The 6 Best Drill Bits for Hard Stone (That Won’t Break Under Pressure!)

Drilling into hard stone is a difficult task all on its own.

Trying to bore a hole without the right equipment, though, is seriously asking for trouble.

Not only could you foul your stone and ruin the project, but the wrong bit could quickly become dangerous to use.

That’s why it’s key that you take the time to decide which drill bit is right for you before beginning any project.

We’ll provide a lot of information here about the quality and features of the products we examine, but keep in mind that the specifics of your project should always come first.

Once you know what it is you’re trying to do, this guide will be a great help selecting the best drill bit for hard stone.

6 Best Drill Bits for Hard Stone (as of April, 2024):

1. Hilti 435021 TE-CX Drill Bit for Hard Stone – Power and a Strong Warranty 388 Review

The Hilti 435021 TE-CX drill bit is extremely powerful.

Made of a new carbide that will stand up even against steel rebar, this is the perfect bit for if you have a mix of applications including very hard stone.

The geometry of the bit, a quadruple helix, allows for good smooth drilling over the life of the bit.

This bit is suitable for drilling anchors and has built-in features that help you know your depth for that application.

Warranty

That kind of support means you can confidently use this bit on all sorts of projects for years without having to worry about it breaking.

With a strong bit combined with good support from Hilti, this bit is definitely a strong recommendation.

It’s a versatile tool that can be used on a variety of applications, including drilling into hard stone, rebar, or other similar materials.

Main Features

• New solid carbide head for less wear
• Innovative solid carbide head featuring gradient technology for drilling through steel rebar’s
• Quadruple helix and optimum head geometry
• The indicator mark at the head verifies suitability for setting anchors as long as the mark is visible
• In the unlikely event of breakage, the drill bit will be considered for replacement
• Drilling anchor holes in reinforced and unreinforced concrete
• Drilling holes for post-installed rebar connections
• Drilling drainage holes for drying out buildings

2. Hilti 293472 TE-YX Drill Bit for Hard Stone – Good Budget Option Review

For lighter jobs, this Hilti 293472 TE-YX is an excellent bit option.

Made of a strong carbide material just like other Hilti products, this hammer drill bit will hold up well over time just like you’d expect but is not necessarily made for harder drilling.

Note that this bit is specifically meant to be used with hammer drilling.

Its head will fit in with any of the TE-Y drills from Hilti. This is not the bit to use, though, if you’re looking to do more standard rotary drilling.

The main thing to note here, though, is that this drill don’t necessarily be best for harder materials.

If you’re looking for a bit for specific projects where you know you won’t have to get into any harder materials, this might be the best way to go.

Because of the low price, it’s tough to say this bit wouldn’t be a good purchase, but you must understand that it’s not designed for harder materials. As long as they aren’t on your agenda, this Hilti is a great way to go.

Main Features

• Solid metal carbide head: Top performance and reliability, less jamming when hitting rebar
• Heat treated flute for less wear, ductile core, and more efficient dust removal for faster drilling
• TE-Y (SDS Max) Connection End
• Drilling holes for chemical anchors
• Drilling holes for post-installed rebar connections
• Drilling holes for medium- and heavy-duty anchors
• Drilling through-holes and penetrations in reinforced concrete and masonry
• Installing rebars using Hilti injectable adhesive mortar

3. Hilti 435012 TE-CX Drill Bit for Hard Stone – Great Option for Reinforced Concrete Review

The 435012 TE-CX from Hilti is designed to be perfect for working with reinforced concrete.

It has a multi-cutting tip that makes clean holes in reinforced concrete even over the lifetime of the bit.

This drill bit will be great for either drilling anchor holes or placing post-install rebar.

This bit makes excellent use of a new channeling system for dust.

This bit is designed specifically for concrete and other similar materials, so it might not be the best to use if you’re working with harder rock.

However it will hold up well against concrete for a long time, and that counts for a lot.

This is another bit that comes with a low price and is great for the kind of drilling it’s designed for. If you’re looking to work on a masonry project, this is definitely the way to go.

Main Features

• New solid carbide head has high wear-resistance and makes more precise holes for anchor setting – up to 30% more lifetime than other SDS Plus drill bits
• Solid carbide head featuring gradient technology – engineered to drill easily through rebar
• Quadruple helix and optimum head geometry for consistently fast drilling speed over the entire life of the drill bit
• Indicator mark – the bit is suitable for setting anchors as long as this mark is visible
• In the unlikely event of breakage, the drill bit will be considered for replacement
• Drilling anchor holes in reinforced and unreinforced concrete
• Drilling holes for post-installed rebar connections

4. Hilti 43500 TE-CX – Smaller Bit for Precise Drilling Review

Drill bit size is important to consider when you’re looking at any project.

This Hilti 43500 TE-CX bit is a size smaller than the previous TE-CX we had looked at.

That means it’ll be useful for more precise projects where you might just need a smaller borehole.

