Centre punches are used to mark centres for drilling and asset in starting the drilling process. The mark left by a punch can help keep the tip of the drill bit in place and allow the cutting edge bite into the material.

Centre punches are typically made from machined steel. Their tips are hardened to prevent shattering when struck with a hammer. Centre punches can be slightly shorter than a pencil and feature a knurled grip and ground point. The point is usually 60° - 90° to the axis of the punch.