What You Will Learn
Fixing your car’s upholstery is a lot cheaper doing it yourself than taking it to a professional. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then sewing your own auto upholstery can be a bit intimidating.
Buying the best sewing machine for auto upholstery can be even scarier. There’s a lot of sewing machines on the market, but only a few have a powerful motor that is really good for working on fabrics that are used to upholster your car.
I’ve done the research to find the 4 best sewing machines for auto upholstery. These heavy-duty sewing machines will be able to easily handle the thick, heavier fabrics that your car uses.
✂️ Best Heavy Duty Sewing Machines for Auto Upholstery
Here are our reviews for the best car upholstery sewing machines.
1. Consew 206RB-5 Industrial Sewing Machine
The Consew 206RB-5 is the biggest, most powerful auto upholstery sewing machine for car upholstery in the world. It can handle the heaviest, thickest fabrics at maximum speed without a problem for the best results. After all, it’s made for industrial use that can handle thick fabrics at maximum sewing speed..
No matter what material you’re working with – leather, vinyl, canvas – you’re going to be sewing a lot of it, for a lengthier period of time than you would a pair of jeans. The Consew 206RB-5 has a very wide table that doubles as a workstation.
It will not only hold the powerful sewing machine but also your fabrics. This will help you be more precise while reducing the chance of making a mistake.
The Consew 206RB-5 is an ideal auto upholstery sewing machine for car upholstery because it has a max stitch length of 10mm. The heavier the material, the longer the secure stitches will need to be.
This sewing machine is not only great for knitting textiles, but it’s also great for stitching car seats.
Furthermore, it can operate with a heavy thread or on a heavy canvas in a straight line with ease at high speed. That means it’s easily one of the most effective furniture upholstery machines on the market right now for a straight stitch.
Now, let’s talk about a few more important topics. This item includes a huge table as well as a servo motor, making this a great industrial machine. These are the magical components that allow you to sew at a maximum pace of 3300 stitches per minute in a straight line.
You may simply burn through a variety of sewing projects this way. The longest stitch length with the presser foot is 14 mm, which is the best feature of this product. That’s something you’re going to use a lot.
Keep in mind, however, that due to its sheer size and power, it is not a home sewing machine. It can be a problem unless you have a lot of space in your home. Aside from that, it’s a fantastic product.
Check Today's Price on Amazon2. Singer Quantum Stylist 9960
The Singer 9960 is the best affordable Singer heavy duty sewing machine for auto upholstery. It’s a utility sewing machine that can handle a wide range of fabrics, from delicates to thicker materials, such as denim, leather, and canvas.
If you’re looking to sew more than just car upholstery, this is a great option. It comes pre-programmed with over 600 stitches, allowing you to do a wide range of sewing, such as quilting, embroidery, decorative, and more.
If you need smaller car upholstery jobs done, then this is the sewing machine you want. You can easily use it to create well-crafted patches from thicker fabrics for the interior of your car. Additionally, it can handle the larger upholstery projects, but you’re going to want to have a large sewing table or desk to work on.
Check Today's Price on Amazon3. Brother ST371HD
The Brother ST371HD is labeled as strong and tough for good reason. It’s a true workhorse. With 31 built-in basic stitches, it can handle a wide range of fabrics – including the thicker ones you commonly use for auto upholstery – all for under $200, which is a reasonable price.
I like this sewing machine because it is a versatile free-arm sewing machine that can be used on a wide range of sewing projects. There aren’t many fabrics that it can’t handle, but if you’re going to be working with really thick leather or canvas, you may want to go with the Singer 9960 above.
If you’re on a really limited budget, then go with this sewing machine as it’s the best car upholstery sewing machine for an affordable price. Otherwise, spend the extra money and get the Singer 9960.
4. Juki DU-1181 Top and Bottom Feed Sewing Machine
This device boasts speeds of 2,000 long stitches per minute, thanks to a robust 110V servo motor that delivers thorough but silent performance. The top and bottom feed grab and draw heavier materials under the needle effortlessly, and the maximum stitch length of 9mm making it excellent for dealing with thick and medium weight upholstery fabrics, leather, or vinyl for solid, strong, and lasting seams.
The equipment comes complete with a sewing table, stronger motor, and other installed attachments, but one feature we’d like to highlight is the sewing light, which is really beneficial when we need to see what we’re doing in great detail to avoid mistakes.
Check Today's Price on AmazonAuto Upholstery Sewing Machine Buyer’s Guide
When buying a sewing machine that can handle auto upholstery, you’re going to want the best heavy duty sewing machine. This can either be computerized or mechanical. We prefer using either a Consew, Brother, or Juki machine. That’s not to say that other brands aren’t going to work, but these sewing machine brands are reliable for auto upholstery.
You’re going to want a machine that can handle thicker upholstery fabrics like leather and canvas and sew through layers of cotton..
Just a heads up – sewing machines that can handle upholstery are very heavy and generally expensive. You’re going to have trouble finding an affordable sewing machine for beginners here.
While many people believe that industrial is the way to go, opting for a heavy-duty factory-grade sewing table for their operations, you may discover that the functionality suits you – and your wallet – just as well if you choose the correct portable unit.
A decent machine should be able to plow through the thickest and densest fabrics like tissue, be compatible with the bonded polyester or nylon threads required for sturdy, durable, and ruggedly stitched upholstery, and use needles ranging from 18 to 22 in size, depending on the thread.
SPM
This is the number of stitches your machine can complete in one minute. Many folks are confused by this factor because it’s difficult to gauge how much power you’ll use. A Singer heavy-duty machine, for example, may be far too difficult and not the best option for your requirements.
When you don’t have enough SPM, the problem is similar. If you’re a beginner and won’t be using a cobbler sewing machine often, we recommend getting something with a speed of roughly 1500 stitches per minute.
For the average user, it is a sweet spot. In the interim, you can learn how to hem, stretch fabric and stabilize knit fabric for sewing.
Versatility
The ability to stitch a variety of materials is a big selling point for these machines. You should get the best heavy-duty sewing machine that can handle heavier materials, thicker threads and multiple layers of fabric.
When you’re looking at all of the different sewing machine brands, bear in mind whether or not they can deal with different types of fabrics. You shouldn’t only aim for upholstery. As a result, seek out something that can provide you with more. Our third choice from Yamata, for example, can be used to create leather bags.
Choosing the Most Effective Motor Engine
In a sewing machine, there are two sorts of motors. A clutch motor and a servo motor are the two types of motors available. Clutch motors are becoming increasingly uncommon these days, but why is that?
When discussing the basic benefits of a servo motor, we can determine that these motors are the best industrial sewing machines motors because they are lightweight, efficient, and quiet.
Can I sew auto upholstery with a regular sewing machine?
You might be able to do it, but it is not advisable at all. There are high chances that you can ruin the whole upholstery. Moreover, typical sewing machines can’t deal with thick fabrics either.
What kind of sewing machine is used for upholstery?
Very powerful motorized machines are usually the way to go for upholstery. They are highly capable of dealing with thick fabrics and rough usage.
Is a large table necessary for the sewing machine?
Yes, some people find it a bit of a burden because it takes up too much room, but having a large table to work on sure comes in handy. You will get more space to work and place the cloth.
Which type of sewing machine is suitable for Denim jackets and pants?
Since jeans are pretty thick, standard sewing machines struggle a lot. For that, you should choose a powerful machine like the upholstery-capable ones. They have enough horsepower to finish the job smoothly.