Research analysts reported that the Global sewing machines market would expand to $6100 million by 2022. Well, the demand for clothes increases due to the increasing population. Perhaps that’s why when we scoured the market for the best heavy duty sewing machine, there were innumerable options for us to consider.
On one end, that’s a good thing for the final user, as more competition has driven the prices of these products into the ground.
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Best Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
On the other, this race to the bottom has made settling on one product difficult, as you now have hundreds of models to consider. To overcome this confusion, we visited five garment factories, interviewed more than half-a-dozen supervisors, and talked innumerable to tailors to get an expert opinion on what makes the best heavy duty sewing machine.
These machines are perfect for a seamstress.
Based on their input, we came up with the ten best heavy sewing machines currently on the market. Read on to see whether they meet your requirements or not.
SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine – Value for The Money
- Weight: 17.23 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 15.5 x 6.2 x 12
- Speed: 1100 SPM
- Built in stitches: 23
- Warranty: 90day/2yr/24yr
The Singer Heavy Duty 4423 sewing machine is one of the strongest you can get your hands on. This is a pure commercial grade machine. It has a rugged metal build that can withstand anything and a corrosion-resistant coating, which makes it (almost) impregnable to the ingress of moisture. Not to mention, this model is perfect for beginners to professionals.
Apart from including six basic stitches in its package, this as a heavy duty sewing machine provides you four stretch stitches, 12 decorative stitches, and one style of buttonhole. We weren’t happy to note that it forced us to change its stitch’s from both the sides manually, but dial controls are there to make the whole process a cinch.
Other than that, this heavy duty sewing machine boasts a speed of up to 1,100 SPM. It comes with an automatic needle threader, an automatic thread cutter, and also a sewing light. Also provided is a soft case to protect this machine from dust when you aren’t using it. Just turn the dial and you can set the desired stitch.
This model works perfectly with multiple layers of cotton fabric, dacron, canvas, sailcloth and denim.
Lastly, apart from delivering three extra sewing feet in this model’s package, Singer also offers snap-on presser feet to allow you to change the presser foot in no time. Then there’s the automatic reverse mechanism, which lets you reinforce the stitches via the aid of a foot control pedal.
Interestingly, Singer has a mobile app where you can watch many sewing tutorials and read frequently asked questions.
Go through our buying guide, and you’d notice that we emphasized on selecting a heavy duty sewing machine which offers top-loading, drop-in bobbin system. In case you weren’t convinced by our advice, this sewing machine shows you why we wanted you to have this feature. Apart from letting you insert/remove the bobbin in less than a minute, its transparent design means you can tell from outside when the thread is running low.
- Snap-on presser feet
- Adjustable stitch length and width
- Has three needle positions
- Only has 23 stitch patterns
Janome HD3000 Heavy Duty Mechanical Sewing Machine
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): W 16 x H 11.3 x D 7.2
- Speed: N/A
- Built in stitches: 18
- Warranty: 25 years (limited)
Compare it with the Singer 4423, and you’d notice that the janome hd3000 heavy duty mechanical sewing machine cannot be more different. While the former comes under computerized sewing machines, this one requires manual operation. Also, while it has fewer (18 built-in stitches) than what the above Singer sewing machines offer (23), this unit does have a bigger warranty period.
This heavy duty sewing machine contains a visual diagram on its front which displays its built-in stitches and lets you identify and select them. It offers a reverse stitch to reinforce the seams and has a bobbin plate with a transparent case to let you monitor thread supply.
Users of this sewing machine love the fact that it allows them to adjust its pressure foot, thread tension, and stitch width up to 6.5mm and length up to 4.0mm. Equally impressive is its built-in needle threader, automatic bobbin-winding, and thread cutter, as all these three features save you plenty of time.
On top of everything else, there’s one more area where this sewing machine differentiates itself from the Singer 4423. While that sewing machine comes with a soft case, the hard one of the Janome HD3000 not only keeps dust away but also provides an avenue to transport this unit easily.
On a personal level, we were impressed with the 5-piece feed dog of this model. As we were sewing, it allows us feeding the thick fabrics smoothly, thereby preventing bunching. Also, the extra space afforded because of no bunching allowed us to exploit it for sewing collars, cuffs, and hems.
- Seven presser feet
- Has a powerful motor
- Foot pedal might slide on the floor
- Plastic body
Janome Computerized DC2013 – Best for Home Use
- Weight: 18.2 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): W 14.8 x H 11 x D 6.6
- Speed: N/A
- Built in stitches: 50
- Warranty: 25 years (limited)
With all due respect to the abovementioned janome hd3000 sewing machine, it simply cannot compete with the DC2013 when it comes to features. That’s because this model provides more built-in stitches, has a greater number of one-step buttonholes, and has a bigger stitch length and width.
