To enable your power drill to drill holes, you will need drill bits of various types to suit different materials and hole sizes. Start with a basic selection and add others as and when you need them.

Twist Drill Bits

These bits make small holes in wood and metal. Cheaper types are made from carbon steel, but the more expensive high-speed steel (HSS) bits will drill better and last longer. Sets are available in different sizes ranging from 1-13mm, however you'll probably never use all of them.

It's more economical to buy individual bits in the sizes you use most often and to replace them as they get worn. If you do a lot of woodwork it's worth investing in a power drill sharpener to keep your twist drills in good condition.

Dowel (Brad-point) Drill Bits

With a centre point that helps to ensure the bit doesn't wander as you start the hole, these bits are worth having if you make a lot of dowel joints. Buy bits to match standard dowel sizes - 6, 8 and 10mm are the most widely used.

Countersink Bits

These cone-shaped bits drill recesses at the mouth of holes made with your Twist drill bits, so you can drive the heads of Countersunk screws flush with the wood surface. To save having to change bits use a Screwsink bit in the place of separate Twist drill, and Countersink bits to drill pilot, clearance and countersunk holes in one operation.

Flat Wood Bits

If you want to make holes bigger than 13mm in wood you need some Flat wood bits, also known as Spade bits because of the shape of their blades. With a lead point and two cutting edges they come in sizes ranging from 8-40mm. As with Twist drills, buy individual bits in the sizes you need at first, rather than investing in a set.

Holesaw Blades

To cut holes larger than 40mm in wood, man-made boards and other sheet materials such as metal or plastic, the Holesaw blade is an essential accessory. It consists of a toothed strip of hardened steel that fits into a holder called an arbor. This also holds a Twist drill bit, that, in turn, fits the chuck of your drill.

Start the hole with the Twist drill bit, which then leads the Holesaw blade into the surface and cuts the hole. Individual Holesaws come in sizes from 35mm up to 125mm. You can also buy sets of four and five common sizes, all fitting on the same arbor.

Masonry Drill Bits

When it comes to drilling holes in masonry you need special drill bits with tungsten carbide cutting tips. These come in a range of diameters and lengths, but the ones you're most likely to use are in the 6-10mm diameter range - matching standard wallplugs taking screws of gauge sizes 8-12. Buy individual drills bits as and when you need them, rather than sets that are likely to contain sizes you may never use.

Screwdriver Bits

Most power drills and cordless screwdrivers come with one or two screwdriver bits. If you're a fan of power screwdriving it's well worth investing in a set of screwdriver bits, enabling you to drive and undo screws with slotted, Pozidriv and Phillips heads as well as those with Hexagonal or Torq sockets.

Abrasive Accessories

Apart from driving drill, holesaw and screwdriver bits, your drill can also power some simple abrasive accessories

Sanding Discs

This is a rubber baseplate attached to a drive shaft. It takes replaceable sanding discs that can be used for finishing wood and other materials - an economical addition to your tool kit if you don't have a power sander.

Flap-Wheel Sanders

Have tongues of abrasive paper fixed to a central shaft and are ideal for sanding concave surfaces that Sanding discs cannot tackle.

Wire Brush Fittings

Are used for removing rust and old paint from metal surfaces and are available in wheel and cup shapes.