For most plumbers, a bi-metal plumber kit is the right buy: the Milwaukee 49-22-4156 covers 3/4 to 4-5/8 inches and the Lenox 308011200P covers 3/4 to 4-1/2 inches with three pilot drills. Size the saw to the pipe’s outside diameter or the fitting that must pass, not the nominal pipe size, and respect code limits on holes in framing.
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
This guide covers bi-metal hole saw kits for boring through framing, subfloor and cabinets for plumbing.
Hole saw kits compared (maker size lists)
| Kit | Saw sizes | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 49-22-4156 plumbers kit | 12 saws, 3/4 to 4-5/8 in. | You want a plumber-focused size spread up to 4-5/8 in. |
| Lenox 308011200P plumber kit | 12 saws, 3/4 to 4-1/2 in. | You want a plumber kit with three pilot drills |
| Milwaukee 49-22-4170 20-piece kit | 13 saws, 3/4 to 4-1/2 in. | You also bore small holes for electrical or low-voltage work |
| DeWalt D180005 14-piece kit | See the listing photos | You prefer a kit sold and shipped by Amazon.com |
Plumbers use hole saws to bore through studs and plates for drain and vent pipe, through subfloor for tub and shower drains and toilet bends, and through cabinet backs and floors for supply and drain lines. A kit gives you the common sizes, two arbors and pilot bits in one case.
Bi-metal or carbide?
Bi-metal hole saws are the plumber’s standard. They cut wood, plywood, plastic and thin metal, they are inexpensive to replace, and every kit on this page is bi-metal.
Carbide-tooth hole saws hold up better in abrasive or hard material, such as nail-embedded wood, fiber cement and thicker steel. They cost much more per size, so most plumbers buy a few carbide saws in the sizes they cut most rather than a full carbide kit.
For tile, porcelain and glass, neither is right; use a diamond hole saw. Our diamond hole saw guide covers tile and shower wall holes.
Milwaukee 49-22-4156: plumbers kit
Choose the Milwaukee 49-22-4156 for a kit built around plumbing sizes. Milwaukee lists (milwaukeetool.com) 16 pieces: Hole Dozer bi-metal saws in 3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2-1/4, 2-5/8, 3, 3-5/8, 4, 4-1/4 and 4-5/8 inches, a small-thread arbor with a 3/8-inch shank, a large-thread no-wobble arbor with a 7/16-inch shank, a 1/4 × 3-1/2-inch high-speed steel pilot bit and a hex key, in a hard case.
Milwaukee describes a 3.5 TPI tooth design, slots for removing the plug, and a limited lifetime tooth break warranty, and says the saws are made in the USA.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer came from a third-party seller with limited stock, model 49-22-4156.
Check Milwaukee 49-22-4156 plumbers hole saw kit on Amazon →
Lenox 308011200P: plumber kit with three pilot drills
Choose the Lenox 308011200P if you want a plumber kit with spare pilots. Lenox lists (cutwithlenox.com) 3/4, 7/8, 1-1/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2-1/4, 2-9/16, 3, 3-1/2, 4, 4-1/4 and 4-1/2-inch bi-metal saws, a 2L and a 5L arbor, and three pilot drills.
Lenox says its saws and step-style pilot drills fit both quick-change and traditional arbors, except proprietary arbor systems.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer came from a third-party seller with stock, model 308011200P.
Check Lenox 308011200P plumber hole saw kit on Amazon →
Milwaukee 49-22-4170: wider spread for mixed trades
Choose the Milwaukee 49-22-4170 if you also drill small holes. Milwaukee lists (milwaukeetool.com) 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1-3/8, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2-1/8, 2-5/8, 3, 3-5/8, 4, 4-1/4 and 4-1/2-inch Hole Dozer saws, the same two arbors, four pilot bits, a hex key and a hard case, listed as a quick-change arbor design.
It skips the 4-5/8-inch saw in the plumbers kit but adds 1-inch and 1-3/8-inch sizes.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer came from a third-party seller with stock, model 49-22-4170.
Check Milwaukee 49-22-4170 20-piece hole saw kit on Amazon →
DeWalt D180005: a kit sold by Amazon.com
Choose the DeWalt D180005 if you prefer a kit sold and shipped by Amazon.com. The listing describes a 14-piece bi-metal kit that includes two quick-change mandrels and pilot point bits. We could not find a current DeWalt product page for it, so check the sizes in the listing photos against your work before you buy.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer sold by Amazon.com showed limited stock with model D180005.
