Guide
Why won’t my drill go into concrete?
Common reasons a drill stops in concrete: wrong drill, wrong bit, steel, lintel, dust-packed hole or hidden services risk.
Quick answer
The usual causes are wrong bit type, a hammer drill being used where SDS is needed, dust clogging the hole, blunt masonry bit, or the bit hitting steel/rebar/lintel material.
Typical example
A DIY hammer drill that starts the hole then stops at the same depth may be meeting harder aggregate, steel or a lintel. A bigger drill is not always the answer; the material needs identifying.
Checks before hire
- Confirm the bit is masonry-rated and sharp.
- Clear dust from the hole and keep the bit straight.
- Use a detector and avoid cable/pipe zones.
- If all holes stop at the same depth, suspect a lintel, steel or hidden layer.
When to stop
- Stop if the bit sparks, polishes the surface, hits metal, gets hot quickly, or the fixing location is near services/structural edges.
Turn it into a hire card
Use the matching planner to turn this note into a practical kit class, consumables list, PPE checks and copyable handoff summary.
Open the Concrete drill chooser