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Spade bits are the fast, cheap way to bore large-diameter holes in wood with a standard drill — the picks below split between full multi-size sets for a first-time buyer and specific self-feed or nail-cutting bits worth adding individually.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch Daredevil 13-Piece Spade Bit Set | $25-$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Milwaukee 49-22-0175 8-Piece Quik-Lok Spade Bit Set | $30-$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Irwin Speedbor Spade Bit Set | $15-$25 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | DeWalt DW1587 6-Piece Spade Bit Set | $12-$20 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | DeWalt Elite Series Nail-Cutting Spade Bit Set (3-pc) | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Diablo DSP2980-S16 Spade Bit Set | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Vermont American Self-Feed Spade Bits | $5-$10 each | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Ryobi 10-Piece Wood Spade Bit Set | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Makita 8-Piece Flat Wood Drill Bit Set | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Greenlee 34AR-6 Self-Feeding Spade Bit Kit | $40-$60 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Bosch Daredevil 13-Piece Spade Bit Set
A full 13-piece set from 1/4-inch to 1-3/8-inch, using a threaded tip and wave-style paddle for a smoother, cleaner-cutting bit than a basic flat spade.
- 13 bits, 1/4-inch to 1-3/8-inch
- Threaded self-feed tip
- Wave-ground paddle edge for cleaner cuts
- Hex shank for secure chuck grip
- Widest size range of any set on this list
- Wave design leaves noticeably cleaner holes than a plain flat spade
- Pricier than a basic flat-spade set
- Larger sizes need a drill with real torque to self-feed cleanly
Milwaukee 49-22-0175 8-Piece Quik-Lok Spade Bit Set
An 8-piece set built around Milwaukee’s Quik-Lok system, which lets you swap bits without fully removing the chuck — useful for reaching tight stud bays repeatedly.
- 8 bits with Quik-Lok quick-change hub
- Extended bit length for reaching through studs
- Hex shank
- Compatible with Milwaukee Quik-Lok extensions
- Quick-change hub speeds up jobs needing multiple bit sizes back to back
- Extended length is genuinely useful for electrical/plumbing rough-in work
- Quik-Lok extensions and adapters are a Milwaukee-specific ecosystem
- Fewer bits included than the Bosch 13-piece set
Irwin Speedbor Spade Bit Set
A well-regarded set known for clean cuts thanks to spur placement that improves chip removal versus a basic spade design.
- Multi-size set covering common bit diameters
- Spur-and-point design for cleaner entry
- Improved chip clearance
- Hex shank
- Cleaner hole edges than a generic flat spade bit
- Long-standing reputation among woodworkers for consistency
- Not quite as fast-cutting as the self-feed Bosch Daredevil design
- Sold in fewer size configurations than some competitors
DeWalt DW1587 6-Piece Spade Bit Set
A straightforward 6-piece set covering the sizes most DIYers actually reach for, with extreme-speed channels for faster chip removal.
- 6 bits covering common everyday sizes
- Extreme Speed Channels for chip removal
- Heavy-duty shank
- Standard flat-spade cutting profile
- Covers the handful of sizes most home projects need without paying for a huge set
- Reliable DeWalt build quality at a mid-range price
- Fewer sizes than the Bosch 13-piece set for a specialist project
- Standard spade profile, not the self-feed style of the Daredevil
DeWalt Elite Series Nail-Cutting Spade Bit Set (3-pc)
A specialty 3-piece set built to cut through embedded nails without immediately dulling, for remodeling work where you can’t be sure what’s hiding in old lumber.
- 3-piece set with curved paddle design
- Rated up to 2x life over standard bits when hitting nails
- Self-feed screw tip
- Hardened steel construction
- Purpose-built for remodeling/demo work where hidden nails are a real risk
- Much longer life than a standard spade bit when it does hit metal
- Only 3 sizes, meant to supplement a full set rather than replace one
- Pricier per-bit than a standard spade bit of the same size
Diablo DSP2980-S16 Spade Bit Set
Diablo’s SPEED-TIP self-feeding spade bit set, aimed at fast, clean holes in dimensional lumber without pre-drilling a pilot hole.
- Self-feeding SPEED-TIP design
- Multi-size set
- Fast-cutting geometry for clean wood
- Hex shank
- Self-feed tip pulls the bit through wood faster than a plain flat spade
- Diablo’s tips have a strong reputation for staying sharp longer
- Self-feed tip is less effective in wood with a lot of knots
- Not marketed for nail-embedded demo work like DeWalt’s Elite Series
Vermont American Self-Feed Spade Bits
Individually sized self-feed spade bits with precision-ground spurs, useful for buying just the one or two sizes a specific project needs.
- Sold individually by size, 1/4-inch through 1-1/8-inch and up
- Precision-ground spur and cutting edge
- Self-feed spur point
- Hardened and tempered steel
- No need to buy a full set if you only need one or two specific sizes
- Precision spur grind gives cleaner entry than a basic flat spade
- Buying multiple individual sizes can cost more than a discounted set
- Less commonly stocked in stores than Bosch, DeWalt, or Irwin
Ryobi 10-Piece Wood Spade Bit Set
A budget-friendly 10-piece set with a 1/4-inch hex shank compatible with both drills and impact drivers, and double-wing spurs to control break-out.
- 10 bits, common size range
- 1/4-inch hex shank works in drills and impact drivers
- Double-wing spurs reduce splintering on exit
- Includes a storage mat
- Works in an impact driver, not just a standard drill, unlike some competing sets
- Storage mat keeps a wide size range organized
- Ryobi’s One+ ecosystem branding aside, these are standard bits without Ryobi-specific features
- Build quality trails the Bosch Daredevil or Milwaukee sets at similar sizes
Makita 8-Piece Flat Wood Drill Bit Set
Makita’s spade bit set with a grooved head for better centering and chip discharge, covering common sizes with a hex shank to resist chuck slip.
- 8 bits covering common everyday sizes
- Grooved head design for centering and chip discharge
- Hex shank resists chuck slippage
- Suits both hard and soft wood
- Grooved head design centers more reliably than a plain flat spade tip
- Trusted Makita build quality for a mid-range price
- No self-feed screw tip like the Bosch or Diablo sets
- Fewer sizes than the Bosch 13-piece set
Greenlee 34AR-6 Self-Feeding Spade Bit Kit
A 6-piece self-feeding set from Greenlee, an electrician’s-trade brand, built to bore hardwood, softwood, plywood, and drywall with less vibration and effort.
- 6 bits, 3/8-inch to 1-inch
- Self-feeding design
- Bores hardwood, softwood, plywood, and drywall
- Trade-grade construction
- Self-feed design needs less forward pressure and vibration than a standard spade bit
- Trade-brand reliability aimed at electricians running conduit and cable holes daily
- Only 6 sizes versus the Bosch 13-piece set’s wider range
- Priced closer to trade-tool levels than a basic homeowner set
Buying tips
- A self-feed screw tip (Bosch Daredevil, Diablo DSP2980, Vermont American, Greenlee 34AR-6) pulls the bit through the wood, needing less forward pressure — worth prioritizing if you’re drilling a lot of holes in one session.
- If you’re doing remodel or demo work in old walls, the DeWalt Elite Series nail-cutting bits are worth adding individually even if you already own a standard set, since a nail will wreck a standard spade bit’s edge instantly.
- If you also run an impact driver, confirm the shank is rated for one — the Ryobi set is explicitly compatible, where some flat-shank bits are drill-only.
- Match bit length, not just diameter, to the job — reaching through a stud needs a longer bit than boring a shallow hole in a cabinet panel, and sets vary in how long their bits actually are.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.