The 8 Best Hole Saw Kits of 2026

Eight percent cobalt in the tooth alloy is the Bosch HBT15M's main argument. That is an M42 bi-metal cup, and the cobalt is there to hold hardness when the tooth line heats up. The Progressor tooth design alternates tooth sizes to start faster and clear chips, while the triangle slot is shaped to push plugs out without the usual pry. Reinforced shoulders add stiffness to the cup. It is a 15-piece set aimed at wood, metal, and plastic rather than one material.

We think it is the best pick here for clean cuts in mixed stock. The Bosch is the one we reach for when clean edges matter in cabinet ply, MDF, PVC, and light sheet, and the plug slot is a real convenience on a run of holes. It does not have the Diablo's 2-3/8-inch depth or its ten-cup spread, so we reach for the Bosch when finish matters more than deep cuts. The cobalt teeth are tough, but this is still a bi-metal saw, not a carbide cutter for stainless production work.

Nail-embedded lumber and cement board are where the Milwaukee Big Hawg makes sense. The 10-piece kit uses carbide teeth rather than bi-metal, and Milwaukee lists it for wood, nails, cement board, shingles, plaster, and stucco. That is a different job description from a finish-carpentry hole saw. The teeth are sparse and chunky, which is what lets the cup chew through abrasive material instead of polishing it.

We like the speed in rough openings. The Big Hawg clears a hole in framing lumber quickly and keeps cutting when a nail crosses the path, which is the point of carrying it. The cups also leave a cleaner edge in plastic than the tooth count suggests. It is built for demolition and remodeling stock, not for a finish panel.

For a remodeler cutting old studs, siding, or cement board, this is the kit we choose over a standard bi-metal set. The trade-off is that it is a premium, specialized set: if your work is cabinets and light metal, the Bosch or Diablo is the more sensible buy. It is the set that makes a nail hit boring.

Thirteen pieces is the compact promise of the Milwaukee Hole Dozer, but the size spread is the first thing to check. This general-purpose kit skips 1-inch and 1-1/4-inch sizes. That is fine if your work lands on the included diameters, but it is a real gap for door hardware, conduit, and common fixture holes. We noticed it because those are the sizes a general kit is supposed to settle.

The arbors are the better story. The quick-change design lets you move between cups without a wrench, and the cups seat without the free spin and wobble that make a hand drill feel unpredictable. The bi-metal teeth cut cleanly in wood and light metal, and the case keeps the set compact enough to live in a toolbox rather than a dedicated drawer.

We recommend the Hole Dozer as the compact kit for a repair box: easy to handle, fast to change, and sized for the middle of the range without a giant case. It is not the set for concrete or masonry, and it is not the only kit you will want for a full remodel. The smaller case is the reason it stays in the bag.

A step bit and a knockout punch both make clean holes in sheet metal, but neither gives you the quick-change range of a carbide cutter set. That is where the Greenlee 660 earns its place. The six-piece kit includes five cutter sizes from 7/8 to 2 inches, a quick-change arbor that needs a 3/8-inch minimum chuck, and a replaceable cobalt-steel pilot drill with a split point. We think it is the best sheet-metal set here for clean, burr-free holes.

The flange stop is the detail we appreciate most. It keeps the cutter from drilling past the sheet, so you are not chasing the bit through the back side of a panel. The carbide teeth are designed to reduce chatter and squealing, and the quick-change arbor lets you move from a pilot hole to a 2-inch knockout without a second tool. The case holds the cutters and arbor in a compact package.

This is a professional-priced set, and it is built for metal rather than general carpentry. If your work is electrical panels, stainless sinks, or sheet-metal boxes, the Greenlee is the clean-hole answer; if you need wood and nails, the Big Hawg is the better tool. The five cutters cover the sizes that matter for conduit and panels, not the whole range of a general kit.

At the budget end, the LifeIdeas kit is the one we can recommend without a long list of exceptions. You get 12 blades from 3/4 to 2-1/2 inches, two mandrels, a hex key, drill bits, and a molded case. The tooth count and the two mandrels are the practical details: the smaller arbor handles the compact cups, and the larger one gives the bigger blades enough shank to stay stable.

We like the coverage for occasional holes. The bi-metal teeth cut plywood, PVC, drywall, and light sheet without the wandering you get from a cheap carbon-steel set. It is not a production kit, but for a homeowner cutting a handful of holes for vents, pipes, or recessed lights, the trade-off makes sense. The molded case keeps a full set of sizes in one place, which is the real budget win.

Four pieces is a small kit by the standards of this group, and the Klein 31872 is unapologetic about it. It includes 7/8-inch, 1-1/8-inch, and 1-3/8-inch carbide cutters, plus an extra pilot bit and a rust-proof molded case. That is a narrow range, but it is aimed at a specific job: clean holes in stainless steel, mild steel, iron, copper, and brass sheet up to 3/16 inch thick.

The split-point pilot is a small detail that matters. It starts without walking across the layout, so you are less likely to scratch a finished panel before the teeth engage. The integrated flange stops the cutter from drilling beyond the sheet, which is the difference between a clean hole and a blown-out back side. The carbide teeth are shaped for sheet metal, not for framing lumber.

We like the size of the case and the extra pilot bit. The set is small enough to keep in an electrical bag, and the cutters are easy to identify without unpacking a full kit. It is not the set for a 2-inch hole or for wood with nails; the Greenlee covers a wider metal range, and the Big Hawg is the one for demolition stock.

We recommend the Klein for an electrician or finish mechanic who needs common conduit and fixture sizes in sheet metal. If you need a broader range, pay for the Greenlee; if you need one compact set for metal panels, the Klein is the better fit. The split-point pilot and flange are why it stays in the bag.

Three blades per cutter is the ASNOMY kit's distinguishing feature. Each cutter has an outer, middle, and inner blade, which is meant to make the cut more efficient than a single row of teeth. The 12-piece set covers 5/8 to 2-1/8 inches with a 1-inch cutting depth, and it uses tungsten carbide tips with a titanium-plated M2 pilot drill.

The appeal is carbide at a midrange price. The ASNOMY is aimed at steel, aluminum, and cast iron, and the carbide tips are the reason to choose it over a bi-metal set in those materials. We like the 1-inch depth for sheet and plate work; it is enough for most brackets, panels, and shop projects without turning the drill into a two-handed wrestling match.

The compromise is durability. This is not a set for production metalwork or for forcing a dull cutter through stainless. It rewards a steady hand and a slow drill, and the carbide is happiest in mild steel and aluminum rather than interrupted cuts.

We recommend the ASNOMY for a DIYer or light pro who needs a range of carbide sizes at a midrange price. If you cut stainless every day, the Greenlee is the safer buy; if you need general wood and metal, the Diablo is more versatile. The case is compact, the sizes are broad, and the carbide is honest about its limits.