Drill bit speed chart for wood
How fast to run a drill press for each kind of bit in softwood and hardwood, by size. The figure is the median of three charts, or the mean of two. Where two are more than twice apart, the lower is used. Every size below has its own page with each chart’s figure and what that size drills.
For a Forstner bit of any size, the drill press speed calculator works it out.
Twist drill bits
| Size | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 1/16 in | 3,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 2,750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1/8 in | 3,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 2,750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/16 in | 3,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 2,750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1/4 in | 2,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 5/16 in | 2,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/8 in | 2,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1/2 in | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 5/8 in | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/4 in | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1 in | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
Brad-point bits
| Size | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 in | 2,400 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,200 Two sources disagree: WOOD Magazine 1200, Grizzly 2500 |
| 1/4 in | 1,900 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,250 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/8 in | 1,900 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,125 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1/2 in | 1,650 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 750 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 5/8 in | 1,650 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 625 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/4 in | 1,075 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1 in | 875 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
Spade (paddle) bits
| Size | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | 2,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/8 in | 2,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1/2 in | 2,000 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,500 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 5/8 in | 1,625 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 3/4 in | 1,625 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1 in | 1,625 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 1,375 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1 1/4 in | 1,250 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 875 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
| 1 1/2 in | 1,250 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly | 875 Only two sources publish this: WOOD Magazine and Grizzly |
Forstner bits
| Size | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 in | 2,000 Median of 3 sources | 1,000 Median of 3 sources |
| 1/2 in | 2,000 Median of 3 sources | 900 Median of 3 sources |
| 3/4 in | 1,500 Median of 3 sources | 900 Median of 3 sources |
| 1 in | 1,500 Median of 3 sources | 700 Median of 3 sources |
| 1 1/4 in | 1,000 Median of 3 sources | 700 Median of 3 sources |
| 1 1/2 in | 800 Median of 3 sources | 600 Median of 3 sources |
| 2 in | 500 Median of 3 sources | 350 Median of 3 sources |
Hole saws
| Size | Softwood RPM | Hardwood RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 in | 500 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 500, Exchange-A-Blade 3000 | 500 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 500, Exchange-A-Blade 3000 |
| 1 in | 500 Median of 3 sources | 400 Median of 3 sources |
| 1 1/2 in | 500 Median of 3 sources | 400 Median of 3 sources |
| 2 in | 500 Median of 3 sources | 300 Median of 3 sources |
| 2 1/2 in | 375 Median of 3 sources | 300 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 300, Exchange-A-Blade 1800 |
| 3 in | 200 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 200, Exchange-A-Blade 1500 | 200 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 200, Exchange-A-Blade 1500 |
| 4 in | 100 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 100, Exchange-A-Blade 1000 | 100 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 100, Exchange-A-Blade 1000 |
| 5 in | 100 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 100, Exchange-A-Blade 800 | 100 Two sources disagree: Grizzly 100, Exchange-A-Blade 800 |
Hole saws are where the charts disagree most. Exchange-A-Blade’s bimetal chart runs them several times faster than WOOD Magazine’s and Grizzly’s drill press charts. The median sits with the drill press charts, and each size page shows all three figures.
What the charts agree on
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
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"). The Forstner rows also use WOOD Magazine’s and Grizzly’s charts.