The Complete Guide to Screwdriver Bit Sets

An extremely familiar component in nearly all toolboxes and carry kits, screwdriver bits are the detachable and interchangeable slim metal components designed to be fitted into the chuck end of screwdrivers.

Manufactured explicitly for the purpose of driving and extracting screws, many modern screwdriver bit sets feature dozens of different bit shapes and sizes, attachments and accessories. Collectively, they’ll help everyone from novice users to seasoned pros tackle a very wide range of screw head types, and cover you in an incredibly varied range of tasks and applications.

When the process of inserting a bit and driving a screw is carried out correctly, the convenience of screwdriver bit sets offer a remarkably simple and efficient method of mating two surfaces together sturdily and reliably. With just a few simple caretaking steps observed, the same basic driving techniques will see you through any number of assembly, maintenance and construction tasks quickly and with minimal physical strain.

However, there certainly is a technique involved when it comes to driving screws properly - and, above all, the key to success lies in selecting the right screwdriver bit for the fastener type. Failing to do so can easily result in split timbers, ruined work surfaces, sheared or stripped screws, irregular hole shapes, damage to tools, and even user injury in the worst case scenario.

To help avoid this, a hugely diverse range of screwdriver bits and screwdriver bit sets is sold by suppliers and manufacturers worldwide, often designed to accommodate a myriad of different screw shapes and sizes. The ideal bit choice for any given project will depend chiefly on the specific screw type and size being used, as well as - to a lesser extent - the sort of surface you’re driving it into.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the more common types of screwdriver bits you’ll find in kits sold by most dedicated stockists and wholesalers around the world, and offer some pointers on the relative pros and cons of each for particular applications.

We’ll also cover some of the more renowned brands and manufacturers of screwdriver bits and accessories available on today’s market, to give you an overview of trusted names you might like to look out for when it’s time to buy or upgrade your next screwdriver bit set.

Both in the UK and internationally, the majority of screwdriver bit sets sold to professionals and hobbyists alike are typically manufactured for use in a compatible handheld cordless power tool. The tool in question may either be a dedicated cordless screwdriver, or a multi-purpose drill driver.

After securing the bit in the chuck of your chosen driver, the tip is then inserted into the drive head of an appropriately fitting screw. Once the bit is inserted into a screw head, the torque or rotation force provided by the screwdriver motor is transferred directly through the bit attachment into the screw itself, driving it into your workpiece.

As noted in the introduction to this guide, different sorts of screwdriver bits are designed for different screw heads and sizes, and will often vary considerably in their precise configurations and features. However, more or less all screwdriver bits have a few basic elements in common - these include:

As we’ve already seen, there are many different sorts of screwdriver bits and screwdriver bit sets available on today’s market. The most popular and widely available sets generally include anything from half a dozen to 100 or more individual pieces, with the more expensive kits tending to include the larger and more diverse array of attachments and accessories.

Although the included range of bit shapes and intended uses is often vast in high-end kits, the bulk of all screwdriver bits can be sorted into one of two broad categories - namely insert bits and power bits. Insert bits tend to be more common, cheaper, and smaller; power bits tend to start at around 2” in length and are usually sturdier, more expensive and more resistant to rapid wear under more demanding conditions.

Regardless of the specific tip type or shape in question, typical materials used for components frequently found in all but the most basic screwdriver bit sets might include:

Phillips screwdriver bits are among the most widely used of all types today. There are probably still more slotted or ‘flathead’ screws and screwdriver bits in overall circulation, but those are often a result of older standards not being updated and are largely seen as something of a legacy design by modern standards.

Philips screwdriver bit sets are immediately identifiable thanks to their familiar cross-shaped tip, designed to fit into the equally popular range of multi-purpose cruciform screws and fasteners. Initially developed during the 1930s for use in the American auto sector, they’re often abbreviated to PH bits, and the majority are sold today in sizes ranging from 0 to 3 to fit the corresponding screw head sizes.

A design feature - or flaw, depending on how you look at it - of Phillips head screws and bits is that they allow for relatively easy camming out above a certain torque threshold.

As noted in the section on Phillips driver bits above, slotted screws and screwdriver bit sets are still widely encountered out in the field these days, although that’s largely as a result of them having once been the go-to format for nearly all screwdriving applications.

