Bernina 570 QE review
At a glance
Bernina 570 QE is a computerized sewing machine in the $3,000 and up price band, scored 8.3 out of 10 for quilting. Bernina publishes a top speed of 1,000 spm, 8.5 in of throat space and 1450 built-in stitches.
Owners of the Bernina 570 QE mostly praise how it sews: one reports reliably great buttonholes across at least 100 made, another says the dual feed works well, and a third moved up from two Pfaffs that skipped stitches and reports no issues. The repeated complaints are practical. Feet and accessories come up often, including a BSR that arrived without a ruler foot, owners describe oiling as a routine that keeps start-up noise down, and a few report defects such as a bobbin sensor that came off or a top thread error every inch and a half. This read covers 53 Reddit threads, 2 forum pages and 1 retailer page from 2015 to 2026, and owner posts rarely say whether the machine is the 2017 and later model or the earlier one. Reddit threads lean toward people asking for help, so problems are over-represented here. See the counted themes
VerdictSpecs checked against Bernina data · Checked Oct 2026
8.3/108.3
out of 10
A dealer-only computerized quilter with 8.5 in right of the needle, built-in Dual Feed and BSR functionality, and a stitch regulator foot that varies by bundle.
Who it's for
A quilter who also wants garment and decorative stitching on one computerized machine, and who values dealer support and Bernina's 20 yr mechanical parts warranty.
Skip it if
You mainly quilt large tops and want more room than 8.5 in right of the needle, you want a published street price, or you cannot confirm which generation and which BSR bundle you are being sold.
Price band$3,000 and up
$$$$$ 3k+Computerized
Find a Bernina dealerBernina publishes dealer pricing only. Ask a dealer for today's price.
Real cost to get sewing
Machine $$$$$ 3k+BSR foot: Bernina calls it optional and the manual's supplied list omits it; dealer bundles differ, so confirm it is in the quoteSpecialty feet: Owners report only a few common feet are included and specialty feet are expensive; Bernina supplies seven standard feetEmbroidery module: Optional per Bernina's page; the module price is not published thereServicing: Owners report repairs are expensive; the manual warns skipped servicing may limit warranty service
Specs
Checked against Bernina 2026-10-02Source: sewingmachinesplus.com · bernina.com. Bracketed cells are values the manufacturer does not publish; we never fill a spec we can't source.
Bernina's documents vs dealers
11 checksList price
Dealers and ownersDealers set their own price; we show a band, not a live price.
Dealer onlyStitches
Bernina says1,450 including alphabets (450 decorative, 25 practical, 73 quilting, 8 alphabets).Bernina source
Dealers and ownersMatches our spec. Dealers quoting 642 are describing the older machine.
ConfirmedMax speed
Dealers and ownersMatches our spec.
ConfirmedStitch width
Dealers and ownersMatches our spec.
ConfirmedThroat
Bernina says8.5 in right of the needle (maker wording: sewing space to the right of the needle).Bernina source
Dealers and ownersMatches our spec. The earlier 570 QE is 7.5 in.
ConfirmedStitch regulator
Dealers and ownersSome dealer bundles include the foot and some do not; ask before buying.
ConfirmedWeight
Dealers and ownersOur earlier figure was 27 lb from a dealer.
DiffersSize (W x H x D)
Dealers and ownersPage and manual disagree on height and depth.
DiffersIn the box
Bernina saysSeven standard feet incl. #97D, slide-on table, knee lifter, 4 bobbins. No BSR foot listed.Bernina manual p.19 to 21
Dealers and ownersDealer bundles differ on BSR and extras.
ConfirmedWhich 570 QE
Bernina saysTwo models share the name. Rear label 'Type: VIO' is 2017 and later; 'Type: LUN' is the earlier one.Bernina support page
Dealers and ownersUsed listings often omit the year; check the label.
ConfirmedWarranty
Dealers and ownersSame terms apply across Bernina machines in the US; not specific to this model.
ConfirmedWhere sources disagree
- Weight: Bernina's product page says 24.2 lb and the manual technical data says 11.2 kg (25.35 lb); our earlier 27 lb came from a dealer (smarterfabric.com). We show the manual figure.
- Dimensions: the product page prints 18.1 x 7.9 x 12.9 in as W x H x D and the manual lists 450 x 330 x 200 mm (17.72 x 12.99 x 7.87 in) W x H x D, so the two swap height and depth. We show the manual order; the page also prints workspace height as 4,3 in with a comma, which we have not used.
- BSR foot: Bernina's product page calls the BSR foot an optional accessory, the manual's supplied-accessory list does not include it, and dealer bundles for the current machine vary (some include it, some say without BSR). The earlier 570 QE page says BSR included.
- In the box: our earlier note said an extension table was not listed as included; Bernina's manual lists a slide-on table with seam guide, a knee lifter and seven standard feet as supplied.
