How to Drill a Pilot Hole

By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/03/22
Reviewed by
Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier
Reviewed by Deane Biermeier
Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Drilling a Pilot Hole in Wood

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Project Overview
  • Total Time: 1 min
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $5 to $10

Drilling a pilot hole is often necessary for building projects or when remodeling the home. But do you know how to drill a pilot hole the right way? Selecting the right drill bit and a few other simple drilling techniques are important to drilling the perfect pilot hole.

Why You'll Want to Drill a Pilot Hole

Drilling a pilot hole—sometimes called pre-drilling—isn't necessary if the material is soft enough to screw into directly without damaging the material. But in most cases, pre-drilling a pilot hole is beneficial.

  • Prevents wood from splitting
  • Helps drive screws near the edge of materials
  • Relieves strain on the drill when screwing into dense materials
  • Reduces snapped screws and stripped screw heads
  • Allows old or fragile materials to be screwed into without splitting
  • Predetermines the direction of the screw

Choosing the Right Drill Bit for a Pilot Hole

Choosing the correct size of drill bit to drill the pilot hole is important. If you choose a bit that's too thin, you might end up splitting the wood. If you choose a bit that's too thick, the screw's threads will not grip the wood.

The drill bit should be the same diameter as the screw's shank—not including the screw threads. The shank is the screw's inner core or its shaft.

Tip

Another way to split materials is by attempting to sink the head of the screw into the material. The force of the screwhead (especially a bugle-head screw) will often split the material. Remedy this by cutting out a cone-shaped depression with a countersink bit.

Safety Considerations

Wear safety glasses when using a drill.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Electric drill
  • Drill bits, set
  • Wood countersinks, set (optional)

Materials

  • Material to be drilled

Instructions

  1. Mark the Material

    With the pencil, mark the spot on the material where you want to drive the screw.

    Tip

    For slippery materials, where the drill bit may skate on the surface, use a hammer to lightly tap a sharp object like a nail or a nailset. This creates a shallow hole that will help the drill bit grip the surface better.

  2. Choose the Proper Drill Bit

    Select a drill bit that is the same diameter as the screw's shank. First, select a drill bit that looks as close as possible to the correct size. Then, hold the drill bit behind the screw. If you cannot see the drill bit behind the screw, the drill bit is the correct size.

  3. Chuck the Drill Bit Into the Drill

    Open the drill's keyless chuck by turning it counterclockwise. The chuck collets, or the three metal arms, will open up. Insert the drill bit. Turn the keyless chuck clockwise to tighten the bit. Make sure that the drill bit is not crooked or misaligned in the collets.

  4. Drill the Pilot Hole

    Place the tip of the drill bit on the mark. Start the drill slowly, applying light pressure to the drill. Increase the speed or pressure on the drill only when needed. Drill the pilot hole as deep as the length of the screw.

    Tip

    If you're concerned about the screw head splitting the material, chuck in a countersink bit. If the countersink's drill bit is the correct bit size for the pilot hole, you'll be able to drill the countersink and the pilot in one process.

  5. Withdraw the Drill Bit

    With the drill still slowly rotating, withdraw the bit from the hole. Be careful to keep the drill straight to avoid widening the hole. Clear splinters from around the hole before driving the screw.

Tips for Drilling a Pilot Hole

  • If you don't have a countersink bit, you can create a cone-shaped depression with a larger-size drill bit. Use the tip of this bit to carve away wood, but stop short of drilling a hole.
  • Rubbing the screw threads with screw wax or even ordinary candle wax will help ease the screw into the material.
  • Pilot holes aren't commonly drilled for nails. But you can do this if the wood appears that it will crack or if you need to get the nail started at a low angle.
  • In some cases, you may be attaching two boards and need the boards to draw tightly together. In this case, the front board's pilot hole should be the total diameter of the screw, threads included. The screw should be able to pass straight through the hole, stopping at the screw head. The back board's pilot hole should be the diameter of the screw shank, so that the threads grab the material.