those on concrete bits to handle the finer masonry dust. The bit’s steel shank is heat-treated for toughness, and it is available in diameters from 12mm to 30mm and lengths from 200mm to 600mm. This makes it suitable for projects like installing shelves, electrical boxes, or fence posts in masonry walls.

Makita D-46283 SDS-max Masonry Bit is another reliable option, designed for high-speed drilling in soft to medium masonry. It features a C3-grade carbide tip with a special sharpening angle that minimizes material chipping, and the flutes are coated with a friction-reducing material to prevent overheating. The bit is available in diameters from 10mm to 25mm and lengths up to 500mm, making it ideal for DIY and light professional use.

Natural stone, such as granite, marble, and slate, is extremely hard and abrasive, requiring bits with the hardest carbide tips and specialized designs to prevent cracking. Stone bits have diamond-infused carbide tips or ultra-hard carbide grades (C4 or higher) to handle the abrasive nature of stone, and their flutes are designed to minimize vibration, which can cause stone to chip.

Bosch Professional SDS-plus-7 Stone Bit is specifically designed for drilling in granite and marble. It features a diamond-enhanced carbide tip that grinds through stone rather than cutting, reducing the risk of cracking. The tip has a rounded profile to distribute pressure evenly, and the flutes are narrow and deep to collect stone dust efficiently. The bit is available in diameters from 6mm to 16mm and lengths from 100mm to 300mm, making it suitable for installing countertops, tiles, or decorative stone features.

Hilti TE-C Stone Bit is a premium option for precision stone drilling. It uses a proprietary carbide blend with high diamond content, ensuring long life even in the hardest granite. The tip’s geometry is optimized for smooth, chip-free drilling, and the shank is designed to reduce vibration, protecting both the bit and the stone. The TE-C series includes diameters from 5mm to 20mm and lengths up to 400mm, making it a top choice for professional stone masons.

While hammer drills are not the primary tool for metal drilling, some hammer drill bits are designed to handle light to medium metal drilling, often combining HSS or cobalt alloy bodies with carbide tips for versatility. These bits are used when a hammer drill is the only available tool, or for drilling in thin metal sheets attached to masonry.

The Milwaukee 48-20-8840 SDS-plus Multi-Material Bit is a versatile option that works on metal, concrete, and wood. It features a carbide tip for concrete drilling and an HSS body with a cobalt blend for metal, allowing users to switch between materials without changing bits. The bit has a 135-degree split point tip for accurate metal drilling and spiral flutes that clear chips from both metal and concrete. It is available in diameters from 6mm to 12mm and lengths up to 200mm, making it ideal for renovation projects where multiple materials are involved.

Irwin Tools 3018005 Cobalt Hammer Bit is another multi-material option, with a cobalt alloy body and a carbide tip for masonry. It is designed to drill through metal pipes, angle iron, and thin steel sheets, as well as soft concrete and brick. The bit’s flutes are parabolic to expel metal chips efficiently, and the shank is hexagonal to prevent slipping in the drill chuck. It is available in diameters from 4mm to 10mm and lengths up to 150mm, suitable for DIY and light industrial use.

The shank is the part of the drill bit that connects to the hammer drill’s chuck or spindle, and its design determines compatibility with specific drill models. The most common shank types for electric hammer drill bits are SDS-plus, SDS-max, SDS-top, hexagonal, and round shanks, each suited to different drill sizes and power levels.

SDS-plus is the most widely used shank system for light to medium-duty hammer drills. It features a cylindrical shank with two grooves that lock into the drill’s chuck, allowing for quick bit changes without tools. SDS-plus bits are typically used for drilling holes up to 25mm in diameter in concrete, masonry, and stone, making them popular for home improvement, renovation, and small construction projects.

Bosch Professional SDS-plus-5 X (mentioned earlier) is a leading example, compatible with Bosch GBH 2-28, GBH 2-26, and other SDS-plus hammer drills. This series includes bits with diameters from 5mm to 25mm and lengths from 100mm to 600mm, covering most common drilling needs. The SDS-plus shank ensures a secure fit and efficient power transfer from the drill to the bit, reducing slippage and improving performance.

DeWalt DW5207 SDS-plus Bit Set is a popular kit for DIYers, including 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm bits with lengths of 150mm to 250mm. These bits feature SDS-plus shanks compatible with DeWalt D25133K, D25143K, and other SDS-plus drills, as well as most third-party models. The set comes in a durable case for storage, making it convenient for home use.

SDS-max is a larger, more robust shank system designed for heavy-duty hammer drills used in industrial construction. The shank is thicker and longer than SDS-plus, with three grooves for a stronger lock, enabling it to handle higher torque and impact forces. SDS-max bits are used for drilling large holes (up to 60mm in diameter) in reinforced concrete, stone, and masonry, often for structural applications like installing large anchors or utility lines.

Hilti TE-YX SDS-max Bit (discussed earlier) is a premium option for SDS-max drills like Hilti TE 3000-AVR and TE 4000-AVR. These bits have diameters from 18mm to 60mm and lengths up to 1200mm, making them suitable for deep, large-diameter holes in heavy concrete. The SDS-max shank ensures maximum power transfer, allowing the bit to penetrate tough materials with minimal effort.