- Generation: Bernina says two models are named 570 QE. The 2017 and later machine (rear label Type: VIO) lists 8.5 in right of the needle, 9 mm width, 1,000 spm and 1,450 stitches; the earlier machine (Type: LUN) lists 7.5 in, 5.5 mm, 900 spm and 642 stitches. We use the current figures and do not carry the older machine's figures or owner claims over.
- Stitch count: 1,450 including alphabets on Bernina's page, 642 in dealer copy that matches the earlier machine's Bernina page, and 240 on one dealer page with no Bernina source.
- Price: $5,499 is Bernina's manufacturer suggested retail price and dealers set their own; older-generation launch coverage and a forum thread quoted $4,399 and about $4,500.
Manufacturer claims we quote but do not assert (6)
- "The versatile one with the wide range of functions" (Bernina tagline)
- "Made especially for quilters" and "Handle big quilts with ease" (Bernina marketing)
- "Enjoy superb fabric feed" (Bernina marketing)
- "Powerful DC Motor" (Bernina marketing; no motor rating published, the manual lists 90 W energy consumption only)
- Hammer Mode drives the needle "through more than 30 layers" (Bernina marketing)
- "quality Swiss engineering means great tension and perfect stitches every time" (Bernina marketing)
Size and space
Throat space, drawn to scaleThroat space is the distance from the needle to the machine body: how much rolled quilt fits through.
Weight25.35 lbHeavy enough that it should live on the table, not in a cupboard.
Table footprint17.72 x 12.99 x 7.87 in (W x H x D, manual, 450 x 330 x 200 mm, without spool pin); the product page prints 18.1 x 7.9 x 12.9 in inAdd room on the left for the fabric to spill.
Strengths
Owners report long service: one reports 2.3 million stitches on a 570 QE and another reports no issues after moving up from Pfaff machines that skipped stitches.
Owners rate the #97D patchwork foot highly on dual feed Berninas, and the box includes a slide-on table, knee lifter and seven standard feet.
Bernina lists 9 mm width, 1,000 spm and 8.5 in right of the needle, with Dual Feed built in and a jumbo bobbin.
Weaknesses
Owners report defects and faults, from a top thread error every inch and a half to a broken bobbin sensor arm; help threads skew the count toward problems.
Owners report few feet in the box and costly specialty feet, and some report no ruler foot with their machine.
Owners report expensive repairs, and Bernina US pricing and the BSR foot depend on the dealer.
Check before you buy
3 checks01
Confirm which 570 QE you are quotedBernina says two machines carry the name. Rear label Type: VIO is 2017 and later with 8.5 in, 9 mm and 1,000 spm; Type: LUN is the earlier one with 7.5 in, 5.5 mm and 900 spm.
02
Ask whether the BSR foot is in the boxBernina lists the foot as optional and it is not in the manual's supplied list; some dealer bundles include it and some say without BSR.
03
Get the embroidery module price separatelyBernina's page shows the module as optional and gives no price, so ask the dealer.
What owners say
Counted from 62 voices. Paraphrased, attributed.Read the problem counts below with care. Reddit threads about this machine are mostly people asking for help, so problems are over-represented. The retailers' own ratings under 'How we collected this' are the better gauge of overall satisfaction.
Feet and accessoriesrecurring
3 positive · 2 mixed · 4 negative
18 voices · 11 threads or pages
Reddit 17 · forums 1
The BSR supplied with the owner's five year old 570 did not include a ruler foot.reddit.com
Longtime Bernina owner rates the 97D far above the 37D or 57D on dual feed machines.reddit.com
Reliability and defectsreported
5 positive · 1 mixed · 8 negative
16 voices · 13 threads or pages
Reddit 16
An owner had the bobbin sensor come off, and part of one arm broke while refitting it, so the machine went to a repairer.reddit.com
After two Pfaff 720s skipped stitches at the start of sewing, this owner traded up to a Bernina 570 and reports no issues.reddit.com
How we collected this
Refreshed 2026-10-0256sources read
705reviews, comments and pages
39owner voices counted
2015 to 2026years covered
Sources: 53 Reddit, 1 retailer reviews, 2 forums. Evidence level: moderate (strong = at least 15 owner voices, 3 source classes and a 3 year span; recurring theme = at least 5 voices from 3 sources in 2 source classes).
Ratings seen at retailers, not ourssewingmachinesplus.com: 5 out of 5 from 1 reviews, 0 rated 3 or lower. Seller-collected, seen 2026-10-02.
- Counts are statements extracted from each review, comment or page and grouped by theme. They are not a poll, a rating or a failure rate.
- Retailer reviews are seller-collected and skew positive. Where a retailer listing was sampled, the page's own totals are shown above.
- Reddit and forum posts are self-selected, and many are people asking for help, so problems are over-represented.
- Themes were tagged by a model and the quotes behind them were machine-checked against the source text. Examples link to the original post.
