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Under $100 is the hardest price tier in sewing, and sale season makes it both better and more dangerous. Better, because real machines like the Brother XM2701 and GX37 dip near $100 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. More dangerous, because the sale pages fill up with toys, handheld stitchers, and no-name minis that look like bargains and sew like toys.
The rule for this price tier is simple: only buy a real machine from Brother, Singer, or Janome, with a real warranty. At this price, the warranty is worth more than the machine.
Exact Black Friday 2026 prices are not announced yet. The expected moves below are based on past sale patterns and current typical prices, not confirmed sale prices. We will update this page with real prices during Black Friday week.
TL;DR: The only real full-size machine that regularly sells near $100 is the Singer Start 1304. The Singer M1000 is the best mini at around $100. The Brother XM2701 and Brother GX37 are much better machines that dip near $100 only on sale days, so Black Friday is the time to buy them. Avoid handheld stitchers and no-name minis completely.
At a Glance: Under $100 Deals
| Machine | Best for | Typical price now | Sale behavior | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singer Start 1304 | The honest $100 machine | ~$99-$140 | Regularly near $100, expected dip below $100 on sale | Check Price on Amazon |
| Singer M1000 | Mini for mending | ~$100-$115 | Hovers around $100, expected small cut | Check Price on Amazon |
| Brother XM2701 | Best machine, wait for a sale | ~$99-$160 | Dips near $100 on major sales | Check Price on Amazon |
| Brother GX37 | Sale hunter pick | ~$110-$150 | Frequent discounts, expected dip near $100 | Check Price on Amazon |
Prices move constantly on Amazon. Treat every figure above as approximate and confirm at checkout. “Under $100” here means the machine sells at or near $100 regularly, or dips there on major sale days. Check the live price before buying.
1. Singer Start 1304: The Honest $100 Machine
The Start 1304 is the only real full-size machine that regularly sells near $100, and that makes it the anchor of this list. It is simple and honest: 6 stitches, a 4-step buttonhole, and nothing you do not need. It is slow and basic, and that is fine, because it is a real machine with a real warranty.
Good
✓ Simplest real machine at this price, nothing confusing in the box
✓ Full-size machine, not a toy, from a major brand
✓ Great for hemming, mending, and learning the basics
Watch out for
✕ Slow and basic, do not expect it to grow with you into quilting or garment sewing
✕ Front-load bobbin is fussier than drop-in bobbins on Brother models
✕ 4-step buttonhole is tedious if you sew garments often
2. Singer M1000: The Mini for Mending
The M1000 is a real mini machine at 5.5 lbs, with 32 stitch applications, and it hovers around $100-$115 normally. It is the right pick for mending, travel sewing, and small projects, and a good second machine for a sewing room.
Good
✓ Genuinely portable at 5.5 lbs
✓ Real mini machine, not a handheld stitcher toy
✓ Top drop-in bobbin, easier than the 1304 front-load bobbin
Watch out for
✕ Too small as a primary machine for regular sewing
✕ Limited workspace for larger projects
✕ Do not buy it as a first machine if you plan to sew weekly
3. Brother XM2701: The Sale Day Star
The XM2701 is a much better machine than the two picks above, and Black Friday is when it becomes an under $100 machine. It normally sells around $130-$160, but it has dipped near $100 during major sales. It has 27 stitches, a 1-step buttonhole, and a forgiving feel that makes it the best first machine on this list if you can catch the sale price.
Good
✓ Simplest path to a finished first project in this price range
✓ 1-step buttonhole, a feature cheap machines usually skip
✓ Light at 12.6 lbs, easy to carry to a class
Watch out for
✕ Only under $100 on sale days, at full price it belongs in the under $150 tier
✕ No speed slider and no LCD, this is a dials and levers machine
✕ Not a thick fabric machine
4. Brother GX37: The Sale Hunter Pick
The GX37 has 37 stitches and an automatic needle threader, and it is frequently discounted even outside sales. On Black Friday, watch for it to dip near $100, which would make it a strong alternative to the XM2701 for buyers who want an automatic threader.
