Independent buying guide · every spec checked against the manufacturer
STITCH CHECK

How much does a long-arm quilting machine cost?

The head is the smallest line on the invoice that matters. Frame, stitch regulation, robotics and delivery are where the number moves. Every figure below is a published or dealer-displayed price, dated.

Stitch Check editorsUpdated Sep 2026

The short answer

A stand-up long-arm on a frame starts around $4,500 to $6,000 at the 15 in entry tier and runs to $50,000 and up for a 26 to 30 in computerized machine with delivery and training included. Sit-down mid-arms with a table sit between $6,000 and $9,000. A domestic straight-stitch quilter that people call a long-arm in listings is $600 to $1,900 and has no frame at all.

Definition
Long-arm
A quilting head with 18 in or more of throat space, moved over a quilt loaded on a frame. 15 to 16 in heads sold on frames are entry long-arms; 16 to 18 in sit-down heads are mid-arms. The name in a listing is not a measurement.

Price by tier

Prices seen on 2026-09-29 at the sources named in the research file. MSRP means the maker's or dealer's stated list; dealer means one dealer's displayed price that day. Dealer-only brands often publish nothing, and we say so rather than guess.

Machine price by tier, frame noted separately
TierThroatPrice seenFrame
Domestic straight-stitch quilter (Brother PQ1600S, Juki TL-2010Q, TL-18QVP)8.5 to 8.7 in$580 to $1,899 (dealer)None; sits on a table
Sit-down mid-arm (Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen, Capri 18, Juki Miyabi J-350QVP S)16 to 18 in$6,495 to $9,000 (dealer or MSRP)Table included
Entry stand-up long-arm (Handi Quilter Moxie, Grace Q'nique 15R)15 in$4,495 to $5,995 with frame8 ft frame bundled
Stand-up long-arm, 18 to 19 in (Moxie XL, Q'nique 19X, Gammill entry 18)18 to 19 in$5,499 to $16,499Varies; Gammill includes it
Long-arm, 20 in and up, free motion (HQ Amara 20, APQS Lenni, Innova M20)20 to 24 in$12,495 to $19,999Usually included
Long-arm, 20 in and up, computerized (Gammill Vision and Statler, Innova with Autopilot, HQ Infinity with Pro-Stitcher)20 to 30 in$33,490 to $52,999Included

What gets added to the head price

Add-on lines and the prices we could source
LinePrice seenNote
Frame, hoop style (Grace Q-Zone Hoop)$1,399Quilts crib to king by repositioning
Frame, queen width (Grace Q-Zone Queen)$1,899 to $2,200Pro upgrade $900
Frame, Handi Quilter Loft 8 ftBundled with Moxie at $5,995 MSRPStandalone price not published
Stitch regulationIncluded on Moxie and Q'nique 15ROptional BSR foot on Bernina; none for the Juki TL class
Robotics: Grace QCT5$2,294 to $3,654Discontinued; QCT6 price not published
Robotics: Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher$10,995Amara, Forte, Infinity class
Robotics: APQS Quilt Path$6,500 to $10,900Dealers disagree; see research file
Robotics: Gammill Statler Ascend upgrade$8,499Retrofit on a non-Statler Gammill: $32,999
Robotics: Innova Autopilot Mach 3About $16,000Difference between the M20 free motion and M20 Autopilot list prices
Delivery, setup, trainingIncluded by Gammill in the lower 48APQS quotes shipping separately; Handi Quilter and Grace frames ship flat for owner assembly

Buying used

Used long-arms hold value because dealers service them. Listings we saw on the date above ran from $2,195 for a used Sweet Sixteen to $28,000 to $29,000 for a Gammill with Statler Ascend. Manufacturer refurbished programs start around $12,499 at Gammill. Budget a service visit and a re-level on delivery, and confirm the frame and any regulator come with it.

Used listings seen 2026-09-29
MachineListed priceWhere
Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen, sit-down$2,195Dealer resale
Grace Q'nique 15R with Continuum king frame$6,000APQS forum
Handi Quilter Avante 18 on 10 ft frame$8,225Dealer resale
Gammill Vision 2.0 18-8$9,000 to $12,500Private sale
Handi Quilter Infinity 26 with Pro-Stitcher, 2021$14,500Private sale
Innova 22$15,000APQS forum
APQS Millie, 10 ft, Quilt Path$24,500APQS forum

Consumables to budget

  • M class bobbins for the Moxie and Q'nique heads; L class TL bobbins for the domestic Juki tier.
  • 134 system needles on the Moxie; 135x5 or DPx5 on the Q'nique, with 134 listed as equivalent.
  • Rulers, a lamp and a stool for sit-down heads.
  • Thread by the cone, not the spool.
Short answer
Price the frame and delivery before you fall for a head. The entry long-arm on a frame is a room-sized commitment, not a machine purchase.

Where to start

Best quilting machines

Questions people ask

Does the price include the frame?
Usually not for stand-up long-arms above the entry tier. Moxie and Q'nique 15R bundles include an 8 ft frame; Gammill includes frame, delivery and training. Sit-down mid-arms include their table. Check the listing line by line.
How much is the cheapest long-arm?
The cheapest stand-up head on a frame we could source was the Handi Quilter Moxie at $4,495 on dealer sale, $5,995 MSRP, with an 8 ft Loft frame. Grace Q'nique 15R bundles with a Q-Zone Queen frame were seen at $5,198.
Is a used long-arm a good idea?
Often, if a dealer will service it. Used listings ran from about $2,200 for a sit-down head to $29,000 for a computerized Gammill. Budget a service visit and confirm the frame and any regulator are included.
What does computerization add?
Between about $2,300 for Grace's older QCT5 and $11,000 for Handi Quilter's Pro-Stitcher or APQS Quilt Path. On Innova the Autopilot list price runs about $16,000 above the free-motion version.
Do I need a stitch regulator?
Stand-up heads at the entry tier include it. On a domestic Juki TL or Brother PQ1600S there is no regulator available, so stitch length on a frame is set by hand speed.