How to Use a Drill: Understanding the Basics and Safety Tips

Need to install shelving or hang some framed artwork? Or are you installing recessed lighting or cabinets? Power drills offer an effective way to bore holes and drive screws you need for many projects around the house — whether you’re remodeling or working on a hobby.

Not sure how to use a drill? As with any power tool, it’s important to operate it with safety in mind. We’ll go over the basics of using a power drill, including how to choose the right bits — and how to use it as safely as possible!

Choosing Your Power Drill

What kind of drill is best for you? That depends on the types of projects you plan on doing and other factors, such as:

• Price: Does the price matter for a drill? Yes, if you need more power and features. Generally, more expensive drills offer more torque (power) for handling tougher or heavy-duty drilling.
• Corded vs. cordless: Some corded drills offer more power than cordless drills. But they’re not as portable— and they're typically heavier. Cordless drills are lighter and give you the freedom to work anywhere without being tethered to an extension cord. But they have batteries that need to be recharged regularly.
• Features: Some drills have variable-speed motors, giving you more flexibility for using different drill bits and working with different materials.
• Size: Smaller drills, such as 1/4-inch drills, are made for light-duty usage. A larger drill, such as 1/2-inch, handles heavy-duty usage. The size of a drill refers to the size of its chuck as it relates to the chuck's maximum opening.

What Is a Power Drill Used For?

You can use this type of tool for all kinds of projects. But its main uses include:

• Boring holes
• Driving screws

Power drills can bore holes of varying sizes in virtually any building material. Depending on your project, you can use this tool to make holes all the way through or partway through the material. You can also use your drill to drive screws and remove screws.

Different Parts of a Power Drill

Knowing how to use a drill means becoming familiar with its various parts. Power drills have these components:

• Chuck: Nosepiece of the tool that has adjustable jaws for securely gripping the bit
• Drill bit: A cutting tool that makes holes
• Screw-driving bit: A bit that allows you to drive in and remove screws
• Forward/reverse switch: Controls whether the chuck spins in the forward or reverse direction
• Slip clutch: Found on cordless drills, this feature allows you to adjust the torque (power) of the drill's motor
• Variable-speed trigger: Allows you to control the drill’s speed with finger pressure on the trigger
• Battery (on cordless models): A removable power source that you can recharge
• Power cord: The power source for corded electric power drills

How to Use a Power Drill

Step 1: Choose a Drill Bit

What size hole do you need to make? What kind of material are you drilling into? Or do you need to drive in screws? These are the factors that affect your drill bit selection.

You can choose from different types for making holes, including:

• Twist drill bit: Choose this for making smaller holes in wood, metal, or other materials
• Spade bits for boring holes in wood, ranging in diameter from about 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches

• Hole saws for bigger holes in wood or metal ranging in diameter from about 1 to 4 inches
• Use a carbide-tipped masonry drill bit to bore into concrete, stone, ceramic tile and other masonry materials
• Forstner bits, used to bore large, flat-bottomed holes up to about 2 inches. Note that Forstner bits are best used in a drill press, not a handheld portable drill

Make sure you choose a drill bit that’s made to drill through the material you’re working with, such as ceramic or metal.

For inserting screws, you’ll need a screwdriver bit. Choose a bit that fits the screw, such as flat-head, Philips head or square-drive.

Step 2: Attach the Drill Bit to the Drill

After choosing the right bit, you’ll need to know how to put the bit in the drill. Do the following to secure the bit:

• Turn the chuck counterclockwise to open its jaws
• Place the drill bit's shaft into the chuck
• Check to make sure the bit is centered
• Turn the chuck clockwise to tightly close its jaws onto the bit

Step 3: Double Check Your Drill Settings

You’ve got your drill bit in place. Now it’s time to make sure you’ve got the right settings on your power drill. Here’s what to check:

• Speed: Use a lower speed setting for driving screws. Use a higher speed setting to drill holes. But you’ll typically want to start with a low setting and increase it once you drill deeper into your material.
• Direction: Use the forward setting for drilling holes or inserting screws. Use the reverse setting to remove screws or when it’s time to pull the drill out of a hole you’ve drilled.
• Torque setting: The numbers on the slip clutch indicate torque — or power. Adjust higher or lower as needed, depending on your material. Tougher surfaces usually require higher torque.

Step 4: Prepare Your Work Area

Once your power drill is all set, you can focus on setting up your workspace. Use a vice or clamps to secure your workpiece to a table or other stable surface. Consider placing scrap wood beneath your workpiece to protect your work surface.

Whether you’re drilling into a clamped workpiece or drilling into walls, mark the center of the hole location. Grab a pencil to mark where you need to make holes. Use a tape measure if necessary.

Make sure you’re ready, too! Wear protective gear, such as eye goggles, to keep you safe from debris.

Step 5: Drill a Hole

Ready to make holes in your walls or workpiece? Here’s how to use a drill for beginners to create holes:

• Insert the battery in your cordless drill or plug in your corded drill
• Place the drill bit tip against your material
• Hold the drill perpendicular to your material for a straight hole
• Pull the drill trigger slowly, increasing the speed as needed
• Switch to reverse and back the drill bit out gently — don’t tilt it or pull it roughly

Want to learn more? Visit our guide that covers different drilling techniques.

Step 6: Insert a Screw

Need to put screws in your workpiece or walls? Use the steps for drilling a hole to make a small pilot hole. This helps prevent your material from splintering or cracking. After that, replace the drill bit with a screwdriver bit and follow these steps:

• Adjust to a low torque setting
• Place the screw in the drill bit slot
• Hold the drill straight
• Line the screw up with the pilot hole
• Pull the drill trigger slowly to start the screw; increase speed to fully drive in the screw
• Release the trigger to stop drilling
• Finish tightening the screw with a manual screwdriver, if necessary

Need to remove screws? Use the reverse setting on your power drill — and the right screwdriver bit — to back out screws.

Step 7: Clean Your Work Area

Done with your power drill? Consider letting the drill bit cool off before removing it. Or you can put on a pair of thick gloves to handle it safely. Take the drill bit out, place it in your tool box, and unplug your power drill. Using a cordless one? Take the battery out and recharge it, so it’ll be ready for your next project! Wipe down and vacuum your work area.

FAQs on Power Drills

What do numbers on a drill mean?

The numbers you see around the chuck are the torque settings. You can adjust these as needed, depending on whether you need more or less force.

How to put a drill bit into a drill?

Hold the drill bit so the shank — or smooth part — faces the chuck’s jaws. Place it inside the chuck. The twisted part should be sticking up out of the chuck. Tighten the chuck, and make sure the drill bit doesn’t wiggle or move at all.

Do you need to take precautions when you use a power drill?

Yes! Power drills can lead to accidents, injuries, and property damage if you’re not careful. To reduce these risks, follow these safety tips:

• Wear protective gear, such as goggles
• Use gloves to handle hot drill bits
• Keep your hands away from the drill bit while drilling
• Don’t wear loose clothing that could get tangled around the drill bit
• Tie long hair back to avoid having it get caught on the drill bit
• Don’t yank or push the drill hard while drilling — this can cause damage to your material and/or your drill!

When should you use a more powerful power drill?

What kinds of projects are you doing? You’ll want a drill that offers more torque if you need to do heavy-duty drilling, such as during home renovations. For lighter work, you can go with a standard power drill.

Learning how to use a drill is a great skill to have! You’ll find that your power drill comes in handy for tons of DIY projects — from putting screws in walls to drilling large holes for installing cabinets or pipes.