How to choose a sewing machine?

Ask yourself these various questions and you will quickly get an idea of what kind of machine to buy and how much to spend!

How much can you really afford to spend (or realistically want to spend)? 
Basic functions you should include in your search.  
Which make of machine should you buy? 
What exactly do you think you will want to make? Clothes or soft furnishings? 
How often do you plan to use your machine?  Hobby or business? 

Let’s take a closer look at the answers to these questions and bear in mind my answers are coming more from a soft furnishings perspective: 

How much can you afford to spend? (Note:  This article written in 2025) 
The Janome machines I rent for my sewing classes and use all the time for making soft furnishings retail at around £420 (Model: 203DC).  Expensive or cheap, in your book?  It is Janome’s best-selling machine, it purrs along and I love it. 
Other sewing machine models from Janome costing less but offering the same functions that I personally think you need, can cost around £200-245 (see list below). 

For what I make, this machine is perfect.  Making curtains and soft furnishings on a regular basis and using it to teach people to sew, (although I could rent a lesser model for the teaching aspect),  I would rate it as '10 out of 10' for the projects I make.  It's robust, well-made and has a good motor.  There are various other makes and models which are more expensive, but I am more than happy with this one.   

Basic functions to include in your search: 
Straight stitch forwards and backwards. 
Needle position adjustable to the left or to the right by a tiny amount each time you move the needle so that your line of sewing can get really close to an edge or piping whilst in straight stitch mode (there isn’t a specific name for this function).  I suggest checking before you buy that your new machine will do this; it's not available on the cheaper models.  All the models I suggest here have this function. 
Zigzag 
Automatic buttonhole 
Digital if you can afford it as this is more sophisticated than mechanical machines in both design and function. 

I personally can’t think of any functions I would add to the 230DC machine.  Latest extras on some of the latest machines include a self-threading option and an automatic thread cutter.  I manage fine without these.  I personally don’t think it’s worth spending any more than the price of the 230DC on a machine for general use.   

Bernina is apparently the Rolls-Royce of machines.  Prices can be much higher for machines with specific features for things like embroidery. 

Other functions to consider: 
Mechanical machine – this is fine if cost is an issue as mechanical machines are cheaper than digital ones but digital machines are the best these days. 
Embroidery stitches – think carefully about these; they are great if you want to do this kind of embroidery.  A sewing machine with 250 extra stitches is not necessarily the bargain you are after if you realistically aren’t going to use any of these.  so consider this carefully!
Free motion embroidery, for example, only needs a straight stitch and uses a special foot.  I personally never use any of the embroidery stitches on my machine. 
Self-threader – my machine has this but it takes a while to work so I honestly don’t bother.  When I really can’t see properly, this will probably be useful! 
Overlock – this is like a fancy zigzag stitch to secure fraying edges but it takes so long to stitch and will use up your reel of thread very quickly that it isn’t worth the bother.  I just use a simple zigzag stitch instead.  The ultimate machine for finishing off the edges of lots of sewing would be an overlocker but this is expensive and isn’t necessary especially if your sewing is just a hobby.  Having said that, I do have an overlocker as this gives a professional finish on projects for clients.  You can also use an overlocker very effectively to make sweatshirts and T-shirts in stretchy fabrics.
Four step buttonholes – four steps can work ok but if you are going to make buttonholes, the automatic ones are simply amazing and come out perfectly every time.  I don’t use this function often but when I do, it’s fantastic.  I would definitely recommend automatic buttonholes over four step ones. 
 
Which make of machine should you buy? 
My machine is a Janome, because that’s what was on special offer to students on my sewing course, so I bought it.  And because I bought Janome, I don’t really know much about other makes, because I simply don’t use them.   

So, I went to my local sewing machine supplier (Frank Nutt Sewing Machines, King’s Heath, Birmingham) and had a great chat with Frank who has been selling sewing machines all his working life so is extremely knowledgeable. 

For a general purpose/soft furnishings/good machine, he recommends either Janome or Brother. We looked specifically at the Janome and Brother models which had an automatic buttonhole function and also that we could move the needle left or right when in straight stitch mode as these were the advanced features I think are worth having.  
These are the comparative models of Janome and Brother from low to high in price.  All of these have the key functions I have listed above.  The more expensive machines will have a better motor and things like a metal sewing plate rather than plastic, etc. 

Janome: J3-20, J3-24, 230DC 

Brother: Innov-ís 15, Innov-ís 16 

What exactly do you think you want to make? 
Will you be making clothes, or need something more robust for soft furnishings.
Be realistic about how much you are going to use your machine and what you will make.   
Is this going to be a serious hobby?  So, for example, have you had a machine before and loved it?  Or have you had a machine for years but it is still in a box from the loft and now doesn't work?!  Are you going to make all your own clothes?  Do you plan to learn to make curtains and blinds to furnish your home?  Are you thinking of setting up in business making these, thus using your machine a lot? 

I personally would advise not getting a ‘starter machine’ unless it is for a young child who may seem keen but at their age not necessarily like sewing in the end.  

Buying a simple machine thinking you can then upgrade can be a false economy as your simple machine will have a low second-hand value.  Depending on your proposed amount of use, go for the best machine you can afford with the right number of features, as you will soon progress.   

If you are planning to make lots of curtains, it’s worth investing in a decent machine with a decent motor because curtains and blinds can be quite thick at times.  

Automatically created one-step buttonholes, I think, are a must if you are going to be doing dressmaking and are super-handy for buttonholes on cushions.  My machine has four different styles of automatic buttonhole but in reality I still only use one. 

Other things to consider: 
Don’t be taken in by lots of fancy stitches shown on the front of a machine.  When, realistically, are you going to use these stitches?  If you think you WILL use them, fine.   
I honestly only ever use straight stitch, zigzag, automatic buttonhole.  And moving the needle either left or right when in straight stitch mode. 
Moving the needle left or right in mm increments is a REALLY useful function on a machine (lets you get closer and closer to zips and piping in particular. It’s not a function which has a name but I use this on my machine all the time, especially when making piped cushions.  The machines I mention above all have this function. 
Much cheaper mechanical machines don’t always have this. 

I hope this helps you in your search for a sewing machine.  If you can find a sewing machine shop nearby I would strongly advise going there, having a go on their machines if you can and getting advice from the experts.