Which drill do I need?
A combi drill covers most jobs: Wickes says it suits wood, brick, concrete and steel. Then match the bit to the wall: masonry for brick, multi-purpose for plasterboard, a tile or diamond bit for tiles.
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Which drill do you need for each wall?
A combi drill for brick and concrete, a hammer drill for stone, masonry and concrete, an SDS drill for really heavy duty jobs, and a drill driver for lighter jobs. Wall by wall, from the makers' and retailers' guides, after the check below:
- Brick and concrete: a combi drill. Wickes says it suits wood, brick, concrete and steel, and that with its driver, hammer and impact settings it can tackle most jobs.
- Stone, masonry and concrete: a hammer drill, which Wickes describes as a heavyweight designed to drill into them.
- Really heavy duty jobs in stone and concrete: an SDS drill. Wickes says it can turn off its rotary action, so the tool can chisel through stone and concrete.
- Plasterboard: our sources name the bit, not a type of drill. Wickes:
Bear in mind that if you're drilling into a brick wall, you'll need a masonry drill bit, and for plasterboard you can use a standard multi-purpose bit.
- Tiles: our sources give the drill settings, not a type of drill. Bosch:
Always switch off the hammer or percussion functions of your drill, as the vibrations could damage the tile.
The drill speed should not exceed 1,000 rpm.
- Lighter jobs: a drill driver. Wickes says it works as a drill and as a screwdriver and copes with wood and thin metal, but is not designed for masonry.
Source: Wickes, Drills Buying Guide. Checked .
Not sure what your wall is? Bosch's advice is First you need to find out what type of material your wall is made from, which is best done by drilling a small test hole.
What's my wall? shows how to tell, and gives the fixing, bit and screw for each wall.
Sources: Wickes, What do I need to put up shelves?. Checked ; Bosch DIY, Drilling tiles (all about DIY). Checked ; Bosch DIY, Better safe than sorry: take the time to check the walls before you start drilling. Checked .
Should you get a cordless or a corded drill?
Cordless, for most jobs, and the one to use near wiring where you can. Wickes: A cordless drill can't quite match the power of a corded drill, but it can still tackle most jobs.
Electrical Safety First, the charity, says For any DIY near electrical wiring or power supplies, switch off the power at your fuseboard and, where possible, only use battery-powered tools.
A corded drill has more power, but Wickes notes Corded drills must be plugged into a power source, so you’ll need access either to a plug socket or an extension lead.
Sources: Wickes, Drills Buying Guide. Checked ; Electrical Safety First, DIY-ers safety advice. Checked .
Which drill bit do you need?
The one made for the material you are drilling into. Wickes' descriptions in plain words, Bosch's tile advice in its own:
- Masonry and concrete: a TCT bit, which Wickes describes as a high performance bit designed for masonry, concrete and stainless steel.
- SDS drills: SDS bits, which Wickes describes as masonry bits made for SDS drills and hammer drills.
- Plasterboard:
Bear in mind that if you're drilling into a brick wall, you'll need a masonry drill bit, and for plasterboard you can use a standard multi-purpose bit.
- Metal and wood: an HSS (high speed steel) bit, which Wickes calls a practical, versatile choice for several materials, such as steel and hardwood.
- Tiles:
Choose the right drill bit. Use glass and tile drill bits for soft and medium tiles and diamond drill bits for drilling porcelain and natural stone tiles.
- Through a tile to the wall behind:
Always switch to a masonry drill bit to drill into the masonry behind the tile.
[How to drill through tiles](/fixing-into-tiles/#drill)
Source: Wickes, Drills Buying Guide. Checked .
Sources: Wickes, Drills Buying Guide. Checked ; Bosch DIY, How to drill into tiles: Tips for damage-free holes in tiles. Checked .
Sources: Wickes, What do I need to put up shelves?. Checked ; Bosch DIY, How to drill into tiles: Tips for damage-free holes in tiles. Checked .
What size drill bit do you need for a wall plug?
The size the plug's maker gives. Wickes: Once you've picked out your wall plug, you'll need a drill bit that matches its size. To do this, you need to hold the fixing next to your drill bits and choose the one that matches its diameter.
Plasplugs colour-codes its solid wall plugs, and lists the drill bit and screw range for each on its product pages:
- Yellow: a 5 mm bit, for screws No.4-8 (3-4.5mm).
- Red: a 6 mm bit, for screws No.6-12 (3.5-5.5mm).
- Brown: a 7 mm bit, for screws No.8-14 (4.5-7mm).
These are Plasplugs' colours. For any other plug, use the size its own maker gives, as fischer does for each of its fixings:
- fischer SX Plus 6 x 30 plug: a 6 mm hole, at least 40 mm deep.
- fischer DuoPower 8 x 40 plug: an 8 mm hole, at least 50 mm deep.
- fischer HM 5 x 37 metal cavity fixing: a 10 mm hole, for its M5 x 44 screw.
The metal cavity fixing's hole is wider than its screw, so match the bit to the fixing, as Wickes says, not to the screw.
Sources: Wickes, What do I need to put up shelves?. Checked ; Plasplugs, 100 x Regular Duty Yellow Supergrips Clip Pack. Checked ; Plasplugs, 100 x Regular Duty Red Supergrips Clip Pack. Checked ; Plasplugs, 100 x Heavy Duty Brown Supergrips Clip Pack. Checked ; fischer, fischer Expansion plug SX Plus product page. Checked ; fischer, fischer DuoPower product page. Checked ; fischer, fischer Metal cavity fixing HM product page. Checked .
Questions
What chuck size does a drill need?
10mm is enough for most home DIY, Wickes says, and 13mm suits heavier jobs: The two most common chuck sizes are 10mm, which is sufficient for most home DIY use, or 13mm for more heavy duty jobs.
Source: Wickes, Drills Buying Guide. Checked .