Drill speeds and feeds

    Pick a drill for its RPM, feed per rev and IPM in each material, its decimal and mm size, the taps it drills for and a peck-cycle guide. Charts: number, letter, fractional, metric. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D; IPM = RPM × feed per rev.

    Drilling SFM by material

    Starting surface speeds (SFM), Machinery's Handbook drilling tables, rounded
    MaterialHSSCarbide
    Aluminum (6061)250600
    Brass / free-machining150400
    Low-carbon steel (1018)90300
    Alloy steel (4140, annealed)70250
    Stainless 30440150
    Gray cast iron80250
    Titanium 6Al-4V25100
    Plastics (acetal)300500

    Feed per rev by drill diameter

    Every material group, from the RedLine Tools catalog drill tables. Between sizes, interpolate; the size pages do it for you.

    HSS and cobalt drills: SFM and feed (in/rev)
    MaterialHSS SFMCobalt SFM1/8 in1/4 in3/8 in1/2 in3/4 in1 in1-1/2+ in
    High-strength tool steel (A2, D2, P20, H11, H13, S2, O1)30–6533–75.0007–.0020.0030–.0040.0040–.0065.0060–.0070.0065–.0075.0070–.0080.0075–.0085
    Low-carbon steel (A36, 12L14, 1018, 1020, 1117, 1215, 8620/9310 class)9595.0009–.0050.0060–.0070.0090–.0100.0100–.0110.0110–.0120.0120–.0130.0130–.0140
    Medium-carbon and alloy steel (1040-1095, 41xx, 43xx, 86xx, 52100)115115.0009–.0050.0060–.0070.0090–.0120.0110–.0120.0110–.0130.0120–.0140.0130–.0150
    Austenitic stainless (301-304L, 310, 316L, 321, 347)2636.0010–.0030.0035–.0050.0050–.0075.0080–.0090.0090–.0100.0100–.0110.0110–.0120
    Martensitic / ferritic stainless (403, 410, 416, 420, 430, 431, 440)5072.0010–.0024.0025–.0037.0040–.0055.0050–.0060.0060–.0070.0070–.0080.0080–.0090
    Precipitation-hardening stainless (13-8, 15-5, 17-4, AM-350)2030.0020–.0030.0030–.0040.0040–.0050.0050–.0060.0060–.0070.0070–.0080.0080–.0090
    Ductile cast iron (A536, 60-40-18)4555.0007–.0020.0030–.0040.0040–.0065.0060–.0070.0065–.0075.0070–.0080.0075–.0085
    Gray cast iron (A48 Class 20-40, G4000)80–10090–115.0006–.0030.0030–.0060.0040–.0090.0070–.0100.0080–.0120.0090–.0130.0100–.0140
    Malleable cast iron (A220, A602, J158)80–10090–115.0006–.0030.0030–.0060.0040–.0090.0070–.0100.0080–.0120.0090–.0130.0100–.0140
    Aluminum alloys (2014, 2024, 6061, 7075)300300.0007–.0050.0040–.0080.0060–.0110.0080–.0120.0090–.0130.0120–.0140.0130–.0150
    High-silicon cast aluminum (A380, A390)60–8080–95.0007–.0050.0040–.0080.0060–.0110.0080–.0120.0090–.0130.0120–.0140.0130–.0150
    Brass and bronze (aluminum bronze, low-silicon bronze)90–11590–130.0008–.0040.0035–.0070.0050–.0075.0075–.0090.0080–.0100.0090–.0110.0100–.0120
    Plastics and composites (G-10, fiberglass, graphite epoxy)100–125125–175.0040–.0060.0030–.0050.0040–.0060.0050–.0070.0060–.0080.0070–.0090.0080–.0100
    Copper108125.0010–.0035.0038–.0065.0070–.0090.0080–.0110.0100–.0120.0110–.0130.0110–.0130
    Magnesium alloys90–11590–130.0008–.0040.0035–.0070.0050–.0075.0075–.0090.0100–.0120.0110–.0130.0110–.0130
    Cobalt-base superalloys (Stellite, Haynes 25/188, L605)Not listedNot listedNot recommended for HSS or cobalt: use a carbide drill