Check DeWalt D180005 14-piece hole saw kit on Amazon →
Picking the right saw size for a pipe
Pipe sizes are nominal. A 1-1/2-inch PVC drain is larger than 1-1/2 inches on the outside, so a 1-1/2-inch hole saw will not pass it. Measure the pipe’s outside diameter, or the largest fitting hub that has to pass, and pick the next saw size up that leaves room for the pipe to move and for a sleeve or grommet if one is used.
Check the fitting, not just the pipe. A coupling or hub is wider than the pipe, so if a fitting must pass through the hole, size for it. Our PVC DWV fittings guide covers fitting types.
For tub and shower drains and toilet bends through a subfloor, check the fixture maker’s rough-in drawing for the opening size before you cut.
Drilling through framing: know the limits
Every hole you bore through a stud, plate or joist weakens it. The International Code Council’s CodeNotes article on cutting, drilling and notching (iccsafe.org), based on the 2021 IRC, points to sections R502.8, R602.6 and R602.6.1 for the limits on bored holes and notches in joists, studs and top plates, and notes that engineered products such as I-joists follow the maker’s or a designer’s rules instead.
We do not give an allowable hole size here. Check the code your area has adopted and the framing maker’s guidance before boring large holes for drains and vents, and ask the inspector when a hole is close to a limit.
Look for wiring, pipe and nails before you drill. Our stud finder guide covers scanners.
Getting clean holes and long saw life
Let the pilot bit start the hole, then keep the saw square to the work. Follow the saw maker’s speed guidance, which is generally slower in metal than in wood, and back the saw out now and then to clear chips. In thick framing, drill from both sides with the pilot so the saw meets in the middle.
Pop the plug out through the slots with a screwdriver rather than prying on the teeth. A drill with a side handle and a clutch, or a right-angle drill, keeps the drill from twisting when the saw binds; our right-angle drill guide covers tight stud bays.
Arbors matter too. Our hole saw arbor guide explains small and large thread arbors, shank sizes and extensions.
Working safely with a hole saw
#ad Buying for a shop? Amazon Business (opens in a new tab) accounts are free to create, with business-only prices and bulk quantity discounts.
A hole saw that catches can twist the drill hard enough to hurt your wrist. Use the side handle, set the clutch low if your drill has one, and brace yourself. Wear eye protection, keep loose gloves and sleeves away from the saw, and clamp small work. Let a saw cool before you touch it after a long cut in metal.
Frequently asked questions
What hole saw sizes do plumbers use most?
It depends on the pipe and fittings. Plumber kits like the Milwaukee 49-22-4156 run from 3/4 to 4-5/8 inches to cover supply lines through drains and toilet bends.
Can a 1-1/2-inch hole saw fit 1-1/2-inch pipe?
No. Pipe sizes are nominal and the outside diameter is larger, so size the saw to the measured outside diameter or the fitting that must pass.
Bi-metal or carbide hole saw for plumbing?
Bi-metal is the standard for wood, plastic and thin metal. Carbide lasts longer in abrasive or hard material but costs much more per size.
Do Lenox saws fit other brands’ arbors?
Lenox says its saws and pilot drills fit both quick-change and traditional arbors, except proprietary arbor systems that need adapters.
Can I drill any size hole through a stud or joist?
No. The IRC limits bored holes and notches in framing; check the code your area has adopted and the maker’s rules for engineered lumber.
How we chose
This document-based guide makes no hands-on testing claim. We read Milwaukee’s pages for the 49-22-4156 and 49-22-4170 kits, Lenox’s page for the 308011200P kit and the ICC CodeNotes article on cutting, drilling and notching. The DeWalt kit is described from its listing. A Lenox 13-piece kit listed on Amazon was excluded because Lenox marks it discontinued. On October 15, 2026, all four linked standard new offers showed stock or limited stock. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Milwaukee 49-22-4156 Hole Dozer plumbers hole saw kit (milwaukeetool.com): 16 pieces, saw sizes, arbors, pilot bit, warranty.
- Lenox 308011200P plumber hole saw kit (cutwithlenox.com): saw sizes, arbors, pilot drills, arbor compatibility.
- Milwaukee 49-22-4170 Hole Dozer 20-piece kit (milwaukeetool.com): saw sizes, arbors, pilot bits, quick-change design.
- ICC CodeNotes: Cutting, Drilling and Notching (2021 IRC) (iccsafe.org): IRC sections R502.8, R602.6, R602.6.1; engineered products.