# Best Sewing Machines: 10 Ranked, and One 'Best Seller' That Isn't

Source: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines
Published: 2026-09-18 | Updated: 2026-09-19 | Prices checked on Amazon UK on 2026-09-18

Amazon's own pages disagree with each other. The Brother L14S sells for £99 with 'Voted Best Beginner Sewing Machine' and 'Amazon's Best Selling Sewing Machine' printed on the listing — yet that same page shows a Best Sellers Rank of 68,892 in Home & Kitchen and 26th place in the basic sewing machine category. The Brother LS14S costs £10 less at £89, ranks 1st in that same category, and carries 7,301 ratings at 4.7 stars against the L14S's 618 at 4.6. Put those two sewing machines side by side and the 'best selling' badge belongs to the dearer, less-reviewed one.

We ranked ten of the best sewing machines on Amazon on three checks you can repeat yourself: the star rating, the number of ratings behind it, and the Best Sellers Rank the listing publishes — plus whether the price matches what the specification claims. Where a listing contradicts itself, we say so.

## The ranking

### 1. Brother LS14S Sewing Machine, Metal Chassis

- Price: £89.00 | Amazon rating: 4.7 from 7,301 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/brother-ls14s-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07B6KL7VZ?tag=ranked10-21

The cheapest machine on this list is also the most reviewed: 7,301 ratings at 4.7 stars and 1st place in Amazon's basic sewing machine category.

It takes the top spot on price and on evidence. At £89 it undercuts the next machine here by £10, and its 7,301 ratings at 4.7 stars are more than three times the count of any other model on the list. The listing also places it 1st in the basic sewing machine category and 1,323rd across Home & Kitchen — crucially, those are the positions the £99 L14S advertises for itself without holding them.

The specification is entry level and honest about it: 14 stitches, a metal chassis, a drop-in bobbin, an LED light and a 4-step buttonhole, at 5.1 kg with a 3-year manufacturer warranty. In practice, 14 stitches covers straight seams, zigzag and buttonholes, and the metal chassis is the part that matters when the needle meets a thick seam. The page's own rating breakdown shows 81 of every 100 ratings as five-star and 2 as one-star.

It will not suit anyone who wants stretch stitches, a one-step buttonhole or decorative patterns — you get 14 stitches and a four-step buttonhole, nothing more. That said, if you want a cheap sewing machine for hemming curtains and taking up trousers, this is the one to start with. If you plan to sew jersey, look further down this list.

Pros: £89 — the lowest price in this top ten; 7,301 ratings at 4.7 stars, more than three times any rival here; 1st in Amazon's basic sewing machine category; Metal chassis, drop-in bobbin and LED light; 3-year manufacturer warranty
Cons: 14 stitches only, with no stretch stitches listed; Four-step buttonhole, not one-step; Rating breakdown includes 2 one-star ratings in every 100; No adjustable stitch width stated on the listing

### 2. Brother AE1700 17-Stitch Sewing Machine

- Price: £129.00 | Amazon rating: 4.7 from 1,985 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/brother-ae1700-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00A4ARE5K?tag=ranked10-21

Three more stitches than the £89 model and 5,316 fewer ratings, but the same 4.7 stars.

Seventeen stitches for £129, against 14 stitches for £89 in first place. The star rating is identical at 4.7, but the review base is much smaller: 1,985 against 7,301. Its Best Sellers Rank is 30,873 in Home & Kitchen and 12th in the basic sewing machine category. The AE1700 competes with the AE2500 below it and the L14S further down — three sewing machines priced within £70 of each other.

The practical differences are the three extra stitches and a quick stitch selector. You still get a drop-in bobbin, LED lighting that never needs a bulb, and the same four-step buttonhole as the cheaper machine. At the same time the weight rises to 5.81 kg, so it sits more firmly on the table than the 5.1 kg model above it.

