Best Sergers
A serger trims and finishes seam edges in one pass, and threading it is famously the hardest part of owning one. We buy every serger at full retail, time its setup and threading from sealed box to first stitch, and measure its noise at 1 metre. The ranking opens once 10 sergers are fully reviewed. See how we test →
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We have not named a best serger yet, because none in this category has finished testing. A ranking opens once 10 are fully reviewed. First in line for testing: Juki MO-654DE.
Sergers we have tested so far
No serger has finished testing yet. The Juki MO-654DE is among our first priority machines.
Every serger we cover
Fully reviewed machines come first, ordered by Overall Score. Machines marked Coming Soon have not been tested yet and are listed so you can follow them, not because we recommend them.
What to look for in a serger
Threading you can live with
A serger carries three or four threads through needles and loopers, and rethreading the loopers is where most owners struggle. Colour-coded threading paths help. Air threading systems, such as on the Juki MO-2000QVP, Brother AIR1800 and Janome AirThread 2000D, blow the thread through the loopers, and manufacturers sell them on exactly that. We time threading on every serger so you can judge the difference.
Differential feed
Differential feed runs the front and rear feed dogs at different speeds. It stops knits from stretching out of shape and lets you gather lightweight fabric on purpose. It is the setting that makes a serger useful on stretch fabrics, so check that it is adjustable.
Three or four threads, and what else
A 3/4-thread serger can sew a 3-thread overlock for finishing edges and a 4-thread overlock for stronger seams on knits. Some models add rolled hems or a coverstitch. Buy for the stitches you will actually use.
A serger works alongside a sewing machine
A serger finishes and seams edges quickly, but it cannot sew buttonholes, topstitch or insert a zipper the way a regular machine does. Most sewists use one next to a standard machine, not instead of it.
How we test sergers
Every serger is bought at full retail and scored on the same 8-category framework as every machine we cover. Before this ranking opens, we will publish exactly how serger stitch output is assessed on our How We Test page.
- Setup and threading
- Stopwatch from sealed packaging to first stitch on fabric, with the manual consulted as a first-time buyer would. Threading difficulty and confusion points feed the Ease of Use score.
- Noise
- dB(A) at 1 metre from the front of the machine at bed height, with room noise recorded first.
- Ranking
- The ranking opens once 10 sergers are fully reviewed, ordered by Overall Score.
Questions about sergers
Do I need a serger if I already have a sewing machine?
Not to sew, but it speeds up finishing. A serger trims and encloses seam edges in one pass, which gives knit and woven garments a cleaner, more durable finish than a zigzag edge on a regular machine.
Can a serger replace a sewing machine?
No. A serger cannot sew buttonholes, topstitch or insert a zipper the way a regular machine can. Most sewists use both.
What is the difference between a serger and a coverstitch machine?
A serger overlocks and trims edges. A coverstitch machine sews the parallel rows of stitching seen on T-shirt hems and does not trim. Some machines combine both functions.
Are air threading sergers worth the extra cost?
Manufacturers sell air threading as the answer to difficult looper threading. We time threading on every serger we test so you can judge the difference against the price.
Which sergers are you testing first?
The Juki MO-654DE is among our first priority machines. Use the Notify Me button on any serger below to get an alert when its review goes live.
Other best sewing machine lists
How scores are produced
Every reviewed machine is scored across 8 weighted categories: Stitch Quality (25%), Ease of Use (20%), Heavy Fabric Performance (15%), Speed & Power (10%), Noise Level (10%), Build Quality (10%), Value (5%), Accessories (5%). SPM measured by stopwatch. Noise in dB(A) at 1 metre. Setup time from sealed box to first stitch. Full methodology →