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Home and Garden
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How to Remove a Drill Bit Download Article Co-authored by Jacob Pischer
Last Updated: May 24, 2025 Fact Checked
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Removing the Bit Manually
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Using the Drill to Remove the Bit
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Removing a Bit from a Drill with a Key
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This article was co-authored by Jacob Pischer. Jacob Pischer is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Helpful Badger, a home repair service in Portland, OR. With over four years of experience, Jacob specializes in a variety of handyman services including pressure washing, cleaning gutters, repairing drywall, fixing leaky plumbing fixtures, and repairing broken doors. Jacob studied at Madison Area Technical College and has a background in real estate investment. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 406,031 times.
Electric drills come with a huge variety of different bits. In order to unscrew an old bit and attach a new bit to the end of your drill, you’ll have to remove whatever bit is currently in there. On most modern drills, bits can be removed manually, or by using the drill itself. If you’re trying to remove a bit from an older drill or a drill press, you’ll need a special tool called a drill chuck key. Learn more below!
Things You Should Know
Manually remove a drill bit by hand, with a screwdriver, or with a wrench.
Grip the end of the drill chuck with one hand and pull the drill's trigger with another to rotate the bit free.
Insert your drill's key into the holes along the chuck and turn it counterclockwise 5-6 times.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Removing the Bit Manually
Download Article
1 Locate the chuck at the end of the drill. The chuck is the part of the drill that holds the bit in place. This piece is usually made of plastic on the outside and can rotate back and forth.[1]XResearch source
The drill can be on or off.
With Dremel drills, you'll need to press a button before being able to remove the bit.[2]X Expert Source Jacob PischerHome Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview
2 Rotate the chuck counterclockwise. Hold the handle with one hand and turn the chuck counterclockwise. This will start to loosen its internal components which will free your drill bit. Continue turning the chuck until the bit falls out. Work over a desk so that the bit doesn’t fall on the floor.[3]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Set the bit aside so that you don’t lose it. Place the bit in a ziplock bag or with your other drill bits so that you don’t lose them. You can also keep them organized in a toolbox.
4 Unscrew the chuck if it's is stuck. If your chuck won't budge when you try to rotate it, it may be stuck. Insert a Phillip's Head screwdriver into the tip of the drill and turn the screw inside of the chuck counterclockwise. This should loosen it up enough to rotate the chuck. Once your chuck rotates again, replace the screw.[4]XResearch source
5 Turn the chuck counterclockwise with a wrench if it's stuck. If you can't manually turn the chuck, it may be stuck. In this case, use a large wrench or vice grips and turn the chuck counterclockwise with your tools.[5]XResearch source
Forcing the chuck when it's stuck may further damage the drill.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Using the Drill to Remove the Bit
Download Article
1 Press the button on the left side of the drill. There should be a button above the handle on your electric drill. This button dictates which direction the drill spins when you pull the trigger. To remove the bit, you’ll want to rotate the bit counterclockwise.[6]XResearch source
Pushing the button in on the left side will make the drill rotate counterclockwise, while pushing the button on the right side will cause the drill to turn clockwise.
2 Hold the chuck at the end of the drill. The chuck is the end of the drill that holds the bit in place and is usually made of plastic. Hold the end of the chuck in place with your free hand to keep it from rotating while you pull the trigger on your drill.[7]XResearch source
3 Pull the trigger. Hold the chuck as you pull the trigger. This should rotate the internal components of the chuck, which will free your bit. Once the bit is free from the drill, set it aside in a safe place so that you don’t lose it.[8]XResearch source
4 Rotate the chuck with a wrench if it's stuck. Turn the chuck counterclockwise with vice grips or a wrench if it's stuck. This will give you additional leverage and allow you to manually turn it. Note that this may damage your drill.[9]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Removing a Bit from a Drill with a Key
Download Article
1 Locate the holes at the end of the drill. Some older drills and some drill presses will have holes at the end of the drill that fit a special key. Find the part where the bit fits into the drill, otherwise known as the chuck. Drill presses may have more than one hole that you need to loosen before the bit can come free.[10]XResearch source
2 Turn the key counterclockwise in the holes. Your drill should have come with a key that fits into the holes in the chuck. Fit the end of the key into the hole in the chuck then turn the key counterclockwise 5-6 times. This should start to loosen the bit from your drill.[11]XResearch source
If you can’t find your chuck key, you’ll have to purchase another one that’s made for your specific drill.
3 Loosen the rest of the holes on the chuck. Once you’re done loosening one hole, move onto the others until you’ve loosened them all. Once they are all loose, the bit should come free from the drill. Remove the bit from the drill and set it aside.
If the drill bit is still stuck, it's likely that you didn't loosen all of the holes. Double check and make sure that you've turned them all counterclockwise.