Worth noting: the listing gives dimensions of 113 cm wide and 94 cm high for a 5.81 kg machine. Those figures look like packaging data rather than the machine itself, so measure your table before ordering. It is also not the machine for anyone who wants an automatic needle threader or a one-step buttonhole; this one is threaded by hand and finishes a buttonhole in four steps.

Pros: 4.7 stars from 1,985 ratings — the joint-highest rating here; 17 stitches with quick stitch selection for £129; Drop-in bobbin and LED lighting that never needs replacing; 12th in Amazon's basic sewing machine category; 5.81 kg, heavier and steadier than the £89 model
Cons: 5,316 fewer ratings than the £89 machine in first place; Best Sellers Rank 30,873 in Home & Kitchen, against 1,323 for the top pick; Listed dimensions of 113 cm x 94 cm do not fit a 5.81 kg machine; Four-step buttonhole rather than one-step

### 3. Singer 3232 Sewing Machine, White and Lavender

- Price: £199.00 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 2,161 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/singer-3232-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BQFMYGG?tag=ranked10-21

The highest stitch count here, but a 4.4 rating and a rank of 165,114 in Home & Kitchen.

Thirty-two stitches — six basic, six stretch, 19 decorative and one buttonhole — is the highest count among these ten sewing machines. The 4.4-star rating comes from 2,161 ratings, and the listing ranks it 165,114 in Home & Kitchen and 93rd in the full sewing machine category rather than the basic one.

For the money you get an automatic needle threader, a fully automatic one-step buttonhole, adjustable stitch length and width, and a metal frame. By contrast with the Brothers above, this is the first machine here that threads itself and finishes a buttonhole at the touch of a button. The listing states spare parts remain available for 7 years and a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

The catch is what sits either side of the price. It is £70 more than the 17-stitch AE1700 with a lower rating, and its rank is well over six figures. Also, the listed dimensions of 6.7 x 9.4 x 11.8 cm cannot describe a 5.8 kg sewing machine, so treat the size figures as unreliable. Skip it if you need something easy to carry, or if you mostly sew heavy fabric — 19 of its 32 stitches are decorative.

Pros: 32 built-in stitches, including six stretch and 19 decorative; Automatic needle threader and fully automatic one-step buttonhole; 2,161 ratings at 4.4 stars; Heavy duty metal frame, with spare parts listed for 7 years; Adjustable stitch length and width to prevent bunching
Cons: £199, against £129 for the 17-stitch Brother above it; 4.4 stars — the joint-lowest rating in this top ten; Best Sellers Rank 165,114 in Home & Kitchen; Listed dimensions of 6.7 x 9.4 x 11.8 cm do not match a 5.8 kg machine

### 4. Singer 1408 Sewing Machine, White

- Price: £129.00 | Amazon rating: 4.4 from 2,081 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/singer-1408-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006GAU4TU?tag=ranked10-21

The same £129 as the AE1700, but 4.4 stars, a plastic body and no stitch count published anywhere on the listing.

At £129 it matches the AE1700 on price and roughly matches it on reviews — 2,081 against 1,985 — yet the rating is 4.4 against 4.7. The listing ranks it 52,902 in Home & Kitchen and 23rd in the basic sewing machine category. Meanwhile the bullet points never state how many stitches it has, only that stitch length reaches 4.2 mm and width 4.0 mm.

What is described: a carrying handle, a free arm for sleeves and trouser legs, fast presser foot changes, two adjustment wheels for stitch choice and stitch length, and a plastic body. In practice the free arm is the feature that earns its place, since sleeves and hems are where most first projects go wrong. At 5 kg it is the lightest machine in this top ten.

The case against is straightforward. It is a plastic-bodied machine at the same price as metal-chassis alternatives, the listing does not say how many stitches you get, and 6 of every 100 ratings are one-star. If you are shopping for a sewing machine for beginners and want the simplest possible controls, two adjustment wheels are a plus; if you want to know exactly what you are buying, the missing stitch count is not.

