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If you do a lot of work that involves joining wood pieces, you absolutely must have your own pocket hole jig. Next, we’re going to guide you on how to navigate between the many models on the market and pick one that brings the most value for your money.
Snapshot! Best Pocket Hole Jigs
In a hurry? Here are our top picks:
Best Overall | |
Runner-up | |
Best for the Money |
Comparison Chart of the Best Pocket Hole Jigs
Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
UTOOL Pocket Hole Jig Kit  | Best Overall | |
General Tools 850  | Runner-up | |
Milescraft 1325 PocketJig200  | Best Cheap Pocket Hole Jig | |
Kreg K4  | Best Kreg Pocket Hole Jig | |
TOKTOO Pocket Hole Jig Kit  | Best Portable Pocket Hole Jig Kit | |
Milescraft 1321 PocketJig100  | Best Mini Pocket Hole Jig |
What is a Pocket Hole Jig?
A pocket hole jig is a tool that allows you to drill angled holes and create strong joints with a wide range of woodworking projects. Basically, it helps you create pocket holes quickly and easily, pretty much anywhere you need it. It is effortless to use, even for a beginner. And it allows you to strengthen your furniture pieces without any design compromises whatsoever.
Of course, not all pocket hole jigs on the market are created equally. But the best ones will be durable, allow accurate cuts, and come with lots of adjustment options and extra accessories in the package.
What Does a Pocket Hole Jig Do?
Just like the name suggests, a pocket hole jig creates angled holes in a workpiece, to fit in pocket screws anywhere a butt joint is required. You place the two pieces of wood that need to be joined next to each other. You secure the pocket hole jig in place and drill the holes.
Once you insert the self-tapping screws in the pocket holes, their tip will protrude all the way to the adjoining piece. Because the holes drilled with the jig are stepped, the screw will easily go all the way through, while its head will stop somewhere in the wider area of the hole.
By using a screw that bites from both pieces at once, you’re getting a really strong joint, whose metal parts stay hidden. Adding glue to the screws will make the joint even sturdier. And you have a tremendous advantage that the pieces don’t require to stay clamped until the glue dries.
One can always use a pocket hole jig to drill holes into the face or the edge grain of a workpiece. There’s also a third option that involves the end grain of the workpiece, which is not recommended for strength reasons, even though it is possible.
How Do I Choose a Pocket Hole Jig?
In theory, a pocket hole jig is a simple tool, and its operation is quite straightforward. In practice, you’ll find many models and wonder what sets them apart. To choose the best one, always consider the following features:
Versatility
An adjustable drilling angle comes in handy when you work on different projects. The 18-degree default setting is ok for common projects of DIY-ers. But if you want more, look for something that lets you adjust the angle.
Accuracy
A pocket hole jig that clamps tightly, doesn’t slip out of alignment, and lets you drill accurate holes that are neither too deep nor too short is highly valuable. The easier it is to work with it while getting accurate results, the better the tool.
Accessories
For a pocket hole jig to serve its purpose, it needs clamps to secure it, but also bits and screws and wrenches to do the job. Some include all the necessary accessories in the package, while others only a few. The more you’re getting in the kit, the more of a valuable product you have.
Quick Take: Best Pocket Hole Jigs
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best pocket hole jigs:
- Best Overall: UTOOL Pocket Hole Jig Kit
- Runner-up: General Tools 850
- Best Cheap Pocket Hole Jig: Milescraft 1325 PocketJig200
Review of the Best Pocket Hole Jigs
To get a clearer picture of what’s in a pocket hole jig for you, take a look at the best kits on the market. We’ve narrowed it down to a few top picks, making sure you’re getting a lot more options than what Kreg, the leading manufacturer, is offering.
Best Overall:
UTOOL Pocket Hole Jig Kit
PROS
CONS
Our Review
UTOOL’s pocket hole jig kit makes a complete choice for anyone looking for quick and reliable joinery tools. Made of a reinforced nylon composite material, it is sturdy enough to last you for years. And the industrial-grade steel drill guide is made to match the PA66 in durability. Adding the money-back guarantee for a flawless shipment, and you can confidently try this one out.