Fortunately, though, you don’t have to compare this model with its manual counterparts to be impressed by its features. After all, how many heavy duty sewing machines you could recall have the SFS feature – one which helps the tailor in getting the unsurpassed stitching quality? Not many, we assume. Hopefully, you have it for this model.
Other than that, it is equipped with a memorized up/down needle stop position. Its feed dogs drop to provide you with simple yet polished sewing experience. Also provided is a speed control slider, which does exactly what the name claims, and you can even adjust the tension of its thread.
Wrongly stitched? Worry not!
You can be saved from ruining the whole stitching process; this is one of the best heavy duty sewing machines that comes with an easy reverse button to reinforce existing stitches. Using the controls on its bright LED screen, you can adjust this unit’s stitch length, width, and much more.
Though it’s a heavy-duty machine, but the portability is quite good.
Just because this is computerized sewing machine doesn’t mean it gives you no control over its speed. Instead, as its users have noted, it comes with a speed control slider which allows you to customize this unit’s speed based on the thickness of the fabric at hand.
- Speed control slider
- Easy reverse button
- 50 built-in stitches
- Superior Feed System (SFS)
- Doesn’t come with a thread cutter
Singer 4452 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 5 x 6.25 x 12
- Speed: 1,100
- Built in stitches: 32
- Warranty: 90day/2yr/24yr
Of all the best sewing machines that we have discussed thus far, the Singer 4452 comes with the 2nd largest number of stitches in its package. One area, however, where this model comes first is its sewing speed – as none of the three models mentioned earlier can stitch quickly than 1,1000 SPM.
To make sure that you take full advantage of every feature on offer, Singer has equipped this heavy duty sewing machine with its Sewing Assistant App. You can count on the mobile-based app to learn about the machine’s part, its features, how to select stitches for various chores, and more.
Furthermore, you get a built-in needle threader to effortlessly thread the needle’s eye, feed teeth, which can be lowered for free-motion sewing and an easy stitch selection dial. Both side stitches can be adjusted from the screen, and you can also sew stitches in reverse.
Although it has multiple feet included, if you need overcasting foot, blind hem foot, consider choosing Toyota J34 machine.
What is that one feature of this machine which its users find the best in it? It comes with a free-arm capability, which means you can slide off the removable storage compartment and easily sew sleeve cuffs, trouser arms, and other similar tubular or smaller sewing projects. Additionally, it comes with a non-stick foot for leather and vinyl.
- Free-arm capability
- Stainless steel bed plate
- Easy stitch selection dial
- Zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot and all purpose foot included.
- Seam Ripper/ lint brush
- Accessories like screwdriver, spool pin included.
- Can’t work with large spools
Brother PQ1500SL Sewing Machine
- Weight: 24 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 6 x 7.9 x 19.3
- Speed: 1,500
- Built in stitches: 1
- Warranty: 2/6/25 Year Premium Limited Warranty
Provided you were partially satisfied with the performance of the Singer 4452 – but wanted something more powerful – the Brother PQ1500SL can be one of the best sewing machines of your dream. That’s because it offers better features than the Singer 4452 on at least two counts.
First, while this sewing machine has a maximum sewing speed of 1100 SPM, this one won’t stop at less than 1500 stitches per minute. Second, this sewing machine provides an extra-large extension table to let you handle bigger and heavy fabrics such as canvas with ease.
Yet another feature of this model, which is rarely available in other sewing machines, is its built-in knee lifter. When combined with the extension table, it provides you everything you need to quilt seamlessly. Also on offer are four feed dog settings to provide you maximum control over the thick fabric.
Being quite heavy, the PQ1500SL provides a stable sewing environment. So, don’t move the machine often. Hence you’ll face less/minimal vibration while sewing.
The way this machine handles the movement of its thread has its users singing paeans of its performance. Apart from providing an automatic thread cutter button – which cuts the thread the moment something goes awry, it is equipped with a thread tension dial to let you select the most optimum tension based on the thickness of the fabric under the needle.
- Huge sewing speed of 1,500 SPM
- Extra-large extension table
- Automatic thread cutter button
- Built-in knee lifter
- Instruction manual comes in a DVD
- Heavy
Brother ST371HD Tough Sewing Machine For Heavy Fabrics
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 21 x 16.10 x 7.87
- Speed: 800
- Built in stitches: 37
- Warranty: 25 Year Limited Warranty
Though not as fast as the Brother PQ1500SL mentioned above, the ST371HD portrays its utility on other counts. Take, for instance, the built-in stitches which accompany this model. While the other Brother sewing machine in this review only has a single built-in stitch, this one comes with thirty-seven of them.
Furthermore, since this heavy duty sewing machine weighs almost 10 lbs lighter than the Brother PQ1500SL, you can more easily carry it around. Also, while its counterpart offers three separate warranties – and charges extra for the extended one – the ST371HD offers a flat warranty period and won’t charge an extra penny for it.