Pros: 2,081 ratings, close to the AE1700's 1,985; Free arm for sewing sleeves and trouser legs; Stitch length up to 4.2 mm and width up to 4.0 mm; 5 kg — the lightest machine in this top ten; Carrying handle for moving it between rooms
Cons: 4.4 stars against 4.7 for the £129 Brother AE1700; Plastic body where the top pick is metal; Listing never states a stitch count; 6 one-star ratings in every 100

### 5. Singer 2273 Tradition Sewing Machine

- Price: £189.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 1,413 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/singer-2273-tradition
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001TKYGI2?tag=ranked10-21

4.6 stars from 1,413 ratings, but the weakest Best Sellers Rank in the entire list.

The rating is strong — 4.6 from 1,413 ratings — and the rank is not: 214,274 in Home & Kitchen and 85th in the basic sewing machine category, the lowest of any machine here. It also costs £189, the third-highest price in the group. Those two facts sit oddly together for a machine the listing dates to a 2007 manufacture year.

You get 23 built-in stitches with adjustable length and width, a fully automatic one-step buttonhole, automatic bobbin winding and an automatic needle threader. Singer also includes four presser feet, a guide, needles, bobbins, a seam ripper and built-in accessory storage. At 7 kg it is stable at speed, but it is not a machine you will want to carry to a class.

Who should not buy it: anyone who wants current stock. The listing records a 2007 manufacture year, and a rank of 214,274 suggests it is not moving in volume. Meanwhile, if you want a Singer sewing machine with a one-step buttonhole and a wider stitch selection, the £199 3232 offers 32 stitches. Either way, at £189 you are paying near the top of this list for the least sales evidence in it.

Pros: 4.6 stars from 1,413 ratings; 23 stitches with adjustable length and width; Fully automatic one-step buttonhole and automatic needle threader; Four presser feet, guide, needles, bobbins and seam ripper included; 7 kg build with built-in accessory storage
Cons: Best Sellers Rank 214,274 in Home & Kitchen — the lowest here; £189, the third-highest price in this top ten; Manufacture year listed as 2007; 85th in the basic sewing machine category

### 6. Brother AE2500 Sewing Machine, Purple

- Price: £169.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 793 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/brother-ae2500-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DAY5N1E?tag=ranked10-21

25 stitches and stretch stitches for £169, but the 4.6 stars rest on only 793 ratings.

Twenty-five stitches for £169, which is £40 more than the 17-stitch AE1700. The rating is 4.6 from 793 ratings, the second-smallest review base in this top ten. It ranks 33,829 in Home & Kitchen and 14th in the basic sewing machine category. Brother supplies five of the ten sewing machines here; on price this one sits fourth of those five.

The selling point is stretch stitches, plus stitch length adjustment, a drop-in bobbin, LED lighting and a four-step buttonhole. In practice, stretch stitches are what let you sew jersey and knit fabric without the seam cracking when it is pulled. It weighs 6.71 kg and the colour is purple, which will matter to some people and not at all to others.

The reservation is the sample size: 793 ratings is a thinner signal than the 7,301 behind the £89 model at the top, even though both show comfortable averages. Even so, if you mainly sew knits and want a Brother sewing machine under £200, this is the one here. If you sew woven cotton and canvas, the £129 AE1700 does a similar job for £40 less.

Pros: 25 stitches, including stretch stitches for knit fabric; 4.6 stars with adjustable stitch length; £169 — £30 less than the Singer 3232; Drop-in bobbin and LED lighting; 14th in Amazon's basic sewing machine category
Cons: 793 ratings — the second-smallest base in this top ten; £40 more than the AE1700 for eight extra stitches; Four-step buttonhole rather than one-step; 6.71 kg, heavier than the two cheaper Brothers

### 7. Brother HF27 Strong & Tough Electronic Sewing Machine

- Price: £257.31 | Amazon rating: 4.5 from 634 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/brother-hf27-strong-tough
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KVH3WVK?tag=ranked10-21

The most expensive machine here, ranking 2nd in the electronic controlled sewing machine category on just 634 ratings.