In the package, plenty of accessories, including 25 pieces of plastic pocket hole plugs and 110 pieces of coarse pocket screws of different sizes. The dust collection port that comes with it is a welcomed feature that will make your work easier. And so will the easy-thickness setting, designed to adjust for materials ranging from 1/2 to 1-3/8-inches.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This kit offers one of the most generous formulas you’ll find on the market, with all the accessories you need, and a face clamp! The install-correct spacer blocks included in the package will help even the first-timers make the most of this pocket hole jig.
Runner-up:
General Tools 850
PROS
CONS
Our Review
This aluminum pocket hole jig with 76 pieces from General Tools is a very tempting choice. It helps you create angle, corner, or flush pocket hole joints in a snap. It features a simple but professional design, easy to use by anyone from DIYers to expert woodworkers. And the lifetime warranty that comes with it is more than encouraging.
The kit includes three sets of 24 pieces, each containing coarse square drive screws, wooden pocket hole plugs, and fine square drive screws. Apart from the jig with clamp, you’re getting a replaceable 3/8-inch step drill bit, a 3/8-inch steel stop collar, and a hex wrench square drive bit sized at 6 inches. All of them are nicely tucked in its carrying case.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Our runner-up selection features one of the simplest and most practical designs you’ll find on the market. It is also surprisingly versatile, as it is portable, and you can take it anywhere your work requires it. Or you can set it up in your workshop, on a workbench, if that’s where you do most of your work.
Best for the Money:
Milescraft 1325 PocketJig200
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The upgraded version of the PocketJig200 from Milescraft caught our eye as the best cheap pocket hole jig you’ll be able to find on the market. It’s a two-slot jig with built-in metric and imperial scales and four board thickness options. And it features a single-sled design with a special led-adjust button, for easy setup according to your board thickness.
If you’re planning on moving around to different locations, the recessed clamp pocket paired with a magnet will come in handy. And thanks to the tight tolerances it features between the drill bit and the bushing, tear-out will be minimal. What’s more, you can get clean holes from the first try!
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Pocket hole jigs aren’t generally expensive, but the cheapest ones will usually come bare-bone. What sets this Milescraft offer apart is that you’re getting a kit, not just a simple jig, for a more than reasonable price. And the product design is certainly far from cheap, so, even more reasons for you to consider this budget-friendly option.
Best Kreg Pocket Hole Jig:
Kreg K4
PROS
CONS
Our Review
By far the most popular jig manufacturer, Kreg conceived the K4 pocket hole jig system as a superior product. Apart from being built with high quality, it is meant as a tool for both professionals and less experienced workers. Thanks to its toggle clamp for the benchtop base, it clamps easily but solidly. And using it doesn’t take much science, either.
Expect it to work with any material thickness from 1/2 to 1-1/2-inches. And get ready to enjoy wood-chip relief holes. During operation, the drill bit will be clear of excess chips, which will prevent premature heating and slow-downs. The quality that Kreg is famous for is definitely a feature of the K4 system, too.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The Kreg name alone is more than enough to make a particular pocket hole jig stand out. But when you’re looking at this system, you’ll be happy to discover it’s a 3-hole drill guide, which gives your projects even more versatility. To top it off, the hardened-steel core is accompanied by a lifetime warranty, making the hefty price tag something you’ll want to pay.
Best Portable Pocket Hole Jig Kit:
TOKTOO Pocket Hole Jig Kit
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Many pocket hole jigs praise to be both portable and benchwork-compatible. But this East Doll jig is clearly built to excel as a portable tool. And just because it is compact and easy to move around, doesn’t mean it makes less than a great job.
After all, it is made of premium quality aluminum, it boasts metric and imperial scales, and it comes with complete accessories. Stop collar and drill bit, hex key and driver, screws and even pocket hole plugs are all offered. Everything for perfect carpentry projects on the go.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This dual-hole portable pocket hole jig comes as a complete set, easy to use, and built with premium quality. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, it works simple and without too much fuss, and as long as you get a clamp for it, you’ll be able to work on joinery pretty much anywhere.
Best Mini Pocket Hole Jig:
Milescraft 1321 PocketJig100
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Yet another top pocket hole jig from Milescraft, this kit offers you a no-fuss option for making joints wherever required. It comes with four board thickness settings and with reference marks for simple adjustments. And the clamping magnet will let you secure it anywhere, with a simple metal clamp.