In practice, slotted screwdriver bits seldom feature especially prominently in modern screwdriver bit sets intended for use with power tools, as their simplistic design makes slipping off and damaging the screw head far too easy for comfort under even moderate torque conditions. That said, most screwdriver bit sets will always include at least one or two pieces built to tackle various sizes of slotted fastener, which remain a common format among smaller-gauge countersunk screws (particularly brass).

Pozidriv screwdriver bit sets are often abbreviated to ‘Pozi’ or PZ and were initially conceived as a development of the basic principles that made Phillips head bits so successful. They essentially copy the basic cross shape of the Phillips drive, but with the addition of an additional cruciform groove overlaid at a 45 degree angle to the main one.

This gives the Pozi bit more points of contact with the screw head, and thus allows for application of higher torque with less risk of cam-out. The trade-off is that the individual driver blades themselves are thinner, and so more prone to damage or shearing under heavy use.

The heads of PZ screws are less deeply recessed than Phillips versions, which means the corresponding Pozidriv screwdriver bits are less sharply tapered. With an appropriate amount of torque, rotation speed and pressure applied, they’re generally seen as easier to control while driving than many other bit types.

Torx screwdriver bits are generally seen as a functionally similar yet differently designed alternative to Pozi bits, and Torx versions are notable for the pronounced star or asterisk shape of their driver tips and screw head recesses.

Again, they’re primarily designed to allow for much higher torque without camming out, as there are more points of direct and stable contact being made between the Torx bit and the recessed screw head at any given moment. One possible disadvantage of this is that it’s easy to overdrive a screw using the Torx system, particularly into softwoods and other less dense materials.

Square head screwdriver bits, also known as Robertson bits after their Canadian inventor, were once very common. They were widely used around the same time as slotted heads, due largely to their cost-effective and simple manufacturing process.

Again though, they’re less likely to feature prominently in most modern screwdriver bit sets, as they’re rapidly being replaced by the more versatile hex bits and socket screw combinations, which are easier to work with and equally effective at preventing cam-out.

There are almost as many different screwdriver bit set manufacturers and brands available on today’s market as there are varieties of kits and configurations. In this final section, we’ll look briefly at some of the best-known screwdriver bit set manufacturers selling widely around the UK and internationally.

This should hopefully give you a general overview of some of the leading makes and ranges to look out for when planning a high quality purchase at sensible, cost-effective prices - but if you require any further information on specific brands and packages, then you can always contact a member of our customer support team with additional queries.

Bahco is a renowned tool manufacturing brand originally founded in Sweden. Key innovations such as the adjustable spanner, the bi-metal hacksaw blade and the ergonomic screwdriver saw it rise to European prominence over the years, and today’s Bahco screwdriver bit sets are rightly praised for similarly high standards of performance and user-friendliness.

Facom is a France-based company with a worldwide distribution network. It’s known for high-quality tools in a wide range of sturdy materials, and Facom screwdriver bit sets are consistently popular choices among hobbyists and professionals alike.

Bosch is a name that will need little introduction to anyone who regularly uses high-quality screwdrivers and drill drivers in their day-to-day dealings. A true market leader in many aspects of torque tool design and manufacture, the brand is widely seen as a watchword for durability and quality - both traits reflected in the many Bosch screwdriver bit sets on sale from UK suppliers year-round.

As with all DeWalt products, DeWalt screwdriver bit sets are rigorously tested for quality and reliability by industry professionals under exacting job site conditions. The brand today sits among the top tier of global names when it comes to choosing high-end hand and power tool accessories for all construction, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Yet another German manufacturer credited with a reputation for lasting quality and precision, Wera specialise in all manner of screwdriving and torque tools. They’ve also developed something of a habit for bold innovation in design and machining over the years, but enduring staple products like Wera screwdriver bit sets prove that they consistently get the basics right as well.

Gedore screwdriver bit sets, like most of the renowned German company’s hand tools, are prized for their sturdy build quality backed by decades of in-house expertise. Now one of the world's largest hand tool manufacturers, the brand expanded to full international operations during the 1960s after first being founded way back in 1919.