You do not have to sacrifice features or capabilities to get the best sewing machine under $200 today, there are plenty of great models to choose from. Of course, which one is right for you depends on which features are the most important to you as they vary by model and manufacturer.
Below is a list of the best sewing machine under $200 for the typical home user. While these are not commercial machines, it is quite amazing what all they can do today, and for so little money.
First Place: Brother cs6000i
No list of the
best sewing machine under $200 would be complete without the
Brother CS6000i, probably just like here, right at the top. The reason is simple; it has an amazing array of features, a better than average warranty and support, and has an excellent track record of being a reliable workhorse.
| PROS: |
CONS: |
- Free arm built-in for cuffs and sleeves
- 60 built-in stitches
- 850 stitches per minute
- Winding system for bobbin is simple
- Threading system is simple
- Automatic needle threading
- Sewing speed is adjustable
- Automatic stitch settings
- Well lit sewing area
- Clear and easy to use LCD
- Fairly quiet
- Includes hard plastic cover
- Instructional DVD and bilingual instruction manual
- 1-year comprehensive warranty, 2-year parts for motor and electronics, 25-year on the frame/casting
- Lifetime phone & online support
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- Can be a little difficult to learn as a first machine
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Second Place: Singer Heavy Duty 4423
Are you looking for the best sewing machine under $200 but want something with less bells and whistles, and meant for serious use? Perhaps you quilt at home for some extra money and need a machine that will stand up to some serious work, maybe you are using heavy fabric and need better than average piercing power, then the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 might be the perfect machine for you.
| PROS: |
CONS: |
- 60% stronger motor
- 1100 stitches per minute
- Heavy metal frame
- Automatic needle threader
- Drop-in bobbin system
- Automatic single-step buttonhole
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure Control
- Free Arm, and Adjustable Stitch Length
- Automatic Reverse
- Built-in carrying handle
- 25-year motor warranty
|
- Only 23 stitches
- No LCD screen
- Warranty as short as 90-days on non-motor items
|
Third Place: Brother HC1850
If you like the Brother cs6000i at the top of the best sewing machine under $200 list, but want something with a little more capabilities and a foot pedal, then the Brother HC1850 might be the perfect machine for you. While this model is just barely inexpensive enough to make this list it is packed with more features than I will ever use, and probably more than you will either.
Packed with Brother’s almost famous reliability, above-average warranty, and enormous feature set, this model is sure to please even the most avid sewer.
| PROS: |
CONS: |
- 130 built-in stitches
- 850 stitches per minute
- Clear and easy to use LCD
- Built-in monogramming font
- 8 automatic buttonhole patterns
- 8 presser feet
- Detachable foot pedal
- 1-year comprehensive warranty, 2-year parts for motor and electronics, 25-year on the frame/casting
- Lifetime phone & online support
|
- Like many Brother models, can be hard to understand when getting started
|
Fourth Place: SINGER 7258
This is another machine that just barely is inexpensive enough to make it onto the best sewing machine under $200 list, the Singer 7258. This Singer model does two things that really help it make it to the list; it has a feature set comparable with the Brother models, and they added a warranty that matches the Brothers as well.
In most best sewing machine under $200 lists you find nothing but Brother models, this is changing as Singer adds features users want as they did with this model. If you want the best of both the Singer and Brother worlds, this may be the right machine for you.
| PROS: |
CONS: |
- 100 Built-in stitches
- 5 Presser feet
- Clear and easy to use LCD
- Automatic needle threading
- Built-in reverse
- 6 Different automatic buttonholes
- Automatic needle threader
- Well lit sewing area
- Instructional DVD and bilingual instruction manual
- 25-year warranty on head, 5-year on motors, light, wiring, switches, speed and electronic systems, 1-year on everything else
|
- Presser foot cannot be adjusted manually
- 750 Stitches per minute (slowest on this list)
|
Fifth Place: Janome 2212
The
Janome 2212 has been recommended for beginners for as long as I can remember the machine being made, and for great reasons; it is easy to use and reliable. I can’t remember seeing a list of the
best sewing machine under $200 without it on there. That being said, it has one serious drawback, the warranty.
If you look online you will be hard-pressed to see a breakdown of the warranty periods. All most review sites and other best sewing machine under $200 lists, and even Amazon, mentions is the 25-year portion of the warranty. They completely fail to mention that most of the machine is only covered by a 1-year warranty. Now that in and of itself is not a problem as this is pretty much the standard. The real problem begins when you find out that in order for it to have any warranty at all it has to be purchased from an authorized dealer (sold and shipped by Amazon qualifies).
Still, if you want a simple and robust sewing machine that just does what most people need it to do without a lot of fuss, this is it. It is also perfect for kids starting out with their first “real” sewing machine. Indeed, I primarily put this unit on the best sewing machine under $200 list for those exact reasons; simple and reliable.
| PROS: |
CONS: |
- 860 Stitches per minute
- Free arm and drop feed
- Programmed needle threader
- 1-year complete warranty, 25-year on select items
|
- No LCD screen
- Only 12 stitches (lowest on this list)
- Most confusing warranty on the list, warranty only applies if purchased from Amazon propper (sold by and shipped from Amazon) or an authorized distributor
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Conclusions
There is a lot to consider when trying to pick the right one from you off the best sewing machine under $200 list. My personal recommendation depends on where you are currently in your hobby and where you need to go.
If you are brand new and this is your very first machine, I would probably recommend the Janome. If you started out with a simple unit and want to move up the best sewing machine under $200 list, then the Brother CS6000i or Brother HC1850 might make more sense. If you are working with heavy materials like multiple layers of denim or light leather, then the Singer 4423 makes the most sense.
No matter your choice, any machine from this best sewing machine under $200 list should serve you well for a long time.
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best sewing machine under $200!
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