Makita D-46283 SDS-max Bit is another reliable choice, compatible with Makita HR4013C and HR5212C SDS-max hammer drills. It features a reinforced SDS-max shank and a carbide tip designed for long life in heavy concrete, with diameters from 14mm to 45mm and lengths from 250mm to 900mm.

SDS-top is a less common shank system used primarily in European markets for medium to heavy-duty hammer drills. It combines features of SDS-plus and SDS-max, with a shank diameter between the two, making it suitable for holes up to 35mm in diameter. SDS-top bits are often used in commercial construction and renovation projects where more power than SDS-plus is needed but SDS-max is unnecessary.

Bosch Professional SDS-top-6 Bit is a notable example, compatible with Bosch GBH 4-32 DFR and other SDS-top drills. This bit features a carbide tip with a 4-cutting-edge design and SDS-top shank for secure fitting. It is available in diameters from 10mm to 32mm and lengths from 200mm to 800mm, ideal for drilling in medium to heavy concrete and masonry.

Hexagonal and round shank bits are compatible with standard drill chucks (keyed or keyless) found on rotary hammer drills and combination drills. Hexagonal shanks have six flat sides, preventing slippage in the chuck, while round shanks are smooth and rely on the chuck’s grip. These bits are versatile but less efficient for heavy-duty hammer drilling than SDS shanks, as they transfer impact force less effectively.

Milwaukee 48-89-2310 Hex Shank Hammer Bit Set includes hexagonal shank bits in diameters from 3mm to 10mm, compatible with most standard drill chucks. These bits feature carbide tips for masonry and HSS bodies for metal, making them suitable for multi-material use. The hexagonal shank ensures a secure fit, reducing slippage during high-impact drilling.

Irwin Tools 1877758 Round Shank Hammer Bit is a budget-friendly option for light masonry and wood drilling. It has a round shank that fits standard chucks and a carbide tip for concrete, with diameters from 5mm to 12mm and lengths up to 150mm. This bit is ideal for home DIY projects where a dedicated SDS drill is not available.

Beyond the standard types, there are specialized hammer drill bits designed for specific tasks, such as drilling through rebar, creating large holes, or working in confined spaces. These bits often feature unique geometries or materials to address specific challenges.

Reinforced concrete contains steel rebars, which can damage standard bits if hit during drilling. Rebar-cutting bits are designed with extra-hard carbide tips (C4 or higher) and reinforced shanks to withstand impact with steel, allowing them to drill through rebars without breaking.

Hilti TE-CX Rebar-Cutting Bit is engineered for this purpose, featuring a Perma-Set carbide tip with a special hardened edge that cuts through steel rebars cleanly. The bit’s flute design channels debris away from the tip, preventing clogging when drilling through rebar. It is available in SDS-plus shank with diameters from 8mm to 20mm and lengths up to 450mm, making it suitable for reinforced concrete in construction.

Bosch Professional SDS-max Rebar Bit is another option, with a C4-grade carbide tip and a reinforced shank that absorbs impact when hitting rebar. It is available in diameters from 16mm to 32mm and lengths up to 600mm, compatible with SDS-max drills for heavy-duty reinforced concrete work.

Core drill bits are hollow, cylindrical bits used to create large, clean holes in concrete, masonry, and stone for pipes, cables, or vents. They remove a cylindrical core of material rather than solid debris, making them efficient for large diameters (up to 300mm or more). Core bits typically have a carbide or diamond grit edge for cutting, with a pilot bit in the center to guide drilling.

Bosch Professional SDS-max Core Bit is designed for large-diameter holes in concrete, featuring a diamond grit edge for fast cutting and a pilot bit for accuracy. The SDS-max shank ensures compatibility with heavy-duty drills, and the bit is available in diameters from 50mm to 200mm and lengths up to 500mm. It is ideal for installing plumbing pipes or electrical conduits in concrete walls.

Hilti TE-Y Core Bit is a premium core drill bit with a diamond-impregnated edge that delivers long life in hard concrete. It features a hollow design with spiral flutes to expel core debris, and it is compatible with SDS-max drills. Available in diameters from 40mm to 300mm and lengths up to 600mm, it is widely used in commercial construction for large-scale hole drilling.

Short-length bits are designed for drilling in confined spaces, such as between studs or in tight corners, where long bits cannot maneuver. They have the same tip and shank designs as standard bits but with shorter overall lengths (typically 50mm to 150mm).

DeWalt DW5203 Short SDS-plus Bit is a compact option, available in diameters from 6mm to 12mm and lengths of 100mm. It features a carbide tip and SDS-plus shank, making it compatible with standard SDS-plus drills for drilling in tight spaces like wall cavities or under cabinets.

Makita B-65398 Short HSS Bit is a short-length bit with a round shank, ideal for light drilling in wood, metal, and soft masonry in confined areas. It is available in diameters from 3mm to 8mm and lengths up to 80mm, suitable for DIY projects with limited space.

Electric hammer drill bits are diverse tools, classified by material, application, shank type, and specialization to meet the demands of various drilling tasks. From carbide-tipped bits for concrete to cobalt alloy bits for metal, and from SDS-plus for light work to SDS-max for heavy-duty construction, each type offers unique features tailored to specific materials and projects. Leading brands like Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Hilti, Milwaukee, and Irwin Tools provide a wide range of models, ensuring there is a bit for every need, whether for home DIY, renovation, or professional construction. By understanding the different types and their capabilities, users can select the right hammer drill bit to achieve efficient, precise, and durable results in any drilling application.