Cobalt vs Titanium Drill Bits?
By The DIYPicks Team · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
DeWalt Industrial Cobalt Alloy Steel Set DWA1240 (14-Piece)
A metal-drilling workhorse: solid M35 cobalt (not just a coating) means the hardness goes all the way through, making it the pick for stainless, angle iron, and other hard metals that eat cheaper bits.
| Material | Cobalt (M35, 8% cobalt) |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 1/16 - 3/8 in (14 bits) |
| Shank | Round straight |
| Point | 135 deg split point (Pilot Point) |
| Best for | Stainless, angle iron, I-beams |
Bosch TI14 Titanium-Coated Metal Drill Bit Set (14-Piece)
The best-value general set for a DIY drawer: titanium coating adds bite and life over bare HSS at a low price, covering wood, plastic, and occasional light metal jobs.
| Material | HSS with titanium nitride (TiN) coating |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 1/16 - 1/2 in (14 bits) |
| Shank | Round with 3-flat above 3/16 in |
| Point | Split point |
| Best for | Wood, plastic, light-gauge steel |
Our verdict
The difference is depth versus surface. Cobalt (M35) is an alloy that's hard all the way through, so it keeps cutting hard and stainless steel even as it wears, and it can be resharpened. Titanium bits are just HSS with a thin TiN coating - great value and bite for wood, plastic and light steel, but once the coating wears off they dull like plain HSS. Buy the DeWalt cobalt if you regularly drill stainless or hardened metal; buy the Bosch titanium set as an affordable everyday all-rounder. Many shops keep both.