Other than that, this unit has an easy needle threading system to save your time during startup. It comes with six sewing feet and also provides an auto-size buttonhole in its package. And to make sure you can easily select between buttonhole, utility, decorative and stretch stitches, the right side of this sewing machine includes a stitch control dial. The ST371HD works perfect with a walking foot making the stitches tight and uniform.
From jean pants to shirts and for burlap, the automatically-sized button-hole makes everything easier.
Tailors who recommended this as the perfect heavy duty sewing machine before we reviewed it told us that the one feature they liked in this model the most was its Jam-resistant quick-set drop-in bobbin. The reason why they were so enthusiastic about this feature, as we found out after using it ourselves, is because it helps provide the level of even reliable stitch quality which every tailor dreams of.
- Has an easy to use stitch selector
- Contains heavyweight needles
- Free arm for sewing sleeves
- Sturdy metal needle plate
- Contains a dust cover which prevents the dusts and increase the longevity of the machine.
- Requires no oiling.
- Stitching speed could have been better
Singer Confidence Quilter 7469Q Heavy Duty
- Weight: 19lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 17 x 8 x 12.5
- Speed: 650
- Built in stitches: 98
- Warranty: 1yr / 5yr / 25yr
One glance at the features of the Singer 7469Q, and you get the memo why the word ‘confidence’ is a part of its name. Although it isn’t as speedy as the other two Singer sewing machines in this review – both of whom have a maximum speed of 1,100 SPM – this unit justifies its name through other features.
For example, both the other Singer sewing machines that you see in this review have less built-in stitches combined (55) than the 7469Q has alone (98). It offers more automatic one-step buttonholes, and also provides more quilting accessories as a bonus in its package.
This unit comes with a large extension table to let you handle heavy fabrics, has a programmable needle that you can program to go up and down based on your fabric’s thickness and has a tie-off button that stops sewing automatically. And you also get a self-adjusting tension system, which automatically adjusts the sewing machine’s tension based on the stitch you might have selected.
As users of this sewing machine ourselves, we are impressed with the sheer number of adjustable features that it provides. For instance, apart from letting you adjust the length and width of its stitch, it has adjustable presser foot pressure and even lets you customize the needle’s stopping position. Safe to say that you won’t find such customizability with other models on the market.
- Automatically adjusts selected needle’s tension
- Equipped with a heavy duty metal frame
- A large number of built-in stitches
- Variable needle positions
- Low stitching speed
Juki TL2000Qi Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
- Weight: 4 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 75(W) x 9(H) x 8.5(D)
- Speed: 1500 SPM
- Built in stitches: 1
- Warranty: 1/5/25year
Of all the heavy duty sewing machines that you’ll find us recommending in this review, none can claim to have a faster SPM than that of the Juki TL 2000Qi. However, to balance things out, the number of built-in stitches of this model is the lowest offered by any other heavy duty sewing machine on the market.
Moving on, you get lower feed dogs with the Juki sewing machine, which nosedive to remove any creases which are bound to arise whenever you deal with a thick fabrics. Its standard bobbins won’t force you to search for a replacement, and this model’s extension table increases the space of your working area.
Finally, like most other sewing machines in this review, this one from Juki features bright LED lights to illuminate your workspace. Unlike most of them, though, it provides a knee lever. Use it, and you can lift the presser foot without using your hands – which you can use to hold onto the thick multiple layers of fabric in the meanwhile.
People who have used this machine are fans of its control department. Be it its speed control option – which allows you to increase/decrease its stitching speed based on your needs, or the stitch control dial – which ensures that you get the perfect stitch for every fabric. Both the control options have the potential to take your sewing experience to the next level.
- Astronomical stitching speed
- Extendable work area
- Offers a single stitch
Brother CS6000i Heavy Duty Sewing Machine – For Beginners
- Weight: 13 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): 4 x 6.7 x 16.1
- Speed: 850
- Built in stitches: 60
- Warranty: 25 Year Limited Warranty
In terms of features, the CS6000i falls midway the other two Brother sewing machines that you can find in this review. It offers more stitching speed than the ST371HD but falls way short of that of the PQ1500SL. On the bright side, this heavy duty sewing machine offers more built-in stitches than both of them.
That we’re comparing this sewing machine with its two colleagues doesn’t mean it cannot compete with models from other manufacturers. If anything, as its features in the next paragraph, are going to show, this sewing machine fares better once you compare it with other similarly priced models.
Its automatic needle threader system, an electronic variable speed control, a built-in free arm for sewing sleeves, and an LCD display allows this unit to compete with any state of the art machine you can find on the market.
