High-speed steel: made from carbon steel with chromium and vanadium additives. It’s suitable for drilling wood, plastic and soft metals.

TiAIM: a titanium aluminium nitrate coating that increases resistance to abrasion and heat on drill bits designed to cut metal. Most red wall plugs are 6mm in diameter, so to drill a hole for a red plug, you will need a 6mm drill bit. Flutes: a spiral channel that runs from the cutting lip to the shank. It helps to remove the material as it’s cut from the hole.

A drill bit is a cutting tool that’s fitted into a power drill and used to cut holes in materials. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have similar parts as follows: White wall plugs can vary in diameter (6-10mm). So, to drill a hole for a white wall plug, you will need a drill bit that’s the same diameter as the plug you choose. Hex shank - A hexagonal-shaped shank used in screw guns or electric screwdrivers with a hammer mode.

SDS plus shank - This is another type of slotted drive system. It’s used for most masonry drill bits. In addition to drill bits being available in different types, they’re also available in various sizes to allow you to drill a hole that suits your needs. The list below gives answers to the most commonly asked questions around drill bit sizes:Carbide-tipped: one of the hardest materials on the planet, this drill bit only uses carbide on the tip. It’s suitable for drilling masonry, tiles and concrete. Solid carbide: a drill bit as described above, but it’s made entirely from carbide. It’s suitable for drilling into tough materials. A drill bit's suitability for drilling into certain materials usually depends on what the drill bit is made from and coated with. The drill bit guide below describes the main options: