Metric drill bit size for wood
17 mm drill bit
The size of a 17 mm bit in both systems, how fast to run it on a drill press in softwood and hardwood for each kind of bit made in this size, and what it drills in the rest of this site’s charts.
Inch
0.6693 in
17 mm ÷ 25.4; the nearest 64th is 43/64 in.
Metric
17 mm
The size as sold.
Drill press speed by bit type
RPM in softwood (pine) and hardwood (hard maple), on face grain. The figure is the median of three charts, or the mean of two, and the lower of two that are more than twice apart. Each chart’s own figure is listed under it. A dash means fewer than two charts cover that bit at this size.
| Bit | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Twist drill bit | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 750 · Grizzly 750 | 500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 500 · Grizzly 500 |
| Brad-point bit | 1,075 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 1,400 · Grizzly 750 | 375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 250 · Grizzly 500 |
| Spade (paddle) bit | 1,625 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 1,750 · Grizzly 1,500 | 1,375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly WOOD Magazine 1,500 · Grizzly 1,250 |
| Forstner bit | 1,500 Median of 3 sources Infinity Cutting Tools 1,200 · WOOD Magazine 1,500 · Grizzly 1,500 | 900 Median of 3 sources Infinity Cutting Tools 900 · WOOD Magazine 500 · Grizzly 1,250 |
Bigger bits and hole saws run slower: every chart here steps the speed down as the size grows.
Hardwood never runs faster than softwood with the same bit, and usually slower.
The charts are a starting point: when a bit or hole saw comes with its maker’s speed, use that.
One source: Grizzly, the maker of that drill press , sources [2]
WOOD Magazine tested on face grain: slow down when drilling into end grain.
One source: WOOD Magazine, the publisher of that chart , sources [1]
Clamp the work to the drill press table: a large bit at low speed can grab it.
Sources
- WOOD Magazine, WOOD Magazine’s Drill Press Speed Chart: twist, brad-point, spade bits and hole saws in softwood (pine) and hardwood (hard maple), read 2026-11-08
- Grizzly, G7943/G7944 drill press manual (mfd. since 09/17): drill bit speed chart, p. 27 (a guide; the bit maker’s speed comes first), read 2026-11-08
- Exchange-A-Blade, Hole saw tech: bimetal hole saw recommended RPM by size, wood column, read 2026-11-08
What this size drills on this site
This site’s pilot, clearance and dowel holes are given in inch sizes; the inch size above is this bit’s equivalent. The pilot hole chart and drill bit size chart have every size.
Sources, read 2026-11-07/08: WOOD Magazine, WOOD Magazine’s Drill Press Speed Chart: twist, brad-point, spade bits and hole saws in softwood (pine) and hardwood (hard maple); Grizzly, G7943/G7944 drill press manual (mfd. since 09/17): drill bit speed chart, p. 27 (a guide; the bit maker’s speed comes first); Exchange-A-Blade, Hole saw tech: bimetal hole saw recommended RPM by size, wood column; Infinity Cutting Tools, Forstner Bit Speed & Feed Chart (HSS Forstner bits, hardwoods and softwoods, 3/8" to 2").