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A serger, called an overlocker outside North America, is the machine that gives home-sewn clothes a professional finish. In one fast pass it trims the seam allowance, wraps the raw edge in thread so it cannot fray, and sews the seam. It does not replace your sewing machine, it works alongside it. If your seams look store-bought and your knit hems lie flat, a serger is usually why. These are the ones we recommend in 2026.
At a glance
| Machine | Best for | Threads | Max speed | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother 1034D | Best overall, first serger | 3 / 4 | 1,300 spm | 4.7 / 5 | $200 to $250 |
| Juki MO644D | Best stitch quality | 2 / 3 / 4 | 1,500 spm | 4.7 / 5 | $350 to $450 |
| Janome 8002D | Simplest workhorse | 3 / 4 | 1,300 spm | 4.0 / 5 | $280 to $330 |
| Singer 14T968DC | Serger and coverstitch | 2 / 3 / 4 | 1,300 spm | 4.0 / 5 | $350 to $450 |
| Elna 664 PRO | Best to grow into | 2 / 3 / 4 | 1,300 spm | 4.7 / 5 | $500 to $600 |
(Most sergers use three or four threads. More threads make a stronger, more flexible seam. spm means stitches per minute.)
Our picks, and who each one is for
Best overall and best first serger: Brother 1034D. The machine that made sergers affordable and the one we point most beginners to. It runs a 3 or 4 thread overlock at 1,300 stitches per minute, the colour-coded threading guides take the fear out of the part everyone dreads, and it simply works for years. For most people learning to finish seams, this is all the serger they will ever need. Read the full Brother 1034D review. Check the price at Sewing Machines Plus.
Best stitch quality: Juki MO644D. Juki builds industrial machines, and it shows. The MO644D is faster at 1,500 stitches per minute, quieter, and lays down a noticeably cleaner stitch than the budget models, with the same 2, 3, or 4 thread flexibility. If you sew a lot and want a serger that feels a class above, pay the extra here. Read the full Juki MO644D review. Check the price at Sewing Machines Plus.
Best simple workhorse: Janome 8002D. A no-drama 3 or 4 thread serger from a brand known for solid mechanicals. It does the core job cleanly without extra features to learn, which is exactly what some sewists want. Read the full Janome 8002D review. Check the price at Sewing Machines Plus.
Best serger and coverstitch in one: Singer 14T968DC. Most sergers cannot hem a knit the way a shop does, with those twin parallel rows of topstitching. This one can, because it does coverstitch as well as overlock. If you sew T-shirts, leggings, or activewear, the combo saves you buying a second machine. Read the full Singer 14T968DC review. Check the price at Sewing Machines Plus.
Best to grow into: Elna 664 PRO. A step up in build and refinement for someone who already sergs and wants a machine to keep. Smooth, well-made, with the adjustments experienced sewists reach for. Overkill for a first serger, ideal as a last one. Read the full Elna 664 PRO review. Check the price at Sewing Machines Plus.
Do you actually need a serger?
Not to start. A regular sewing machine with a zigzag or an overcast stitch finishes seams well enough for your first year, and you can sew knits with a stretch stitch. Add a serger when seam finishing has become the slow, fiddly part of every project, or when you want to sew stretchy fabrics quickly and cleanly. It is an upgrade, not a starting point.
How to choose between them
Threading is the real question. Threading a serger is the part beginners dread, so colour-coded guides like the 1034D and easy lay-in threading like the Juki matter more than almost any other feature. Look for them.
Three or four threads? A 4 thread overlock makes a stronger, more elastic seam and is what you want for garments. Every machine here does 3 and 4 thread, so this is rarely the deciding factor.
Differential feed stops knits and fine fabrics from stretching or puckering as they feed. All five have it, and if you ever sew jersey you will use it constantly.
Want to know exactly what our scores mean before you decide? Start here: How We Test and Certify.
