Drill bits vary in their design and construction so that different materials can be drilled efficiently. Most general purpose twist drills are designed to bore a variety of materials well, but no single material most efficiently. The differences most effecting performance are the design of the cutting tip, flute shape and material they are made from.

The biggest single factor effecting longevity of a drill bit is heat. When sufficient heat is generated at the cutting edges of a drill bit, the edges deform and the bit becomes dull or "burned". A burned drill bit has had the temper of the material negatively effected and renders the bit nearly useless without extensive re-grinding. If enough heat is generated to melt the material being drilled, a build up can occur on the tip and prevent efficient drilling as well. The amount of heat generated at the tip while drilling is effected by the material being drilled (hardness and melting point), the speed of the drill (RPM) and the rate at which the drill bit is being fed into the material (feed rate). The use of cutting fluids dissipates heat away from the cutting edges and is recommended on hard drilling operations and some materials with low melting points.

Typical twist drill bits have either a 118º or 135º angle ground at the tip. The 118º tip provides for more cutting surface and is best suited for softer materials (wood, plastic, aluminum¡­). This greater cutting surface allows for more material to be cut with each revolution providing faster drilling. The 135º tip allows less cutting edge surface, but permits more efficient drilling of harder materials (steel, stainless steel). Given the same conditions (material, RPM and feed rate) the 118º point will produce more heat than the 135º.