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Co-authored by: Jacob Pischer Home Improvement Specialist This article was co-authored by Jacob Pischer. Jacob Pischer is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Helpful Badger, a home repair service in Portland, OR. With over four years of experience, Jacob specializes in a variety of handyman services including pressure washing, cleaning gutters, repairing drywall, fixing leaky plumbing fixtures, and repairing broken doors. Jacob studied at Madison Area Technical College and has a background in real estate investment. This article has been viewed 406,031 times. 1 votes - 20% Co-authors: 7Updated: May 24, 2025 Views: 406,031 Categories: ToolsArticle SummaryX
To remove a drill bit manually, first locate the chuck at the end of the drill, which is the part of the drill that holds the bit in place. Hold the handle with one hand and turn the chuck counterclockwise to loosen its internal components, which will free your drill bit. Continue turning the chuck until the bit falls out. If the chuck feels stuck when you try to rotate it, insert a Phillip’s Head screwdriver into the tip of the drill. Then, turn the screw inside of the chuck counterclockwise to loosen it up enough to rotate the chuck. You can also use a wrench to turn the chuck if it’s tight or stuck. To learn how to use the drill to remove the bit, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Gerry W.
Jul 3, 2023
"I was turning and turning the drill trying to get the bit out, and I worried I was gonna damage the thing! This article helped me find the right "chuck" to turn and it worked like a charm. Thank you!!"..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jacob Pischer Home Improvement Specialist 1 votes - 20% Click a star to vote 20% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 7Updated: May 24, 2025 Views: 406,031
Gerry W.
Jul 3, 2023
"I was turning and turning the drill trying to get the bit out, and I worried I was gonna damage the thing! This article helped me find the right "chuck" to turn and it worked like a charm. Thank you!!"..." more
N. C.
Sep 5, 2019
"I was very confused about how to remove a drill bit, but this page (with 3 different ways!) helped me figure it out."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Jacob Pischer Home Improvement Specialist This article was co-authored by Jacob Pischer. Jacob Pischer is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Helpful Badger, a home repair service in Portland, OR. With over four years of experience, Jacob specializes in a variety of handyman services including pressure washing, cleaning gutters, repairing drywall, fixing leaky plumbing fixtures, and repairing broken doors. Jacob studied at Madison Area Technical College and has a background in real estate investment. This article has been viewed 406,031 times. 1 votes - 20% Co-authors: 7 Updated: May 24, 2025 Views: 406,031 Categories: Tools Article SummaryX
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1 Locate the chuck at the end of the drill. The chuck is the part of the drill that holds the bit in place. This piece is usually made of plastic on the outside and can rotate back and forth.[1] 
2 Rotate the chuck counterclockwise. Hold the handle with one hand and turn the chuck counterclockwise. This will start to loosen its internal components which will free your drill bit. Continue turning the chuck until the bit falls out. Work over a desk so that the bit doesn’t fall on the floor.[3] Advertisement 
3 Set the bit aside so that you don’t lose it. Place the bit in a ziplock bag or with your other drill bits so that you don’t lose them. You can also keep them organized in a toolbox. 
4 Unscrew the chuck if it's is stuck. If your chuck won't budge when you try to rotate it, it may be stuck. Insert a Phillip's Head screwdriver into the tip of the drill and turn the screw inside of the chuck counterclockwise. This should loosen it up enough to rotate the chuck. Once your chuck rotates again, replace the screw.[4] 
5 Turn the chuck counterclockwise with a wrench if it's stuck. If you can't manually turn the chuck, it may be stuck. In this case, use a large wrench or vice grips and turn the chuck counterclockwise with your tools.[5] 
1 Press the button on the left side of the drill. There should be a button above the handle on your electric drill. This button dictates which direction the drill spins when you pull the trigger. To remove the bit, you’ll want to rotate the bit counterclockwise.[6] 
2 Hold the chuck at the end of the drill. The chuck is the end of the drill that holds the bit in place and is usually made of plastic. Hold the end of the chuck in place with your free hand to keep it from rotating while you pull the trigger on your drill.[7] 
3 Pull the trigger. Hold the chuck as you pull the trigger. This should rotate the internal components of the chuck, which will free your bit. Once the bit is free from the drill, set it aside in a safe place so that you don’t lose it.[8] 
4 Rotate the chuck with a wrench if it's stuck. Turn the chuck counterclockwise with vice grips or a wrench if it's stuck. This will give you additional leverage and allow you to manually turn it. Note that this may damage your drill.[9] Advertisement 
1 Locate the holes at the end of the drill. Some older drills and some drill presses will have holes at the end of the drill that fit a special key. Find the part where the bit fits into the drill, otherwise known as the chuck. Drill presses may have more than one hole that you need to loosen before the bit can come free.[10] 
2 Turn the key counterclockwise in the holes. Your drill should have come with a key that fits into the holes in the chuck. Fit the end of the key into the hole in the chuck then turn the key counterclockwise 5-6 times. This should start to loosen the bit from your drill.[11] 
3 Loosen the rest of the holes on the chuck. Once you’re done loosening one hole, move onto the others until you’ve loosened them all. Once they are all loose, the bit should come free from the drill. Remove the bit from the drill and set it aside. 
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