Siblings and rivals
What sources claim, counted by independent pages570 QE vs Bernina 570 QE (before 2017, Type LUN)
claimed differencesSewing space and widthThe earlier 570 QE page lists 7.5 in right of the needle, 5.5 mm width and 900 spm, against 8.5 in, 9 mm and 1,000 spm on the current model.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Stitch library and hookThe earlier page lists 642 stitch patterns including alphabets, 11 buttonholes and the CB hook, against 1,450, 16 and the BERNINA Hook now.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Machine labelBernina's support page says the 2017 and later model carries 'Type: VIO' on the rear label and the earlier one 'Type: LUN'.maker documents
Bernina US support page, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US support page, fetched 2026-10-02
570 QE vs Bernina 590
claimed differencesStitch library sizeBernina lists 1,774 stitch patterns including alphabets for the 590 and 1,450 for the 570 QE.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Maker list priceBernina US shows a manufacturer suggested retail price of $8,499 for the 590 and $5,499 for the 570 QE.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Quilting stitches and buttonholesBernina lists 60 quilting stitches and 18 buttonholes or eyelets for the 590, against 73 and 16 for the 570 QE.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Sewing space and speedBernina lists the same 8.5 in right of the needle, 1,000 spm and 9 mm width on both pages.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
570 QE vs Bernina 540
claimed differencesStitch library sizeBernina lists 1,048 stitch patterns including alphabets for the 540 and 1,450 for the 570 QE.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Quilting stitches and buttonholesBernina lists 43 quilting stitches and 14 buttonholes or eyelets for the 540, against 73 and 16 for the 570 QE.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Availability wordingBernina's 540 page carries the wording 'no longer available' and no price.maker documents
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Bernina US product pages, fetched 2026-10-02
Questions people ask
What do owners say about the Bernina 570 QE?
Owners mostly praise how it sews: one reports reliably great buttonholes across at least 100 made, another says the dual feed works well, and one traded up from two Pfaffs that skipped stitches and reports no issues. Repeated topics are feet and accessories, oiling as a routine, and a few defects. Our read covers 53 Reddit threads, 2 forum pages and 1 retailer page from 2015 to 2026, and owner posts rarely say whether it is the 2017 and later machine or the earlier one, so treat reports as unsorted; Reddit leans toward help requests, so problems are over-represented.
How much does the Bernina 570 QE cost?
Bernina US shows $5,499 as the manufacturer suggested retail price on 2026-10-02, and dealers set their own prices. Bernina is dealer only, so we show no buy button; use the dealer locator. Dealer bundles vary, for example in whether the BSR foot is included.
What problems do owners report with the Bernina 570 QE?
Reported problems are scattered rather than one repeated fault: a bobbin sensor that came off and a broken arm part while refitting it, a top thread error about every inch and a half for one owner, and a thread nest at the start point when the embroidery module is used for quilting. Several owners describe a start-up noise that gets louder when the machine has not been oiled recently, and one says regular de-linting, cleaning and oiling should prevent problems while repairs are expensive. Reddit leans toward help requests, so problems are over-represented.
What is the difference between the Bernina 570 QE and the 590?
Bernina lists 1,774 stitch patterns and $8,499 manufacturer suggested retail for the 590, against 1,450 and $5,499 for the 570 QE. The 590 lists 60 quilting stitches and 18 buttonholes or eyelets, against 73 and 16. Both pages show the same 8.5 in right of the needle, 1,000 spm and 9 mm width.
Does the Bernina 570 QE have an embroidery module?
Bernina's US page covers sewing and embroidery, with the embroidery module (Module M SDT) optional and its price not on the page [verify]. The page lists a 15.7 x 5.9 in embroidery area and 250 built-in designs. No separate 570 QE E model is named on the Bernina US pages we fetched, so confirm what a 570 QE E listing includes.
Does the Bernina 570 QE come with the BSR foot?
Bernina says BSR functionality is built into the machine and the BSR foot is an optional accessory. The manual's supplied list has no BSR foot, and dealer bundles vary; one owner of a five year old 570 says their BSR did not include a ruler foot.
How much throat space does the Bernina 570 QE have?
Bernina's wording is 8.5 in right of the needle. The manual's technical data gives no throat figure, and the earlier 570 QE page says 7.5 in.
What is the difference between the old and new Bernina 570 QE?
Bernina says two models share the name. The 2017 and later machine (Type: VIO) lists 8.5 in, 9 mm, 1,000 spm, 1,450 stitches and 16 buttonholes; the earlier one (Type: LUN) lists 7.5 in, 5.5 mm, 900 spm, 642 stitches and 11 buttonholes. Check the rear label before you buy used.
Does the Bernina 570 QE have a walking foot built in?
Bernina describes a built-in Dual Feed that tucks away when not in use; 'walking foot' is our shorthand, not Bernina's wording. One owner says the dual feed works well, and another saw odd feeding at first that improved with a patchwork foot and fabric grain checks. One owner also used a walking foot on a 570 to quilt a coat.
