May 2023

Sewing Machines: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Sewing Machine rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 2 May 2023 and 3 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 95 Sewing Machine endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

65 Sewing Machines were endorsed in total, only 21 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 3 May 2023, Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed sewing machine with 5 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 5 recommended it as the '#1 sewing machine' this month. It is followed by Brother CS7000X and Singer Stylist 7258 , with 3 and 3 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking sewing machines start at $39.99 (Magicfly Mini Dual Speed) and go up to $2199 (Janome 8200QCP). Median sewing machine costs $299.99 (Brother ST150HDH).
$39.99
$2199

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Sewing Machine
Business Insider
marthastewart.com
The Strategist
Wirecutter
Today
Sewing Spot
Crafts Selection
Good Housekeeping
The Spruce
money.com
1
- $467
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960
-
-
4
2
5
1
1
-
-
-
2
- $220
Brother CS7000X
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
3
-
-
3
- $229
Singer Stylist 7258
-
-
-
-
-
7
4
-
1
-
4
- $148
Brother XM2701
-
8
-
-
-
4
6
-
8
-
5
- $399
Bernette 05 Academy
-
-
3
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
6
- $220
Singer Heavy Duty 4452
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
4
7
- $124
Janome Arctic Crystal
-
-
2
-
14
-
-
-
2
-
8
- $391
Brother XR9550PRW
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
1
-
-
9
- $1499
Bernette 77
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
2
13
- $791
Janome 4120QDC
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
14
- Check price
Baby Lock Jubilant
-
-
-
-
3
-
-
8
-
-
15
- $1199
Juki HZL-F600
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
16
- Check price
Singer Patchwork 7285Q
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6
6
-
17
- $629
Juki TL-2000Qi
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7
-
6
18
New * $174
Singer Start 1304
-
-
-
-
10
-
-
4
-
-
19
-1 Check price
Brother SE625
-
7
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
-
20
-1 Check price
Brother CS6000i
-
-
-
-
-
8
7
-
-
-
21
-1 $425
Janome HD3000
-
-
-
-
-
9
9
-
-
-
22
-1 $379
Juki MO654DE
-
-
6
-
-
-
13
-
-
-
23
- $713
Brother PQ1500SL
-
-
-
-
-
10
10
-
-
-
24
-2 $385
Brother SE600
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
10
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Sewing Machine
#7 $124.14 Janome Arctic Crystal [buy] [more info]
#4 $148 Brother XM2701 [buy] [more info]
#18 $173.75 Singer Start 1304 [buy] [more info]
#2 $219.99 Brother CS7000X [buy] [more info]
#6 $219.99 Singer Heavy Duty 4452 [buy] [more info]
#3 $229 Singer Stylist 7258 [buy] [more info]
#19 $360 Brother SE625 [buy] [more info]
#22 $379 Juki MO654DE [buy] [more info]
#24 $385.50 Brother SE600 [buy] [more info]
#8 $391 Brother XR9550PRW [buy] [more info]
#5 $399 Bernette 05 Academy [buy] [more info]
#21 $425.44 Janome HD3000 [buy] [more info]
#1 $467.44 Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 [buy] [more info]
#17 $629 Juki TL-2000Qi [buy] [more info]
#23 $712.95 Brother PQ1500SL [buy] [more info]
#13 $791.01 Janome 4120QDC [buy] [more info]
#15 $1199 Juki HZL-F600 [buy] [more info]
#9 $1499 Bernette 77 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 #1 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
The Strategist

Best all-purpose sewing machine

Go to ranking

Wirecutter

For the ambitious beginner

Go to ranking

Today

Go to ranking

Sewing Spot

Editors Top Choice

Go to ranking

Crafts Selection

Best Computerized Sewing Machine

Pros
Multiple uses, lots of useful functions
600 built-in stitches, 5 alphanumeric fonts, and 13 buttonhole designs
Automatic needle threader, autopilot, automatic reverse
Speed of 850 stitches per minute
Metal frame provides sturdiness