There’s no reason not to use this bit for most of your masonry projects, just know exactly what it is you’ll be drilling into before picking this one out.

The same innovative cutting heads and geometry from the other TE-CX are also here, just in a smaller package. This will again do an excellent job of expelling dust as you drill.

If you’re looking for the features of the TE-CX but in a smaller bit, this is the one for you.

Main Features

• New solid carbide head has high wear-resistance and makes more precise holes for anchor setting – up to 30% more lifetime than other SDS Plus drill bits
• Solid carbide head featuring gradient technology – engineered to drill easily through rebar
• Quadruple helix and optimum head geometry for consistently fast drilling speed over the entire life of the drill bit
• Indicator mark – the bit is suitable for setting anchors as long as this mark is visible
• In the unlikely event of breakage, the drill bit will be considered for replacement
• Drilling anchor holes in reinforced and unreinforced concrete
• Drilling holes for post-installed rebar connections

INTRODUCING the Hilti TE-CX hammer drill bit – see how it works

5. Hilti 435006 TE-CX – Small Bit with Excellent Features Review

This is another bit that’s on the shorter side but packs in a lot of excellent features.

With a tight helix like the one seen here, heat dissipation can be an issue for some drill bits.

But with the composite materials of this Hilti 435006 TE-CX, you won’t have to worry about that and your bit will stay strong even during heavy use.

Its material is very strong and the bit should last almost a third longer than other hammer drill bits because of it.

The cutting heads here make excellent, precise holes in all sorts of hard materials.

This is a drill that won’t really be helpful for heavy-duty work like setting anchors or dealing with rebar, but we do recommend this for any smaller projects you might have with your hammer drill.

Main Features

• New solid carbide head has high wear-resistance and makes more precise holes for anchor setting – up to 30% more lifetime than other SDS Plus drill bits
• Solid carbide head featuring gradient technology – engineered to drill easily through rebar
• Quadruple helix and optimum head geometry for consistently fast drilling speed over the entire life of the drill bit
• Indicator mark – the bit is suitable for setting anchors as long as this mark is visible
• In the unlikely event of breakage, the drill bit will be considered for replacement
• Drilling anchor holes in reinforced and unreinforced concrete
• Drilling holes for post-installed rebar connections

6. Hilti 2038083 TE-C – Best Option for Natural Stone Review

The 2038083 TE-C from Hilti is a series which focuses on harder stone and concrete applications.

You’ve got a much more spread-out helix design, meaning that each rotation of the bit will do a lot more driving and cutting than with other bits.

Combine that with the strong carbide and this is an excellent drill bit for a variety of applications.

Overall this is a very strong bit and it has the strength to stand up to many species of natural stone. If you often work with stone, this bit definitely deserves to have a place in your toolbox.

Main Features

• Two cutting edges and a direct tip-to-helix transition – faster and more constant drilling speed over the bit’s entire lifetime
• Wide helix spine – transports dust more efficiently to accelerate drilling progress
• Optimized tip geometry and rugged helix transition – prolongs the bit’s lifetime
• Ideal for use with a wide range of light-duty rotary hammers
• Drilling holes for metal and plastic anchors

Best Drill Bit for Hard Stone – Buying guide

When it comes to drill bits, the most important thing you must consider is what exactly you’ll be using the bit for.

When it comes to masonry or other stonework, you do not want to simply find a good all-around bit and then use it for every project.

Instead, you’re better off looking for specific bits that do exactly what you need them to do for every new project you begin.

Materials

You’ll find some variety of materials out there, but the standard for stone drill bits is some sort of carbide.

If you have a specific material you plan on drilling, make sure to learn as much as you can about its hardness and compare it to the bit you’re using.

Feel free to contact the manufacturer if you’re not sure whether a certain bit will be appropriate for what you want to do.

Size

When it comes to drill bits, you usually want to find a bit that allows you to plunge only one hole to get a job done.

That means the size bit you use has much less to do with personal preference or convenience and more to do with what specific job needs to get done.

Keep in mind that stone bits need to be more compact than wood bits, so you don’t have as many large-bore options as you’ll have among wood bits.

Geometry

It’s a good idea to consider the specific helix geometry of each bit you examine. Tighter rings will leave cleaner holes but will take a bit longer to go in.

You should also look at how many cutting surfaces there are on each drill bit you examine. More cutting heads generally makes it easier for a bit to remove material from the substrate.

Hammer drill

Some drills used for boring into stone use what’s called a hammer drill system. This has to do with the action of the drill itself.

This can be very helpful when drilling into hard materials, as it allows you to pulverize the stone before trying to remove it.

If you’re looking to use a hammer drill, you’re best off finding a bit specifically designed for this task. It’ll have a more compact shape that does a better job of handling the impact.

Conclusion

Stone drilling is difficult and can only be undertaken if you’ve got all the right equipment from the start.

Before you make any purchase, decide on exactly what it is you’ll want to achieve and let the project dictate what drill bit you buy and use. Keep your drill bits well maintained and you should be able to work with them for years to come.