Best Sewing Machines: The Definitive Guide

These are the top five best sewing machines on the market, chosen from hundreds of models.

The Breakdown

The Janome Magnolia 7318 is a functional and affordable sewing machine that doesn’t come with any unnecessary or overwhelming features. It’s a great sewing machine for beginners. With 18 built-in stitches and a seven-piece feed dog, this model is exceptionally easy to use.

Equipped with a carrying handle, mobility is at the forefront with this machine. It’s convenient stitch panel shows you the available stitches and their corresponding letters, allowing you to easily adjust the stitch dial to your desired pattern. Janome produces easy-to-use, yet powerful and precise sewing machines. The Janome Magnolia 7318 is no different. This is a great machine if you’re just starting to sew and want to learn the ropes without breaking the bank.

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#4 Brother CS6000i

$115.00

8.75

BUILT-IN STITCHES

9/10

EASE OF USE

9/10

ACCESSORIES

9/10

SEWING SPEED

9/10

THE GOOD

  • Easy-To-Use LCD
  • Variable Speed Control
  • Oversized Table
  • LED Lighting
  • Protective Case

THE BAD

  • Design

The Breakdown

Equipped with 60 built-in stitches – which is rare for this model’s price range – nine different sewing feet and seven one-step buttonhole styles, the Brother CS6000i is one of the most feature-packed machines of all our picks and the best sewing machine under $200 on the market. There’s so much to love about this machine at an affordable price point.

Loaded with add-ons, like LED lighting for brightening up your workspace, a protective carrying case that makes it easy to transport to classes, a simple-to use LCD screen with stitch settings, an oversized table for working on bigger projects and a variable speed control start/stop button, this model offers a ton of features at a low-barrier of entry. Dream up your next project and bring it to life with the user-friendly, value-packed Brother CS6000i.

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#3 Singer 4432

$361.44

8.825

BUILT-IN STITCHES

8/10

EASE OF USE

9/10

ACCESSORIES

9/10

SEWING SPEED

10/10

THE GOOD

  • Heavy-Duty Frame
  • Sewing Speed
  • Roller Bag
  • Strong Motor
  • Professional Features

THE BAD

  • No Bells & Whistles

The Breakdown

The Singer 4432 is a heavy-duty sewing machine. This model is a workhorse and the best sewing machine you can buy under $400. Its rugged design provides great support for this machine’s mechanisms to ensure skip-free sewing. With a motor that’s 60 percent stronger than the standard sewing machine, it can handle sewing speeds of up to 1,100 SPM or stitches per minute, giving you professional speed and faster results.

It’s strong motor allows this model to effortlessly sew through heavy fabrics with no problem. Never worry about jamming your needle with this sewing machine ever again. With its available features, like a drop-in bobbin, a see through cover, automatic needle threader and three needle positions, this model will satisfy even the most advanced sewers. Additionally, this machine comes with a roller bag and collapsible handle. Easily enjoy everything the Singer 4432 has to offer on-the-go.

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The Breakdown

Featuring 240 built-in stitches – the most of all our picks – 14 different sewing feet and eight buttonhole styles, the Brother Designio Series DZ3000 gives you all the creative freedom you need and puts personal high-end fashion at your fingertips. From a LCD screen that’s 50 percent larger than previous Brother models, customize your patterns and personalize your stitch selections.

Right underneath the LCD display is an exciting range of built-in stitches and fonts to choose from. This model has designer-like features that’ll help you successfully accomplish your next project, including an oversized table, a hard protective case and variable speed controls. At just 10 lbs, the Brother Designio Series DZ3000 is the lightest sewing machine of all our picks and can easily be transported to classes or effortlessly stored out of sight.

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#1 Singer Special Edition

$950.94

9.65

BUILT-IN STITCHES

10/10

EASE OF USE

10/10

ACCESSORIES

10/10

SEWING SPEED

10/10

THE GOOD

  • Stitches & Sewing Feet
  • Design
  • LCD Screen
  • Accessories
  • Ease Of Use

THE BAD

  • Utility Overload

The Breakdown

The Singer 90S Special Edition sewing machine offers 231 built-in stitches, 16 sewing feet and seven buttonhole styles: there’s an endless amount of sewing patterns you can achieve with this model. Singer believes your sewing machine should be just as glamorous as you. This machine was built for precise sewing and durability, but its sleek, heavy-duty frame with a metallic finish provides a luxurious feel.