Cons
Cannot use walking foot with the quilting bar

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother CS7000X #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Brother CS7000X as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Business Insider

Best Sewing Machine Overall

Pros
Quiet
reasonably priced
70 utility and decorative stitches
seven buttonholes
has a wide variety of useful features such as needle up/down and automatic backstitch

Cons
Computerized controls can be intimidating
inconvenient storage compartment

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Wirecutter

The best sewing machine for most beginners

Go to ranking

Good Housekeeping

Best Sewing Machine for Beginners

Pros
21,000 Amazon reviews
10 different presser feet included
Simple threading directions with QR codes for additional guidance

Cons
Showed some inaccuracies when sewing with polyester satin fabrics

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Sewing Machines.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Sewing Machines, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for May 2023 ranking

We ranked Singer Stylist 7258 #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Singer Stylist 7258 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Sewing Spot

Good Choice for Intermediate to Beginners

Go to ranking

Crafts Selection

The Most Easy-to-Use Sewing Machine

Pros
Easy to use
100 built-in stitches and 6 buttonhole designs
Automatic needle threader, thread cutter
Bright LED light for stitching at night/dark places

Cons
Does not perform well on thick fabrics

Go to ranking

The Spruce

Best Overall

Pros
100 stitch options, including 6 buttonholes
Automatically adjusts stitch settings
Programmable needle
Easy stitch selection
Includes online owner’s course

Cons
No hard cover

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother XM2701 #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
marthastewart.com

Best for Kids and Teens

Go to ranking

Sewing Spot

Sewing Machine On The Budget

Go to ranking

Crafts Selection

Best Sewing Machine For Beginners

Pros
27 built-in stitches with 6 different sewing feet
Brightly-lit LED work area
Free technical support for life
Easy threading mechanism

Cons
Can’t handle heavy duty projects

Go to ranking

The Spruce

Best for Beginners

Pros
27 basic stitch options
Lightweight and portable
Jam-resistant bobbin
Free arm for smaller projects
25-year warranty

Cons
Accessories fall out of storage compartment
Not ideal for large projects

Go to ranking

We ranked Bernette 05 Academy #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Bernette 05 Academy as #1.
Critic endorsements:
The Strategist

Best portable sewing machine

Go to ranking

Today

Go to ranking

We ranked Singer Heavy Duty 4452 #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Business Insider

Best Mechanical Sewing Machine

Pros
Fast
powerful
simple to use
easy to care for because of less technology

Cons
Only has 32 stitches
does not have many decorative stitches
does not have an attractive buttonhole, loud

Go to ranking

Good Housekeeping

Best Heavy Duty Machine

Pros
Size 16 needles sew through tough fabrics with ease
Multiple presser feet including a non-stick foot
Great for everyday sewing too

Cons
No speed control

Go to ranking

money.com

Best Heavy Duty Machine

Go to ranking

We ranked Janome Arctic Crystal #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
The Strategist

Best beginner sewing machine

Go to ranking

Today

Go to ranking

The Spruce

Best Budget

Pros
Several color options
15 basic stitches and one buttonhole
Accommodates all thread types
Detailed bobbin-loading guide right on machine

Cons
Manual needle threading
No thread cutter

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother XR9550PRW #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Brother XR9550PRW as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Crafts Selection

Best Affordable Sewing Machine For Intermediates

Pros
110 built-in stitches with 8 buttonhole designs
Automatic needle threader
Hard case with wide extension table
8 different sewing feet

Cons
Body and frame are of low quality

Go to ranking

Good Housekeeping

Best Overall Sewing Machine

Pros
Wide table included
Speed control capabilities
Easy to thread and wind the bobbin

Cons
The alphabet stitching is very small as this is not an embroidery machine

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We ranked Bernette 77 #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
The Spruce

Best Splurge

Pros
Tons of stitches, including decorative and quilting options
Touchscreen controls
Dual fabric feed for layered projects
Deep throat for bulky projects

