Best Drill Bits for Cnc (2026)

Specs compared

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026. Where a title and a spec table disagree, both figures are shown.

Buying guide: drill bits for cnc

Match the bit to the material

Tungsten carbide is the baseline here: all five listings state it. For circuit boards, plastics and wood, plain carbide does the job. For aluminum, brass and copper, the WEXWE pair adds a diamond-like coating rated at HV7000 surface hardness. The Genmitsu set uses a nano blue coating for hardness and heat resistance across MDF, PVC, PCB, acrylic, wood, nylon, resin, plywood and carbon fiber. Coating matters most in metal and abrasive composites; for plain PCB drilling it is optional.

Size ranges: micro sets vs single sizes

PCB work lives in small diameters. The Lothee set covers 0.1 to 1.0 mm in 10 sizes with 3 bits of each, including 0.5 mm (0.020 inch), which suits vias and component holes. If every hole you drill is the same size, the single-size 10-packs win on value: the uxcell 3mm and 1mm sets give you 10 identical bits, so a snapped bit costs you a spare, not a project. Buy the range when sizes vary; buy the 10-pack when they do not.

Shanks and collets

Check the shank against your collets before ordering. The uxcell bits list 1/8 in shanks (3.175 mm and 3 mm), which fit common CNC collets, and the WEXWE pair lists a 1/4 in shank. The Genmitsu listing contradicts itself: the title says 1/8 in shank while the spec table says 1/4 in, so confirm with the seller before you buy. A bit that does not fit the collet is a paperweight.

Coatings: what they add

Two listings state coatings and three do not. The Genmitsu nano blue (titanium) coating adds hardness and heat resistance; the WEXWE diamond-like coating adds a low-friction, non-stick surface at HV7000. The Lothee and both uxcell sets are uncoated, which is fine for PCB and plastic but wears faster in abrasive material. Match the coating to the material, not to the marketing.

Flute geometry and point style

Every listing here states 2 flutes and a spiral flute type. The Lothee and both uxcell sets say the spiral flutes reduce cutting force and help prevent breakage; that is the maker’s claim, and it matches why spiral flutes are standard on micro bits. Point style varies: the Lothee is a spear point at 118 degrees, the WEXWE a 118 degree point angle, and the uxcell 1mm a taper point. A 118 degree point is the common all-purpose angle these listings state; treat the angle as a spec to compare, not a quality grade. With 2 flutes, chip room is limited in a 1 mm hole, so peck or clear chips rather than forcing the cut.

Spindle accuracy and bit fragility

The WEXWE listing is direct: solid carbide must run on high-speed CNC equipment with high spindle accuracy. That warning applies to every carbide bit here, especially the micro sizes. The Lothee bullets credit an anti-vibration blade design and spiral cutting edges with keeping the bit stable and preventing breakage; the uxcell listings make the same breakage claim for their spiral flutes. Treat those as maker claims, but the underlying point stands: a 0.1 mm bit has almost no margin for runout, so a worn collet or a loose mount snaps bits. If micro bits keep breaking, check the collet and mount before blaming the bit.

Set economics: spares and single sizes

Count what you actually get. The Lothee set gives 30 bits: 3 each of 10 sizes from 0.1 to 1.0 mm, so a snapped bit still leaves spares in that size. The Genmitsu MC50A gives 50 bits across 6 kinds: 10 flat nose end mills, 10 ball nose end mills, 10 nano blue coated end mills, 10 PCB drill bits, 5 V-groove engraving bits and 5 straight router bits. The uxcell 3mm and 1mm sets give 10 identical bits each: when every hole is the same diameter, that is a full set of spares. The WEXWE is a 2-piece pair at 1/4 in diameter. Match the pack to the job: variety for mixed work, identical spares for repeat drilling.

Compatibility: will these fit your machine

The Genmitsu listing names the machines its set fits: Genmitsu 3018 series, PROVerXL 4030, 3020-PRO MAX and other industrial CNC machines. The uxcell sets say they fit PCB drilling machines, engraving machines, CNC and high precision drilling equipment. The WEXWE demands high-speed CNC equipment with high spindle accuracy. The Lothee lists a shank for CNC routers. In every case, confirm the shank against your collets before ordering, and note the Genmitsu title-versus-spec-table shank contradiction flagged above.

Project Match

• PCB drilling and jewelry: the Lothee 30-pc set, with sizes from 0.1 to 1.0 mm.
• Mixed routing, milling and engraving: the Genmitsu MC50A 50-pc set, with 6 bit kinds.
• Aluminum, brass and copper: the WEXWE 1/4 in solid carbide pair with DLC coating.
• Repeat 3 mm holes: the uxcell 3mm 10-pc set.
• Fine 1 mm holes: the uxcell 1mm 10-pc set.

How the scores add up

Each set is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, with the weights published on our How We Pick page. A spec the listing does not publish scores nothing, so none of these earns safety or warranty points.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

What size drill bit do I need for PCB work?

Small. The Lothee set covers 0.1 to 1.0 mm including 0.5 mm (0.020 inch), which handles vias and component holes. Match the bit to the hole your design calls for.

Can these bits drill steel?

The Genmitsu listing rates soft metal (Al, Fe, Cu, Steel) with a check mark, and the WEXWE pair is pitched at aluminum, brass and copper. Hardened steel is not stated for any of them, so do not assume it.

What does a 118 degree point mean?

It is the point angle of the bit, listed on the Lothee and WEXWE. A sharper point starts cleaner; the angle is a spec to compare, not a quality grade.

Do I need coated bits?

For PCB and plastic, the uncoated sets here do fine. For metal and abrasive composites, the Genmitsu nano blue and WEXWE diamond-like coatings add hardness and wear resistance the uncoated sets do not claim.

Related: coated vs uncoated carbide end mills, carbide vs high speed steel end mills, two flute vs four flute end mills, PCB milling vs laser engraving and the CNC tooling hub.