With all of its available features, this is the best sewing machine under $1000 you can buy. Equipped with an extra large sewing space, LED lighting, an LCD screen, start/stop button speed control, SwiftSmart threading, programmable needle up/down settings and built-in stitch customization memory, this high-end model has a ton of features you won’t find on many other machines. Beauty goes deeper than the surface with the Singer 90S Special Edition.

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Sewing Machine Reviews & Comparisons

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BEST SEWING MACHINES
MODELS Singer 90S Special Edition Brother Designio Series DZ3000 Singer 4432  Brother CS6000i  Janome Magnolia 7318
RANKINGS 

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

CRUSH RATING
9.6
9.3
8.8
8.7
7.9
PRICE Check Price $349.00 $220.88  $135.99 Check Price
X-FACTOR 
Designer-style sewing machine with built-in memory and 231 stitches 240 built-in stitches with large workspace and big LCD screen Heavy-duty sewing machine with powerful motor and roller bag Extended, oversized table and protective case Powerful and precise, yet easy-to-use
BUILT-IN STITCHES   231 240 32 60 18
SEWING FEET   16 14 4 9 3
BUTTONHOLE STYLES 7 8 1 7 1
SEWING SPEED (SPM) infoiconnoun  750 SPM 850 SPM 1,100 SPM 850 SPM 830 SPM
SPEED CONTROL Start/Stop Button and Foot Pedal Start/Stop Button and Foot Pedal Foot Pedal Start/Stop Button and Foot Pedal Foot Pedal
WEIGHT (lbs)  24 lbs 10 lbs  15 lbs 13 lbs 17.5 lbs
WARRANTY 25-year 25-year 25-year 25-year 25-year
SNAP-ON SEWING FEET
PROTECTIVE CASE
LCD SCREEN
LED SEWING LIGHTS
BUILT-IN MEMORY
LEARN MORE Read Full Review Read Full Review Read Full Review Read Full Review Read Full Review
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Best Overall Sewing Machine

There’s an endless amount of sewing patterns you can achieve with the Singer 90S Special Edition’s 231 built-in stitches, 16 sewing feet and 7 buttonhole styles. This model’s luxurious style and design, coupled with its power and precision, make this our pick for the best sewing machine for quilting on the market. There’s a lot to love about this model.

LED lights to brighten up your workspace, an LCD screen for stitch selection and built-in stitch customization memory are just a few of the features this sewing machine has to offer. All of the add-ons this model has are practical, making it easy-to-use and adding another level of functionality to this machine. Singer crafted this model with love: its heavy duty frame with metallic silver finish was built for precision and durability. Bring your next project to life with the Singer 90S Special Edition.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I lived without this machine! I have used it for a little over a year now. I am a professional seamstress and own a sewing business and I would recommend this Singer to everyone…It is extremely heavy duty feeling and the design makes it look really professional. The stitching that it includes are really great…Do yourself a favor and buy this machine today!” -Verified Amazon Customer

Singer Special Edition Computerized Sewing Machine with LCD Screen, Bonus
Price: $659.00
(150 customer reviews)
2 new from $659.002 used from $500.00
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  • 221-Stitch advanced sewing machine with LCD screen, stitch selection dial & automatic stitch length & width
  • Swiftsmart threading system with automatic needle Threader is the easiest threading system
  • Extra-Large sewing space allows you to tackle large projects and quilts with ease
  • Stitch elongation and mirror imaging and stitch memory with editing allow you to save and edit select stitch patterns to create personalized patterns
  • Start / stop button and speed control allow for easy sewing at your own speed, with or without the foot control

Best Cheap Sewing Machine

The Brother CS6000i has all the available features of a high-end sewing machine at an extremely affordable price. This is the best sewing machine under $200 on the market and is our pick for the best cheap sewing machine. With 60 built-in stitches, nine sewing feet and seven one-step buttonhole styles, this machine offers a ton of sewing pattern options.

With a touch of a button on the LCD monitor, select from all the available stitches and adjust their length and width settings. Brighten up your workspace with the LED lights, which are especially useful when working on darker fabrics. Extend its oversized table when working on larger projects to maneuver around your work. Pack this sewing machine up and easily take it with you to classes or friend’s houses with its handy carrying case. Beginner and expert sewers alike will love the Brother CS6000i for all of the advanced features it offers at an unbeatable price.

