Our readers keep the lights on and my morning glass full of iced black tea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.7 Best Drill Bit for Acrylic | Stop Cracking Acrylic Today

Check Price on Amazon

The 5-pack of HSS bits that cut acrylic like butter with zero fuss.

This is the bit you reach for when you want a clean hole and no drama. The tip acts like a small chisel that starts cutting immediately, so there is no grabbing or skating across your workpiece. Buyers report it “worked great on thin polycarbonate sheets 2mm thick” and that holes come out with no chips or cracks.

You get faster cutting without sacrificing cleanliness thanks to the two-flute design (2 flutes, compared to the 1-flute CRL bit). The cutting diameter is 6.35 millimeters (the 1/4-inch balance for most acrylic projects). The entire set weighs only 0.2 pounds, so it is easy to handle on a hand drill or press.

Unlike the 3/16-inch Amana sibling which has a cutting diameter of 4.76 mm, this 1/4-inch version has a cutting diameter of 6.35 mm. One reviewer summed it up: “Owners mention easy, clean holes without special technique.. Really no special care or attention is required.” That is rare praise for a specialty bit.

Check Price on Amazon

The smaller sibling that stops cracks before they start.

When you need a smaller hole — for a boat acrylic windshield, for example — the 3/16-inch size is a safe starting point. One reviewer noted: “I used these to stop a crack from propagating on my boat’s acrylic windshield.” The barbed tip is designed to reduce stress in brittle plastics, and the high-speed steel (HSS, a tough metal that stays sharp) construction keeps the edge sharp through many holes.

The 4.76 millimeter cutting diameter is smaller than the 6.35 mm of its 1/4-inch sibling, giving you more precision in thin or curved surfaces.

Buyers call it a “must have for lexan” and note you “cannot find in stores.” The two-flute design (same as the 1/4-inch Amana pack) provides a nice balance of speed and chip removal. If you are repairing or building with thin acrylic sheets, this smaller size gives you the exact control you need.

Check Price on Amazon

A proven single-flute bit that prevents the grab in plexiglass.

CRL designed this bit with a special extra sharp tip angle that solves the common “grab” problem — when a standard bit catches the plastic and pulls itself through, cracking the material. The single-flute design (1 flute vs the 2 flutes on the Amana bits) slows the cut down intentionally, giving you more control and reducing heat buildup.

Buyers confirm it “worked well to drill clean holes in plexiglass” with no fracturing, chips, or melting. The 1/4-inch cutting diameter matches the SOURCEONE.ORG bit at 0.25 inches, but the CRL bit uses a taper point style that helps prevent the bit from walking on the surface.

At 6 x 6 x 6 inches in package dimensions, the CRL bit is bulkier in the box than the compact 4 x 0.25 x 0.25 inch SOURCEONE.ORG bit. A few reviewers point out quality control issues — one noted the tip was not centered — but the majority find it “worked as advertised” and made clean holes in plexiglass without special technique.

Check Price on Amazon

A hand-ground US bit that works — with a learning curve.

SOURCE ONE hand-grinds these bits in the USA to a specific geometry that avoids chipping in plastics. The 2-flute design (matching the Amana bits) and 0.25-inch cutting diameter make it a solid entry point for acrylic drilling. One buyer mentioned: “I used this to drill through plexiglass. It worked perfectly without cracking the plexiglass.”

The compact dimensions — 4 x 0.25 x 0.25 inches — make it easy to store and handle. However, quality control is a real concern here. One review called it a “terrible bit” with an “over-ground rake and 120-135° point angle” that made it fail on acrylic entirely. The same reviewer recommends Amana Tools bits instead.

Multiple buyers confirm it works well after some practice — drilling clean holes in 1/8-inch plexiglass when clamped over a gap. The key is moderate speed and light pressure. If you are budget-conscious and willing to test your bit before trusting it on a critical project, this is an affordable way to start.

Check Price on Amazon

The 5/16-inch single-flute bit that handles everything from thick to thin plastic.

At 0.31 inches cutting diameter, this Craftics bit gives you a 5/16-inch hole, compared to the 0.25-inch SOURCEONE.ORG bit. The single-flute design (1 flute) keeps the cut controlled and clean, even in brittle materials like polycarbonate and acrylic. Shoppers say: “I’ve used this bit to drill many holes into both thick and thin plastic. Holes come out clean.”

The 90-degree cutting angle and diamond point style are engineered specifically for plastic — the diamond point helps start the hole without the bit walking or grabbing. The alloy steel construction means it holds its edge longer than plain steel, and the ±0.010-inch precision tolerances give you consistent hole sizes for fabrication work.

One owner reported it “performed great drilling bolt holes into a new boat windshield.” Another mentioned that unlike standard wood and metal bits, this one solved the cracking problem near edges. It is a single bit rather than a multi-pack, so it is best if you need exactly this size for a specific project.

Check Price on Amazon

A 29-bit stepped-point kit that skips pilot holes and drills clean in one pass.

If you work with acrylic but also drill into metal, steel, and other materials, this set gives you a full range from 1/16-inch up to 1/2-inch. The stepped point design means you skip the pilot hole entirely — just pick the size you want and drill. The maker claims 1.5 times faster drilling speeds compared to standard bits, which is helpful in high-volume jobs.

The 3-flat shank prevents the bit from spinning in the chuck, a common frustration with round-shank bits. The gold and black finish is an aesthetic plus, but the real story is the multi-edge cutting technology that spreads wear evenly. One customer observed it “held up without dulling” when drilling heavy RGN trailer metal for lights and flag mounts.

That said, this set spans many materials, so the acrylic-specific geometry is less specialized than the dedicated plastic bits from Amana or CRL. For pure acrylic work, a purpose-ground bit is still cleaner. But if you need one kit that does it all, the 29-piece range and stepped-point convenience make this a strong workshop addition.

Check Price on Amazon

Cobalt-stepped bits that drill through acrylic and steel with equal confidence.

Drill America has been making cutting tools since 1923, and this 29-piece set reflects that legacy. The 135-degree split point tip and 3-flat shank prevent spinning and start holes easily without walking. The material is cobalt, a harder alloy than standard HSS, which means these bits stay sharp longer when drilling into harder substrates like stainless steel or hardened metals.

The set covers inch sizes from 1/16 up to 1/2 in 64th increments — 29 bits in a compact round case. One user highlighted drilling through 1/4-inch steel plate in under 3 seconds with a 1/4-inch bit, which gives you an idea of the cutting speed. For acrylic, the stepped point helps reduce the grab and chatter that can crack thin sheets.

The trade-off is cost and fragility. Some buyers found the tips “break off very very easily” when used on harder materials, advising these are best for soft materials. For pure acrylic jobs, the gold oxide finish and cobalt construction may be overkill — a simpler HSS bit will give you the same clean holes for less. But if you want one set that handles acrylic, steel, brass, and other metals, this is the most capable kit here.