Drilling a hole in concrete is a useful and handy technique. You can put up shelves, hang paintings, install lights, and do much more quickly and safely. The process itself is simple, but selecting the right tools and understanding how to use them will save you a huge amount of time.

1. Buy or rent a good hammer drill. Drilling concrete is much easier with a hammer drill, or a rotary hammer for large jobs. These tools fracture the concrete through rapid hammering, then drill to scoop out the broken material. A normal rotary drill makes the job much slower and more difficult, since concrete is not easily shaved away in layers the same way wood and metal are. Pay extra for a hammer drill rental for any job larger than a few holes drilled through cosmetic (non-structural) concrete, such as the softer mix found in modern countertops. It's usually worth it to pay more for a more powerful hammer (at least 7 to 10 amps) from a well-known brand. Other beneficial features include a speed setting, depth stop, comfortable grip, and a second handle for your other hand.

2. Get to know your tool. Read the user's manual and learn what all the knobs and controls are for. Make sure you are comfortable with your tool before moving on to the next step. Follow all safety instructions. This includes wearing safety goggles to protect your eyes from chips of concrete, hearing protection, and heavy gloves to protect your hands from abrasion and hot drill bits. A respirator is also recommended for longer projects that create a lot of dust.

3. Insert a high quality masonry drill bit. A carbide-tipped masonry bit intended for hammer drills (or labeled "rotary/percussive") are designed to withstand the force of hammering and drilling dense concrete. The flutes of the drill bit must be at least as long as the hole you plan to drill, since they are important for directing dust out of the hole.
1) Rotary hammers require specialty drill bits, called SDS or SDS-MAX (for holes up 5/8" in diameter) or Spline-Shank (for holes 3/4" or larger).
2) Reinforced concrete is much more difficult to drill if you need to drill deeper than the steel rebar. Switch to a special rebar-cutting bit once the drill hits metal. Slow down and pause occasionally to prevent overheating.

4. Set the depth. Some drills have a depth setting or depth control bar. Read the user manual and learn how to use it. If your machine does not have depth control, measure and mark the required depth on the drill bit with a pencil or masking tape. If you're not sure how deep to drill, follow these guidelines:
1) Because concrete is a hard, dense material, screws embedded 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep are sufficient for hanging light-weight objects. Heavier-duty projects require longer screws or concrete anchors, which should list the minimum embedment on the packaging.
2) Add an additional ½" (6 mm) to the embedment to allow room for the dust that accumulates during drilling. You can reduce this length if you plan to remove the dust afterward (described below).
3) For hollow concrete blocks or thin concrete surfaces, check the fastener specifications. Some plastic anchors require a solid backing, and will fall out if you drill through the other side.

5. Hold your drill properly. Hold the drill with one hand like a gun, with your index finger on the "trigger". If the drill has a handle for your other hand to hold, use it. Otherwise put your other hand at the back of the drill.