The 8 Best Spade Bits of 2026

Printed on the Jorgensen set is a range that runs 1/4 through 1-1/2 inches, with 13 six-inch bits and a quick-load connector. That is the broadest stated range here, and it matters if you are wiring, plumbing, or boring for cable and want the right diameter without hunting for a single bit. The 14-piece count is 13 bits plus the connector, not 14 cutting sizes. The pouch keeps the set together.

We rate it as the best full-range alternative to our top pick. The self-feeding threaded tip and double cutting spurs do the same fast, clean work, and the six-inch length gives more reach than the short Irwin set. The connector is the detail we appreciate most: it lets the bits go into an impact driver with a quick change and adds reach in tight spots. In our testing, the set pulled through 2x4s without bogging down.

The trade-off is speed control. The bits are rated to 1500 RPM, so keep the drill in a sensible range rather than flooring it; the threaded tip already does much of the feeding. The pouch is simple rather than armored, but it stuffs into a tool bag easily. For a set that covers the full range, that is a fair exchange.

If the Bosch set is the all-rounder, the Diablo DSP2920-S6 is the set we reach for when speed and a clean rim matter more than having every size. Its SPEED-TIP self-feeds, the curved paddle throws chips, and the angled spur scores the wood before the cutting edge arrives. The 3/8- to 1-inch range covers the common holes, and the six bits make a compact kit that is easy to keep close. We noticed the difference most at the start of the hole, where the tip bites instead of skating.

What we like most is how little pressure it takes to keep the bit moving. The trade-off is control: these bits are aggressive, so keep both hands on the drill and let the tip start the hole before you lean in. The range stops at 1 inch, which leaves out the larger cable and pipe sizes a 13-piece set can cover. The six bits fit in a tool-bag pocket, which makes the set easy to keep with the drill. For the holes most of us bore in a weekend, the speed and clean entry are worth it.

Four inches is the whole idea behind this Irwin set. The bits are short enough to fit between 16-inch-on-center studs and into a shallow cabinet or joist bay where a six-inch bit runs out of room. The six-piece set runs from 1/2 to 1-1/8 inches, so it covers common rough-in sizes without a lot of extras. The trade is obvious: less steel between the chuck and the tip, and a shorter reach.

Three cutting spurs and a full screw point give it the same self-feeding, clean-entry behavior as the larger sets. The 1/4-inch quick-change shank fits a standard chuck or an impact driver. The short body gives up some leverage, so let the screw point start the hole before you lean on it. In our testing, the bit was happiest when we kept the drill straight and let the threads pull.

This is the set we want for tight framing and remodel work, not for deep boring. The short length that makes it useful is also the limit: it will not reach through double-stacked 2x4s, and it is not the set for a deep hole through a thick beam. If your holes are shallow and access is the problem, those trade-offs are easy to accept.

Reach is what the Milwaukee Quik-Lok set buys, and the extension is the reason it earns a place. It adds length for holes you cannot get to with a standard bit, and the quick-change collar lets you move between the eight bits without chucking and rechucking. If you are running cable through existing framing, that is a real convenience.

The bits use double wing spurs and a cutting edge shaped to clear chips, and the cuts we made came out clean. The cobalt steel and hex shank feel substantial, and the carrying case keeps the set together. The set travels as one kit in its carrying case.

Eight pieces is a workable middle ground: enough sizes for common holes without the bulk of a 13-piece set. The extension adds length, but it also adds a joint, so a steady hand matters when you are boring overhead or at an angle. The bits start cleanly and stay stable once the hole is established.

This is the set we choose when the hole is in a bad place and a short bit cannot do the job. It costs more than a basic set, but the extension and case are the return. For everyday bench work, the extra hardware is overkill.

A molded ABS case is the first thing you notice, and it is the reason this set is easy to live with. The box stands up in a tool drawer and keeps the eight bits upright instead of loose in a bag. The bits inside use a Blue-Groove point and double-cutting spurs, a combination meant to pull chips out fast and score the rim so the hole stays clean.

We found the set lively in softwood and plywood, with enough shank to feel stable in the chuck. The grooved hex shank resists slipping, and the double spurs leave a cleaner edge than a plain spade. The eight-piece selection is a practical middle ground for framing, shelving, and general repair work. The bits are easy to control at the start, and the Blue-Groove point kept chips moving instead of packing the hole.

This is the set for someone who wants a hard case and a step up in durability without hunting for a specialty bit. The case is the main event, and the bits are sharp enough for repeated jobs. For a kit that lives in a truck or shop, the closed box is worth the bulk.

Six bits is a deliberately small kit, and that is the point of the DeWalt DW1587. The set runs from 3/8 to 1 inch, which covers common pilot and cable holes, and the high-speed steel bits are sharp enough to start cleanly in softwood and plywood. There are no duplicate sizes or filler to sort through, so the set fits in a small drawer and is easy to check at a glance. For a light-duty kit, that simplicity is the feature.

We like this one for a light-duty drawer or a small shop where storage is tight. The bits start cleanly and need little pressure in softwood; the simple set is easy to keep with a drill and a few hand tools. It is not the kit we take when we need one set for a whole remodel, but it does not pretend to be. The high-speed steel takes a sharp edge, and the six sizes cover the holes most people bore around the house. If your drill has a standard chuck, this is an easy set to live with.

Thirteen pieces from 1/4 to 1-1/2 inches is a lot of range for a budget kit, and that is the Comoware set's main draw. It also adds a self-centering spur, a 1/4-inch hex shank, and a nylon holder. That is the same broad range as sets costing more, which is why it stays in the conversation.

The bits cut fast in softwood and plywood, and the self-centering tip helps keep the start from skating. The hex shank moves between a drill and an impact driver, and the holder keeps the sizes together instead of loose in a drawer. For a set that covers small pilot holes through large cutouts, the range is the draw.

We treat it as a utility kit, not a finish-carpentry set. It does its best work in rough framing, planter boxes, and holes that will be hidden, where a fast hole matters more than a polished rim. The light build is part of the value; it is not the set to hand to someone who expects premium steel.

This is the set we point to when the budget is the deciding factor and you want the full size range in one purchase. It will not feel as refined as the Bosch or Jorgensen sets, but it gets the hole made. Keep it in the truck for utility work and save the sharpest bits for visible jobs.