“This machine represents the most incredible value-for-money on the market today. It is very, very easy to use, and the manual is exceptionally helpful. It comes with every foot and accessory you could ever possibly need… I highly recommend this machine.” – Verified Amazon Customer

Brother CS6000i Feature-Rich Sewing Machine With 60 Built-In Stitches, 7 styles of 1-Step Auto-Size Buttonholes, Quilting Table, and Hard C
Price: $135.99
You save: $304.01 (68 %)
(0 customer reviews)
79 new from $135.994 used from $119.62
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  • Versatile, value-packed, perfect for a wide range of sewing and quilting projects, accessories are stored inside a compartment on the arm of the sewing machine
  • Select stitches and adjust stitch length and stitch width via settings seen on the LCD display
  • Stop/start button allows use without included foot control. Variable speed control for easily adjusting your sewing speed
  • Jam-resistant Quick-set top drop-in bobbin makes setting and accessing your bobbin thread a breeze. No more fishing for your bobbin thread. Accessories are stored in a compartment on the arm of the machine.
  • Bilingual user manual, 25-year limited warranty, and free phone support for the life of the product. We do not recommend using this machine in countries that do not support 120V AC even if a voltage adapter is in use
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Best Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine

The Singer 4432 is a workhorse and the best heavy-duty sewing machine on the market you can buy. This model’s rugged design provides great support for its mechanisms to ensure skip-free sewing. The Singer 4432 features a motor that’s 60 percent stronger than the industry standard and can handle sewing speeds of up to 1,100 SPM or stitches per minute.

It’s powerful motor allows this model to effortlessly sew through multiple layers of heavy fabrics – never worry about jamming your needle ever again. With its available features, like a drop-in bobbin system, a see through cover, automatic needle threader, three needle positions and a convenient roller bag, the Singer 4432 was built for longevity. This machine can sew through almost anything you throw at it. You won’t find a more durable and reliable sewing machine for a better price.

 

Singer Sewing 4432 Heavy Duty Extra-High Speed Sewing Machine with Metal Frame and Stainless Steel Bedplate
Price: $151.99
You save: $248.00 (62 %)
(0 customer reviews)
3 new from $151.9932 used from $117.79
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  • Extra-high sewing speed of 1,100 stitches per minute gives you professional speed for faster results
  • Heavy duty metal frame ensures that the machine remains still for skip-free sewing
  • Stainless steel bedplate provides smooth fabric feed for even sewing
  • 32 built-in stitches – 6 essential, 7 stretch, 18 decorative, 1 fully automatic 1-step buttonhole
  • Automatic needle threader is the biggest timesaver

Sewing Machine Buyer’s Guide

There are a lot of technical terms being thrown around in these reviews, so it may benefit you to brush up on some of the features to look for when purchasing the best sewing machine for quilting and other needs. Here is a quick breakdown of some terms you’ll often see and how they relate to your sewing experience.

Types Of Sewing Machines

Computerized: Computerized sewing machines are becoming more and more popular. With many built-in stitches and embroidery designs programmed, there are endless pattern possibilities with these types of models. Computerized machines are better for more advanced sewers because their abundance of features may overwhelm novice sewers.

Mechanical: Older sewing machines are mechanical, but few are still made today. Most of them create a lockstitch or chainstitch. Although mechanical sewing machines may be more affordable, they are usually manual and are harder to use, especially for beginners.

Electric: The most popular type of sewing machine today. They create regular lockstitches and are very common and versatile.

Stitches: Machines vary in the types of stitches and how many stitches they offer. A stitch is a single turn or loop of thread. Stitches are a fundamental element of sewing and some machines have hundreds of different stitch variations built-in. Stitches and their variations are named according to the position of the needle and direction of sewing.

Sewing Or Pressure Feet: A presser foot is an attachment used to hold fabric flat as it is fed through the machine and stitched. High-end sewing machines come with multiple types of presser or sewing feet and there are many variations of sewing feet for different fabrics and types of projects.

Sewing Speed: Sewing speed is measured in stitches per minute or SPM. This is the rate at which the sewing foot pushes the stitches into your fabric. 

Feed Dog: This is a critical component of a sewing machine. Its purpose is to feed your fabric through the presser foot in-between stitches.

Keep these terms in mind when comparing prices and features to find the best sewing machine for you!