Some of the users of this heavy duty sewing machine which we interviewed like everything manual. Other were happy with the rise of automation in their life. What attracted both of them towards this sewing machine is its combination of automatic and manual features. To give you just one example, while it gives you the option to let the unit decide optimal stitch on both the sides, you can also change the settings on your own if you want.
- Provides seven extra sewing feet
- Extremely easy bobbin winding system
- Has an oversized wide table
- Using this machine is going to be a learning curve for beginners
Janome HD1000 – For Upholstery
- Weight: 8 lbs
- Dimensions (Inches): W 15.6 x H 12.4 x D 6.3
- Speed: N/A
- Built in stitches: 14
- Warranty: 25 Year Limited
The HD1000 is the third sewing machine from Janome sewing machines that passed our testing phase and secured a place in our review of the heavy duty sewing machines list. If anything, it’s the most cost-effective option of the three. Though corners have been cut to keep the price of this model on the lower side.
It offers fewer stitches per minute than both the other models from the same manufacturer but upholds its reputation by providing more buttonholes than the duo. Also, while it doesn’t give a specific number about its sewing speed, our experience tells us that it sews relatively slowly than its colleagues.
Why, then, should you choose this as your heavy duty sewing machine?
That is, because not many heavy duty sewing machines on the market, which cost as less offer a stitch selection dial, built-in automatic needle threader (eliminates the eye strain while threading the needle eye) , and a reverse stitch lever. Also, you’d be lucky to find a similarly inexpensive unit with a manual thread tension control mechanism. That means that if you’re on a budget, this heavy duty sewing machine might be just what you can afford.
As you might have guessed by now, the unique selling point of this sewing machine is its budget price tag and it’s less noisy. Its users, most of whom are beginners learning the ropes, verify this claim of ours.
- Cast aluminum body prevent rusting
- Has a reverse stitch lever
- Equipped with a stitch selection dial
- Drop feed feature for darning and button-holes.
- Super quiet while sewing.
- Might not meet the taste of experts
How to Choose a Heavy Duty Sewing Machine
It’s a common question. Are you going to sew heavy fabrics like denim, canvas, leather etc ? How to know what type of sewing machine can withstand such heavy load? Below, we’ve listed some checklist before buying.
Types
Heavy duty sewing machines are available in three varieties: standard sewing machines, serger machines and embroidery machines, and. While most people prefer standard sewing machines because they offers versatile stitching options, serger works well with stretch and knitted fabrics. Embroidery, meanwhile, gives you the most options and suitable for industrial works, but it’s also hugely expensive. These sewing machines can be divided further into two subcategories, mechanical machines & electric machines. Moreover, sergers secures seams and hems and gives them cleaner stitching through overlock stitching. Most heavy duty machines are mechanical and provides greater stability.
Stitches per Minute
Also known as the rate of stitching, SPM determines how quickly your sewing machine will get the job done. As we’re talking about heavy duty sewing machines here, never settle for SPM less than 650.
Machine’s Power
As you might already know, the stitching speed the sewing machines is determined by its power. When choosing a sewing machine for heavy duty tasks i.e high speed stitching, always go for the maximum when it comes to power. The heavy duty machines manage load better than the machines for home use.
Auto Needle Threader
As the name implies, an auto needle threader, well, automatically threads the needle. Apart from saving you time, an auto needle threader also saves you from squinting.
Top-loading bobbin
Time is of the essence if you’re going to use your machine for a commercial venture. That’s exactly what a top-loading, drop-in bobbin will save by allowing you to change it in less than a minute.
Quilting Bar
While a top-loading bobbin takes care of your time, a quilting bar ensures quality. It does that by making sure that as you sew your way on the fabric, the lines are evenly spaced. Or, if that’s what your work demands, you can adjust the bar to customize the width between the lines.
Built-in stitches
One thing which separates the best heavy duty sewing machines from the riffraff is that the former comes with a large number of built-in stitches. That’s because the greater the number of stitches, the more options you’ll have to craft your masterpiece.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beginner learning the ropes or an old hand at sewing, we have provided you with the lowdown on the heavy duty sewing machines based on your experience level and the features you might want in your ideal model.
Do you think heavy duty models can be suitable as home sewing machines? I guess, domestic models need to lighter?
Hello Ruby,
Off-course, You can use heavy duty models in home.What’s your purpose? If you’re a beginner, i’ll suggest go with a mechanical machine.
Hey, Bit confused. Singer 4411 or 4452? auto needle threader is optional. Do 4452 comes with spool pin, dust cover?
Hello Lily, As you know we haven’t included 4411 in our list. Because, the price difference between these two are only $50. For that $50, you’re getting bonus accessories and 32 stitches instead of 11. 4452 is at better deal.
Hey,
I was looking for a machine to stitching handbags, Which model you’d suggest? The bag will be lightweight and minimal. Also, i’m planning to use thin fabric.
Do you think traditional flywheel performs better and has reliability?