Good
✓ 37 stitches and automatic needle threader at a budget price
✓ Drop-in bobbin and 1-step buttonhole
✓ Compact and light at about 10 lbs
Watch out for
✕ Less proven than the XM2701, with a smaller long-term owner record
✕ Not a heavy fabric machine
✕ Only under $100 when discounted, check the live price
What “Under $100” Really Means on Sale Day
Sale pages blur three different things, and telling them apart saves you from a bad buy.
- Regularly under $100: The machine sells at or near $100 in a normal week. Only the Start 1304 and the M1000 qualify here.
- Sale-only under $100: The machine normally costs $110-$160 but dips near $100 on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. The XM2701 and GX37 qualify here, and only if you catch the sale.
- Fake under $100: A no-name machine that is always $60-$90, with inflated reviews and no real warranty. This is not a deal. It is the normal price of a bad machine.
If a machine is not from Brother, Singer, or Janome, and it is not a model with thousands of owner reviews, skip it no matter how low the sale price looks.
Machines to Avoid at Any Sale Price
- Handheld stitchers. They are not sewing machines. They make a chain stitch that unravels, and they cannot sew a seam you would trust.
- No-name minis with fake reviews. If the brand has no website, no warranty page, and reviews that all read the same, walk away.
- Toy machines marketed as real machines. If the box shows a cartoon character and the machine weighs under 4 lbs with no bobbin system to speak of, it is a toy.
- Refurbished machines with no warranty stated. A refurbished Brother or Singer from a reputable seller can be fine, but only if the warranty and return policy are stated clearly. An unstated warranty is a red flag.
Buying Guidance for Under $100
- Stretch to $130-$160 if you can. That is where the genuinely good beginner machines live, including the XM2701 at its normal price and the Brother CS6000i on sale. A $40 stretch buys a much better first year of sewing.
- Buy on Black Friday or Cyber Monday if you cannot stretch. That is when the XM2701 and GX37 become under $100 machines. Outside sale weeks, the Start 1304 is the honest pick.
- Check the seller before checkout. Buy from Amazon or an authorized seller, and confirm the return policy. A $100 machine from a third-party seller with no returns is not a bargain.
- Budget for thread and needles. A $100 machine with bad thread will jam and frustrate a beginner. Buy decent thread and a pack of universal needles with the machine.
- Set expectations honestly. A $100 machine sews hems, mending, simple garments, and crafts well. It does not sew heavy denim all day, quilt thick layers, or replace a $250 machine. Buy it for what it is.
FAQs
Can I get a good sewing machine for under $100?
Yes, but only a few models qualify: the Singer Start 1304 regularly, and the Brother XM2701 and GX37 on sale days. Everything else under $100 is usually a toy or a no-name gamble.
Is the Singer Start 1304 good enough for a beginner?
For hemming, mending, and learning the basics, yes. For a beginner who plans to sew weekly and grow into quilting or garments, stretch to the XM2701 or CS6000i if you can.
Should I wait for Black Friday to buy under $100?
If you want the XM2701 or GX37, yes, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are when they dip near $100. If you want the Start 1304, you can buy it any time, as it regularly sits near $100.
Are cheap sewing machines on sale lower quality versions?
For Brother and Singer models, no. Sale machines are the same standard models. The quality trap is a no-name machine that only appears during sales, not a discounted brand-name machine.
What is the best cheap sewing machine deal for a kid?
The Singer M1000 for mending and small projects with supervision, or the Start 1304 for an older child who is serious about learning. For younger children, start with a sewing kit, not a machine.
Verdict
Buy the Singer Start 1304 if you need a real machine near $100 today. Wait for Black Friday if you want the Brother XM2701 or GX37, which are better machines at a sale price. Skip handheld stitchers and no-name minis at any price. And if you can stretch to $130-$160, do it, because that tier buys a much better first year of sewing.
Keep Reading
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