Following is our list of the best portable sewing machines. In determing the following list, we haven't simply put forth all sewing machines that fall into the proper weight category - we've also carefully considered consumer ratings, pros & cons, specifications and features to narrow down the field. There are some lighter machines on the market but none made the cut. Our list of the top portable sewing machines is dominated by Brother and also Janome. Interestingly we didn't find any other brands that met all the criteria - especially when we applied the need for solid consumer ratings.
We have considered that a sewing machine is portable if it weighs 12 lbs or less (with minor exceptions). Also, these machines typically have a built-in carry handle (but not always).
You can see our top choices in the table below:
TOP 10 PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES
Model | Approx. Weight (lbs) | Approx. Price (USD)* |
Janome 49018 | 12 | 240 |
Brother XR3774 | 12.3** | 120 |
Janome New Home 720 | 12 | 500 |
Janome Jem Gold 660 | 11.6 | 200 |
Brother JX2517 | 12 | 88 |
Brother XL2600i | 11 | 80 |
Janome Hello Kitty 11706 | 11 | 110 |
Brother XL2610 | 11 | 100 |
Brother XR9550PRW | 10.1 | 275 |
Janome 3128 | 11 | 120 |