The drill bushings are made of hardened steel, and the tight tolerances between the bushings and the drill bit ensure a particular resistance to tear. Clean pocket holes are accessible to anyone, from the first try, and that’s what makes a jig great.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This isn’t the type of jig kit you’ve seen around, but rather a mini version, also called by the manufacturer pocket jig. That’s because it comes with only one hole, and it has the significant advantage of fitting in even in the tightest spaces.
Pocket Hole Jig Tips, Tricks, and Hacks for Success
Regardless of your level of experience, the following insights will help you get more, if not the most, from your jig. Make sure you take them into account with your projects.
It Takes More Than A Good Jig
Sure, the quality of your pocket hole jig is essential. But for getting square assemblies, you also need to work with square cuts. Always make sure you perfectly cut the parts to size, to avoid getting unsquared joints or joints with gaps.
Know The Right Drilling Depth
The strongest joints are neither too deep nor too superficial. The drilling depth you need to consider implies how steep into the workpiece the hole will go. Ideally, the pilot point would have to be somewhere at a 1/8-inch distance from the end or the edge of the workpiece.
Pick The Work Surface Wisely
There are three different ways you can drill a pocket hole, but only two are recommended. Specifically, you can create the holes into the edge, the end, or the face grain of the workpiece. Never drill into the end grain, as this will give you the weakest joints!
Make Your Job Easier
To get clean and smooth holes effortlessly, it helps using a dry lubricant to spray the bit. This will prolong its sharpness and minimize the drilling friction. Also, important, use a corded drill to bore the hole, because it provides higher speed than a cordless one. And high speed makes for cleaner holes.
How to Use a Pocket Hole Jig
Knowing what your best options are, you’re probably eager to get to action. As always, it won’t hurt going through the theory before you do the actual practice. Here are the steps required for drilling pocket holes with one of the jigs we’ve reviewed above.
- Clamp your jig to your work surface;
- Use the adjustment options to make the jig fit the thickness of the workpiece you intend to dig pocket holes into;
- Proceed to loosen the stop collar on the bit, setting its shoulder to match the thickness set with the guide, and then tighten it back;
- Bring the workpiece and clamp it into the jig, making sure it’s firmly secured in place;
- Set the bit in the drill, and you can now start to drill the holes into the workpiece;
- Put on your protection glasses and place the bit into the guide;
- To remove the wood chips and to avoid the bit catching up too much residue and overheating, make a few back and forth moves with the bit – this will help to eliminate the extra wood residues;
- Make sure you make a couple of test holes, first;
- And don’t forget to check the user manual to see exactly what screw length you need and how many screws are necessary for a quality joint.
Other than that, keep practicing, and you’ll start drilling perfect pocket holes in no time. Check the link below if you think you could also use a video demonstration of how to use a pocket hole jig.
Conclusion
With the right pocket hole jig, anyone can put together furniture pieces that look really well. It makes your work easier, and it doesn’t cost that much either. Amateurs or DIY-ers serious about their woodworking projects can all pick one of the products we’ve reviewed above and there will be no room for disappointment.
People Also Ask
Want to know even more about pocket hole jigs and why you’re better having one than none? Here are the top questions people ask about it:
Can You Make Pocket Holes Without A Jig?
Yes, you can make pocket holes without a jig. Jigs were invented to ease work, since carpenters have always been making pocket holes, long before having a jig for it. It’s more complicated, but still possible. Basically, you must first drill an angled hole, and then drill a second one, wider than the first, and which will have to exit towards the center of the workpiece’s thickness.
Are Pocket Holes Necessary?
Pocket holes are just one of the many options you have at hand to join two workpieces. They have the advantage of hiding the screw, with the option to conceal the hole, too. Through it all, pocket holes make a fast and easy way to create a really strong joint. You won’t find it necessary, but you might find it desirable.
Which Is Stronger Dowels Or Pocket Holes?
A dowel is considered to be the strongest option when it comes to butt joints, in general. However, it takes more time to craft them and, given the benefits of pocket holes, one might often pick the latter. If extreme resistance isn’t mandatory for your woodworking project, a pocket hole, which is easier and faster to set up, might be more desirable.
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