Sewing Machine Comparison Tool

Compare sewing machines side by side. Filter by brand, type, price, and specs to find your perfect machine.

Side-by-Side Machine Comparison

How to Compare Sewing Machines

Choosing a sewing machine can feel overwhelming. There are hundreds of models across multiple brands, each with different stitch counts, embroidery areas, throat spaces, and price points. This comparison tool helps you narrow down your options by filtering machines based on what actually matters for your projects.

We carry machines from Baby Lock, Bernina, Brother, Janome, Juki, Pfaff, and Viking Husqvarna. Unlike brand-specific comparison charts, this tool lets you compare across all major brands in one place. Select up to three machines and see their full specifications side by side, from stitch counts and sewing speed to included feet and accessories.

What Specs Matter Most?

The most important specs depend on what you plan to sew. Here is a quick breakdown of the key specifications and why they matter.

Built-in Stitches More stitches give you more options for decorative work, but a machine with 23 quality stitches can handle most projects just as well as one with 800. Focus on stitch types rather than raw count.
Sewing Speed (SPM) Measured in stitches per minute. Higher speed helps with large projects and long seams. Most machines range from 750 to 1,200 SPM.
Embroidery Area The maximum design size in a single hooping. Larger areas mean fewer re-hoopings for big designs. Only relevant for embroidery machines.
Throat Space The distance from the needle to the body of the machine. Quilters need at least 8 inches. Longarm machines offer 16 to 28 inches.
Included Presser Feet More feet means fewer separate purchases later. Check that the feet included match what you actually need for your projects.
Screen Size Larger touchscreens make stitch selection and embroidery placement much easier. Entry-level machines may have small LCD panels or no screen at all.

Sewing Machine Types Explained

Not sure which machine type you need? Here is what each category is built for.

  • Sewing Machines: General-purpose machines for garment construction, home decor, and everyday mending. Range from basic mechanical models to advanced computerized machines with hundreds of stitches.
  • Embroidery Machines: Designed for decorating fabric with thread designs. Many modern machines combine sewing and embroidery functions in one unit. Key spec: embroidery area size.
  • Quilting Machines: Built for quilting with features like wider throat space, a walking foot or dual feed system, and free-motion capability. Some include specialty quilting stitches.
  • Sergers: Also called overlock machines. Sergers trim, stitch, and finish seam edges in one pass. They use 2 to 5 threads and create professional-quality seam finishes.
  • Longarm Machines: Large quilting machines with 16 to 28 inches of throat space, mounted on a frame. Built for quilting large quilt tops that would be difficult on a standard machine.
  • Coverstitch Machines: Create the double-needle hems you see on ready-to-wear T-shirts and activewear. A specialty machine for knit fabric finishing.

Comparing Brands

Each brand has its strengths. Baby Lock is known for easy threading systems like the jet-air threader on their sergers. Bernina builds machines with a strong metal frame and dual feed system standard on most models. Brother offers a wide range of embroidery-capable machines at competitive prices. Janome focuses on precision stitching and quiet operation. Juki specializes in industrial-grade straight stitch quality. Pfaff features the original IDT (Integrated Dual Transport) feed system. Viking Husqvarna offers large embroidery fields and the exclusive mySewnet cloud platform.

Use the brand filter on this page to narrow results to a single manufacturer, or leave all brands selected to compare across the full lineup.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use this sewing machine comparison tool?

Use the filters on the left to narrow machines by type (sewing, embroidery, quilting, serger), brand, and price range. Browse the results, then click "+ Compare" on up to three machines. Click "Compare Now" in the floating panel to see a full side-by-side breakdown of specs, features, and included accessories.

What is the difference between a sewing machine and a serger?

A sewing machine joins fabric pieces together with a single needle and creates a wide variety of stitches. A serger (overlock machine) uses multiple threads and loopers to trim, stitch, and finish edges simultaneously. Most sewers use both: a sewing machine for construction and a serger for professional seam finishes. Sergers cannot replace a sewing machine for tasks like buttonholes, zippers, or topstitching. Browse our full serger collection to compare models.

How many stitches do I actually need?

For basic garment sewing and home decor, 20 to 30 stitches cover most projects. Straight stitch, zigzag, buttonhole, blind hem, and a few stretch stitches are the ones used most often. Higher stitch counts (200+) are valuable if you do decorative work, heirloom sewing, or want built-in quilting and lettering stitches. The number alone does not determine machine quality.

What is throat space and why does it matter?

Throat space is the distance from the needle to the column (body) of the machine, measured in inches. Standard sewing machines have about 5 to 7 inches. For quilting, 8 inches or more gives enough room to maneuver a quilt sandwich. Longarm quilting machines offer 16 to 28 inches of throat space for working with full-size quilts on a frame.

Should I get a mechanical or computerized sewing machine?

Mechanical machines use dials and levers for stitch selection and are generally simpler to operate and maintain. Computerized machines offer more stitches, automatic features (needle threader, thread cutter, tension adjustment), touchscreen controls, and memory for saving settings. Mechanical machines work well for basic sewing on a budget. Computerized machines are better for sewers who want precision, variety, and time-saving features. See our full sewing machine collection to explore both types.

Can I compare machines from different brands on this page?

Yes. This tool includes machines from Baby Lock, Bernina, Bernette, Brother, Grace, Handi Quilter, Janome, Juki, Pfaff, Singer, and Viking Husqvarna. You can compare any combination of brands side by side. Most manufacturer websites only let you compare within their own product line.

Are the prices on this page up to date?

Yes. Prices are pulled live from our store, so they reflect current pricing, sales, and promotions. The machine specs (stitch counts, features, accessories) come from our product database and are updated regularly.

What does "Call for Price" mean?

Some machines have pricing set by the manufacturer that we cannot display online. "Call for Price" means you need to contact us at (800) 687-5175 for the current price. These are typically higher-end machines from brands like Bernina, Baby Lock, and Viking Husqvarna. We often have better pricing than what you might expect.

What is the difference between a quilting machine and a longarm?

A quilting machine is a standard sewing machine with quilting-friendly features: wider throat space, walking foot or dual feed, drop feed dogs, and quilting-specific stitches. You sit at the machine and move the fabric. A longarm machine is a larger machine mounted on a frame. The quilt stays stationary on the frame while you move the machine head across it. Longarms are faster for finishing large quilts but cost significantly more. Explore our quilting machines and longarm machines to compare.

Do you offer financing or payment plans on sewing machines?

Yes. Quality Sewing offers financing options on qualifying purchases. Contact us at (800) 687-5175 or visit any of our store locations to learn about current financing offers and payment plans.