Your drill is the Swiss Army knife of the toolbox, ready for everything from hanging shelves to building a deck. But here’s a classic DIY head-scratcher… Can a hammer drill bit be used in a regular drill?
You might already own a hammer drill and a standard drill, or maybe you are new to DIY, you might be wondering if you need to buy a hammer drill too—or whether drill bits are universal and can be shared across different drill types.
Drills aren’t exactly pocket change, especially cordless ones, so it’s fair to ask if those hammer drill bits can pull double duty.
The short answer? Nope. Hammer drill bits and regular drills are not the match made in heaven you were hoping for.
Here’s why, and how to save yourself time, cash, and a few grey hairs while you’re at it.
What Is A Hammer Drill Bit?
As the name suggests, a hammer drill bit is designed specifically for a hammer drill. It slots in just like a normal bit fits in a regular drill, but it’s built to handle the extra pounding of a hammering action.
These bits come in a variety of types, just like standard drill bits, so you can tackle materials from wood to metal to tile. But their key talent is in masonry and heavy-duty surfaces. Think concrete, brick, and stone.
To appreciate why these bits are special, you need to know what a hammer drill actually does.
What Is A Hammer Drill?
A hammer drill is a drill that is sometimes known by other names. These include percussion drill and impact drill.
When you look at a hammer drill, you likely will be unable to tell the difference between this and a standard drill.
This is understandable because these drills do look incredibly similar to one another, and both can be used to drill into hard materials and softer materials like some wood, and can even be used to drill concrete, amongst other incredibly tough materials like brick.
However, a hammer drill is different from a regular drill because it is designed to be used on heavy-duty materials and other similar materials and can almost be used as a regular drill to create pilot holes when drilling.
It is a rotary drill, so it penetrates the material by spinning vigorously, like most drills do.
The spinning in a hammer drill is so vigorous that it essentially produces a hammering motion.
It is this hammering motion that allows a hammer drill to penetrate heavy-duty materials, and it is also this hammering motion that gives this drill its name and allows it to easily create holes, and even enable it to be drilling into concrete, brick, metal, and wood, better than other tools can.
Hammer drill bits are very similar to regular drill bits because the difference between the two drills is the motion of the drill itself, not the shape of the bit—though choosing the right type depends on what material you’re drilling into, like wood, metal, tiles, or masonry.
Hammer drills significantly reduce the time spent on smaller jobs that may require two tools or the perfect tool for drilling.
However, as they are intended for different drills, hammer drill bits often have different attachments to regular drills and corded drills that require steady pressure for heavy duty drilling.
Aside from this, these two drill bits are essentially the same.
What Is A “Regular” Drill?
A regular drill, sometimes just called a standard or cordless drill, is the everyday workhorse you grab for woodwork, metal, and most DIY projects.
It spins the bit vigorously but does not have a hammering mechanism. Pop a drill bit into its chuck, squeeze the trigger, and the bit rotates to bore holes or drive screws. Simple, reliable, and ideal for jobs that don’t involve concrete or masonry.
What Is The Difference Between A Regular Drill And A Hammer Drill?
Both types of drills spin the bit. But only a hammer drill spins and hammers at the same time.
This hammering motion comes from an internal mechanism that you simply won’t find inside a regular drill. It’s what lets a hammer drill blast through brick or concrete while a regular drill would barely scratch the surface.
In all other aspects, appearance, basic controls, the two look and feel similar. That’s what makes it easy to assume their bits are interchangeable. Spoiler alert, they’re not.
Can A Hammer Drill Bit Be Used In A Regular Drill?
So, back to the burning question… Can you use a hammer drill bit in a regular drill?
No. And here’s the kicker, it’s not because the cutting ends are wildly different. Hammer drill bits and regular drill bits often look pretty similar. The deal-breaker is the connection.
Hammer drill bits typically use a different shank design, often SDS (Slotted Drive System) or similar, which is not compatible with the standard three-jaw chuck of a regular drill.
Try forcing it and you’ll quickly realise it doesn’t fit. Even if you could wedge it in somehow, you’d risk damaging both the bit and the drill.
The Smarter Solution
Instead of trying to make incompatible bits fit, here’s the smarter play, buy a hammer drill and use it as both.
Modern hammer drills have a switch that lets you turn the hammering action on or off. Flip the hammer mode off and, voilà, you’ve got yourself a regular drill.
This means you can handle heavy-duty jobs like drilling into brick or concrete and do everyday wood or metal drilling without swapping between two tools. One drill, all jobs, zero headaches.
Yes, a hammer drill may cost more upfront, but it’s cheaper (and way less annoying) than buying separate sets of bits and juggling two drills every weekend.
Are Drill Bits Universal?
Now, about drill bits in general, are they universal? Mostly, yes, as long as you buy the correct size. Most standard bits will fit a regular drill regardless of the brand.
But hammer drill bits are the exception. Their SDS-style shanks are specifically designed for hammer drills and will not lock into a regular drill chuck.
So while you can mix and match most standard bits, hammer drill bits stay in their own lane.
Pro Tips For Drilling Like A Pro
If you’re stocking up your drill kit, a few simple habits will keep your bits sharp and your projects smooth:
Match the bit to the material. Masonry bits for concrete, high-speed steel bits for metal, and wood bits for, you guessed it, wood.
Start slow. High speeds can overheat bits and burn through soft materials.
Keep bits sharp. Dull bits wander and chew rather than cut. A quick touch-up on a sharpening stone keeps them biting.
Use light pressure. Let the drill do the work, forcing it just shortens the bit life.
Store bits properly. A simple case keeps edges from knocking together and dulling prematurely.
Summary
In short, no hammer drill bits cannot be used in your regular drill. This is because the attachment for the hammer drill bit usually is not compatible with your regular drill.
However, you can use your hammer drill as a regular drill—just make sure you're using the correct drill bit type for each task to ensure compatibility and performance.
Thank you for reading!