Best Dovetail Bit for CNC (2026): 5 Picks

Specs compared

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026.

Best dovetail bit for CNC: buying guide

Angle: 14 degrees is the standard here

Every bit here with a stated angle is 14 degrees: the Microjig, both Freuds and the Yonico 14114q. The Yonico 5-bit set promises five common dovetail sizes and angles without stating them individually. For joinery that must match existing hardware, like the MATCHFIT system, buy the bit made for it rather than assuming angles match.

Shank diameter: 1/4 inch vs 1/2 inch

Four of the five bits use a 1/4-inch shank, which fits compact routers and most CNC spindles with a 1/4-inch collet. The Freud 22-112 is the exception with a 1/2-inch shank and a 2-1/4-inch overall length: more rigid for heavier passes, but it needs a 1/2-inch collet. Match the shank to the collet you own; none of the listings mentions an adapter.

Cutting diameter and height

The single bits are all 1/2-inch diameter. Cutting height is stated on two: 17/32 inch on the Yonico 14114q and 1/2-inch carbide height on both Freuds. The Microjig adds a laser-cut ⅜-inch depth guide for setting depth visually. The set’s individual dimensions are not stated, so you buy its range on trust.

Carbide grade and coating

The listings describe their carbide differently: Microjig says carbide, Freud says ground carbide with titanium plus its Perma-SHIELD coating, and Yonico says C3 micro-grain tungsten carbide with silver induction brazing. No listing states a hardness grade, so treat the grade words as the maker’s description and compare on geometry and warranty instead.

Speed ratings

Only Freud states a speed figure: both bits are computer balanced for vibration-free operation at speeds over 22,000 RPM. The Freud and Yonico listings say their bits work in CNC, table-mounted and handheld routers; the Microjig is sold as a router bit with a collet safety line. None of the listings states feed rates, so start with your machine maker’s chart for the material.

Project Match

Materials: the listings state woodworking use throughout: hardwoods, plywood, laminates, MDF, particle board and composites across the five. Cut depth per pass and feed rates are not stated on any listing.

Buying advice: matching the bit to the joinery

Angle first. Every stated angle here is 14 degrees: both Freud bits, the Microjig and the Yonico single. The Yonico set’s five angles are not individually stated, so if your joinery must match existing hardware or a jig, buy the single bit made for that angle. Fourteen degrees is the common dovetail standard in these listings, which is why all four singles agree on it.

One bit or five? The Yonico set contains five common dovetail bit sizes and angles for most dovetail projects, which is the economical route if you cut varied joinery. If you cut one joint size on the CNC, a single 14-degree bit, the Microjig for its depth guide or a Freud for its coating, is the sharper buy.

Shank and collet. Four of the five use a 1/4-inch shank, which fits the collets on most CNC routers and trim routers. The Freud 22-112 needs a 1/2-inch collet, so check your spindle before ordering. None of the listings mentions a shank adapter, so buy the shank your machine takes.

Depth control. The Microjig’s laser-cut ⅜-inch depth guide sets depth visually, which matters on a CNC where a wrong Z offset ruins the joint. The Freud bits counter with a 1/2-inch carbide height on both models and an anti-kickback design. Either way, cut a trial joint in scrap before the workpiece.

Coatings and carbide. Both Freud bits list titanium carbide with Perma-SHIELD coating and an anti-kickback design; the Microjig lists ground carbide with titanium. Coatings and carbide grade decide how long the edge lasts in hardwoods, so for production runs the Freud pair and the Microjig have the stated edge.

System bits. The Microjig is designed specifically for MATCHFIT dovetail clamps and hardware. If you are already in that system, the MATCHFIT bit is the natural match; if not, any 14-degree bit cuts a standard dovetail.

How the scores add up

Each bit 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.

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.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

What angle dovetail bit should I use on a CNC?

14 degrees is the standard across these listings: every bit with a stated angle is 14°, and the Yonico set’s five angles are not individually stated. If your joinery must match existing hardware, buy the bit made for that system.

Can I use a 1/4-inch shank dovetail bit in my CNC?

Yes, if your spindle or router has a 1/4-inch collet: four of the five bits here use a 1/4-inch shank. The Freud 22-112 needs a 1/2-inch collet. None of the listings mentions a shank adapter.

What is the difference between the Freud 22-104 and 22-112?

Shank and length. Both are 14-degree, 1/2-inch dovetail bits with titanium carbide and Perma-SHIELD coating, but the 22-104 has a 1/4-inch shank and a 1-7/8-inch overall length while the 22-112 has a 1/2-inch shank and a 2-1/4-inch overall length. Note the listing disagreement on the 22-112: the bullets say 2 cutters, the spec table says 1 flute.

Do these dovetail bits work in a handheld router?

Per the listings, yes for most: both Freud and both Yonico listings say CNC, table-mounted and handheld routers. The Microjig is sold as a router bit with a collet safety line. Check your router’s collet size against the shank before buying.

Which dovetail bit has the strongest stated warranty?

The Microjig, with a 3-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects. Both Freud listings state a Freud Limited Tooling Warranty with no term given, and the two Yonico listings state no warranty.

Related: best CNC router bits, best CNC router bits for hardwood, best router bit manufacturers and best CNC bit sets for beginners.