At £257.31 this is the priciest machine in the top ten, and the evidence behind it is the thinnest: 634 ratings at 4.5 stars. It does hold 2nd place in Amazon's electronic controlled sewing machine category and 25,923 overall in Home & Kitchen, which is a stronger category position than most of this list — on a much smaller category.

You get 27 stitches, a strong metal chassis and a metal needle plate for stability. Two accessories stand out: a non-stick foot for leathers and PVC, and a J foot with a levelling button for thick fabric. It weighs 8.26 kg, the heaviest machine here, and carries a 3-year Brother warranty. In theory that combination is aimed at heavier work — denim hems, leather patches — rather than quilting.

The catch is the size data and the price per stitch. The listing gives 10.2 x 18.9 x 14.8 cm for an 8.26 kg machine, which cannot both be right, so check the real footprint before you commit. If you sew light cotton and the occasional zip, you are paying roughly £130 more than the AE1700 for feet and a chassis you will not use.

Pros: 2nd in Amazon's electronic controlled sewing machine category; 27 stitches with a metal chassis and metal needle plate; Non-stick foot for leathers and PVC; J foot with levelling button for thicker fabrics; 3-year Brother warranty
Cons: £257.31 — the highest price in this top ten; 634 ratings, the second-smallest review base here; 8.26 kg, the heaviest machine on the list; Listed dimensions of 10.2 x 18.9 x 14.8 cm contradict the 8.26 kg weight

### 8. Singer 4411 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, Grey

- Price: £227.00 | Amazon rating: 4.5 from 1,053 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/singer-4411-heavy-duty
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008CCK4RC?tag=ranked10-21

A heavy duty sewing machine by name and by frame, but its own spec sheet says Manual and Is Electric: No.

The listing describes a metal frame with a stainless steel bed plate and sewing speeds of up to 1,100 stitches per minute, and it ranks 38,091 in Home & Kitchen with 1,053 ratings at 4.5 stars. However, the same page lists the Power Source as Manual and Is Electric as No. One of those two things is wrong, and both come from the same listing.

The bullets promise 11 stitch patterns, a four-step buttonhole, three needle positions, a drop-in bobbin, a drop feed for free-hand embroidery and darning, adjustable stitch length and width, adjustable presser foot pressure and an extra-high lift. Singer includes four presser feet, a guide, needles, bobbins, a seam ripper and a dust cover. The machine weighs 6.4 kg.

If you need a heavy duty sewing machine for denim, canvas or curtains, the 1,100 stitches per minute and the high-lift presser foot are the features that matter, and 4.5 stars from 1,053 ratings is a decent record. That said, an electricity contradiction is not a small detail on a mains-powered machine — check the power specification before ordering. Also note that the listed dimensions of 6.3 x 15.7 x 12 cm do not fit a 6.4 kg machine.

Pros: Metal frame with a stainless steel bed plate; Up to 1,100 stitches per minute; 11 stitch patterns, three needle positions and a four-step buttonhole; 4.5 stars from 1,053 ratings; Adjustable presser foot pressure with extra-high lift
Cons: Spec sheet says Power Source: Manual and Is Electric: No; £227 for 11 stitch patterns, against 32 on the £199 Singer 3232; Listed dimensions do not match the 6.4 kg weight; Four-step buttonhole, not one-step

### 9. Brother L14S Sewing Machine

- Price: £99.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 618 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/brother-l14s-sewing-machine
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0773R3QT1?tag=ranked10-21

The listing claims two best-seller titles; its own rank of 68,892 in Home & Kitchen says otherwise.

Two lines on this listing do the damage: 'Voted Best Beginner Sewing Machine' and 'Amazon's Best Selling Sewing Machine'. The same page gives a Best Sellers Rank of 68,892 in Home & Kitchen, 26th place in the basic sewing machine category, and 618 ratings at 4.6 stars. The machine that tops this list has 7,301 ratings and costs £10 less.