    Iron-base superalloys (Incoloy 800-802, A-286 class)Not listedNot listedNot recommended for HSS or cobalt: use a carbide drill
    Nickel-base alloys (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Waspaloy, Rene)10–2020–23.0004–.0013.0013–.0020.0020–.0030.0030–.0035.0030–.0040.0035–.0045.0040–.0050
    Titanium (CP, 6Al-4V, Ti-8Al-1Mo)20–7535–90.0006–.0025.0020–.0040.0030–.0055.0040–.0060.0045–.0065.0050–.0070.0060–.0065
    Solid carbide drills: SFM and feed (in/rev)
    MaterialUncoated SFMAlTiN SFM1/8 in1/4 in3/8 in1/2 in
    High-strength tool steel (A2, D2, P20, H11, H13, S2, O1)100–175140–210.0004–.0015.0010–.0020.0010–.0025.0015–.0030
    Low-carbon steel (A36, 12L14, 1018, 1020, 1117, 1215, 8620/9310 class)100–175140–210.0005–.0015.0010–.0025.0010–.0030.0015–.0040
    Medium-carbon and alloy steel (1040-1095, 41xx, 43xx, 86xx, 52100)125–175175–245.0005–.0015.0010–.0025.0010–.0030.0015–.0040
    Austenitic stainless (301-304L, 310, 316L, 321, 347)100–175140–210.0004–.0015.0005–.0015.0010–.0015.0010–.0030
    Martensitic / ferritic stainless (403, 410, 416, 420, 430, 431, 440)100–150140–210.0004–.0015.0008–.0020.0010–.0035.0015–.0040
    Precipitation-hardening stainless (13-8, 15-5, 17-4, AM-350)125–175175–245.0004–.0015.0008–.0020.0010–.0035.0015–.0040
    Ductile cast iron (A536, 60-40-18)125–250175–350.0010–.0030.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Gray cast iron (A48 Class 20-40, G4000)125–250175–350.0010–.0030.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Malleable cast iron (A220, A602, J158)125–250175–350.0010–.0030.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Aluminum alloys (2014, 2024, 6061, 7075)150–300210–420.0010–.0020.0015–.0040.0020–.0045.0030–.0060
    High-silicon cast aluminum (A380, A390)100–200140–280.0008–.0015.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0020–.0050
    Brass and bronze (aluminum bronze, low-silicon bronze)125–300175–420.0010–.0020.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Plastics and composites (G-10, fiberglass, graphite epoxy)150–300210–420.0010–.0020.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Copper150–300210–420.0010–.0020.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Magnesium alloys200–500280–700.0010–.0020.0010–.0030.0015–.0035.0025–.0040
    Cobalt-base superalloys (Stellite, Haynes 25/188, L605)80–150110–210.0004–.0010.0005–.0020.0010–.0025.0010–.0040
    Iron-base superalloys (Incoloy 800-802, A-286 class)150–200210–280.0008–.0015.0010–.0020.0015–.0035.0020–.0040
    Nickel-base alloys (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, Waspaloy, Rene)100–150140–210.0004–.0015.0008–.0015.0010–.0025.0015–.0040
    Titanium (CP, 6Al-4V, Ti-8Al-1Mo)150–200210–280.0008–.0015.0010–.0020.0015–.0030.0020–.0040

    Sources: RedLine Tools (Productivity Inc.) catalog p. 340, Cobalt & HSS Drills Speeds & Feeds; RedLine Tools (Productivity Inc.) catalog p. 338, General Purpose Carbide Drills Speeds & Feeds. Starting values: reduce 20–30% past 2× diameter deep.

    Fractional drills

    Number drills

    Letter drills

    Metric drills

    Tapping next? See tap speeds and feeds by size.