Cons
Very expensive
Only 2-year warranty on electrical components

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money.com

Best overall (computerized)

Go to ranking

We ranked Janome 4120QDC #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
marthastewart.com

Best for Advanced Sewers

Go to ranking

The Spruce

Best for Making Clothes

Pros
120 stitch options, plus seven buttonhole styles
Easy-to-read LCD screen
Free arm for small openings
Seven presser feet included
Able to remember stitch patterns

Cons
Manual thread tension control

Go to ranking

We ranked Baby Lock Jubilant #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Today

Go to ranking

Good Housekeeping

Best Sewing Machine For Making Clothes

Pros
80 built-in stitches included
Tons of included accessories
Clear LCD screen

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We ranked Juki HZL-F600 #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
marthastewart.com

Best Splurge

Go to ranking

money.com

Runner-up best for quilters

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We ranked Singer Patchwork 7285Q #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Good Housekeeping

Best Sewing Machine for Beginner Quilting

Pros
Manual speed control
Start/stop button, ideal for quilting
11 presser feet included

Cons
Return restocking fee

Go to ranking

The Spruce

Best for Quilting

Pros
Good value
100 stitches, plus six buttonholes
Includes multiple presser feet for quilting
Extension table included

Cons
Light isn’t bright enough
Throat could be wider

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We ranked Juki TL-2000Qi #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Good Housekeeping

Best Sewing Machine for Expert Quilting

Pros
Quilting capabilities like automatic thread cutting and free motion sewing
Handles thick layers of fabric
Large table for bigger projects

Cons
Over $700

Go to ranking

money.com

Best for Quilters

Go to ranking

We ranked Singer Start 1304 #15 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Today

Go to ranking

Good Housekeeping

Best First Sewing Machine

Pros
Easy threading
Multiple presser feet included
Simple, visual controls

Cons
Only six built-in stitches

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother SE625 #16 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
marthastewart.com

Best for Embroidery

Go to ranking

Today

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother CS6000i #17 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Sewing Spot

Entry Level Sewing Machine

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Crafts Selection

Best Sewing Quilting Machine For Home

Pros
60 built-in stitches with basic, stretch, and decorative designs
7 one-step buttonhole styles
Speed of 850 stitches per minute
Wide table and a free arm for convenience stitching

Cons
Issues with tension have been reported; it does not stabilize

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We ranked Janome HD3000 #18 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Sewing Spot

Perfect for Leathers

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Crafts Selection

Best Sewing Machine For Heavy Fabrics

Pros
Heavy built
18 built-in stitches
Reverse stitch lever

Cons
Can be a bit slow for garment sewing

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We ranked Juki MO654DE #19 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
The Strategist

Best serger

Go to ranking

Crafts Selection

Best Serger Sewing Machine

Pros
1500 stitches per minute
2/3/4 serging operation
Intuitive thread cutter positioned in the presser foot

Cons
Work area light is dim (not LED)

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We ranked Brother PQ1500SL #20 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Sewing Spot

Best for Quilting

Go to ranking

Crafts Selection

Best Sewing Machine For Quilting

Pros
High-speed performance at 1500 stitches per minute
Automatic needle threader
Heavy-duty; sturdy built

Cons
Automatic threader has a peculiar operation; refer the manual for more information

Go to ranking

We ranked Brother SE600 #21 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Sewing Machines” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Crafts Selection

Best Sewing Machine For Embroidery

Pros
4x4-inch embroidery area with hoop and foot
103 built-in stitches, 80 built-in design
Lightweight and portable
USB support

Cons
4x4 size is too small for advanced users

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Good Housekeeping

Best Sewing Machine For Embroidery

Pros
4"x4" embroidery area
80 built-in designs with a USB port to import more
Excellent sewing capabilities too
Affordable price for an embroidery machine

Cons
Smaller embroidery area compared to pricier models

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