The machine itself is simple by design: one dial, a basic stitch set, a drop-in bobbin and a 3-year warranty, at 5.74 kg. In practice a single dial is easier to teach on than a stitch-selector panel with a menu, which is probably where the 'voted best' line came from. The listing also still carries a 'New for 2018' tag on a page selling it today.

The two cheapest sewing machines in this top ten are both Brothers and sit £10 apart. Here the cheaper one wins on every published number: rank, review count and price. Buy this one only if you specifically want the L14S model or the single-dial layout; otherwise the £89 LS14S is the same brand, the same shop and £10 less with almost twelve times the reviews. Meanwhile, 618 ratings is still roughly double what the Janome at the bottom of this list has.

Pros: £99 — the second-cheapest machine in this top ten; Single-dial control, simpler to learn than a selector panel; 4.6 stars from 618 ratings; Drop-in bobbin and 3-year warranty; 5.74 kg, lighter than the 7 kg and 8.26 kg models
Cons: 'Amazon's Best Selling Sewing Machine' does not match its rank of 68,892 in Home & Kitchen; 26th in the basic sewing machine category, behind the £89 LS14S in 1st; 618 ratings against 7,301 for the £10-cheaper LS14S; Still tagged 'New for 2018' on the listing

### 10. Janome 2200XT Sewing Machine, Turquoise

- Price: £187.00 | Amazon rating: 4.6 from 322 ratings
- Full review: https://www.ranked10.co.uk/home/best-sewing-machines/janome-2200xt
- Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003ELWJBA?tag=ranked10-21

The only machine here that is neither a Brother nor a Singer, and it has the smallest review base at 322 ratings.

Twenty-two stitches plus a four-step buttonhole for £187, rated 4.6 from 322 ratings — the smallest review base in this top ten. It ranks 50,258 in Home & Kitchen and 21st in the basic sewing machine category. This and the L14S are the only sewing machines here not made by Brother or Singer.

It is a 240-volt electric sewing machine with an aluminium body, a foot controller, snap-on presser feet and a soft cover. Maximum stitch width is 4 mm and maximum stitch length 5 mm, the longest figure published on any machine in this list, which matters for basting and thick seams. It weighs 6 kg and has been on sale since 30 March 2010, so the design and the reviews have had time to settle.

The honest caveat is volume: 322 ratings is roughly a twenty-third of the top pick's 7,301, so that 4.6 is a much narrower sample. There is also no automatic needle threader and no one-step buttonhole at this price, both of which the £199 Singer 3232 offers. If you want an aluminium body and a simple machine from a third brand, it earns its place near the bottom; if you want the most-tested option, it does not.

Pros: 22 stitches plus a four-step buttonhole; Aluminium body, 240 volts, foot controller included; 5 mm maximum stitch length — the longest published in this list; Snap-on presser feet and a soft cover included; 4.6 stars from 322 ratings
Cons: 322 ratings — the smallest review base in this top ten; No automatic needle threader or one-step buttonhole at £187; 21st in the basic sewing machine category; First available in March 2010, so the design is old

## Verdict

For most homes, the £89 Brother LS14S is the pick: the lowest price here, the largest review base at 7,301 and 1st place in Amazon's basic sewing machine category. If you need stretch stitches for knit fabric, the £169 Brother AE2500 covers that for £40 more than the 17-stitch AE1700. If you want a machine aimed at thicker material, the £257 HF27 adds a metal needle plate, a non-stick foot and a J foot with a levelling button. If you are comparing sewing machines on badges alone, the £99 L14S looks like the winner; on rank, review count and price, it is not — and read the power specification on the Singer 4411 carefully, since the same listing claims 1,100 stitches per minute and 'Power Source: Manual'. In short, on this page of sewing machines the loudest claim belongs to the machine with the weakest numbers, while the cheapest model is the one with the most reviews.