Juki DDL-8700 review
At a glance
Juki DDL-8700 is a mechanical sewing machine in the $500 to $1,000 price band, scored 8.4 out of 10 for heavy-duty sewing. Juki publishes a top speed of 5,500 spm and 1 built-in stitch.
Owners of the Juki DDL-8700 split on how much it will take. Several praise the build and the smooth, quiet running, but the heavy end is contested: one owner has run 15 oz denim and would not do so repeatedly, and another could not sew split or deer leather. Thread is the recurring headache, with owners reporting top-thread knots left on the underside and top thread showing underneath on heavy bonded nylon even with the tension nearly fully tightened. Reported faults include a motor that turned backward at first, a needle that did not stop in the up position, and a hook assembly with slight play. This read covers 60 Reddit threads and 2 retailer pages from 2010 to 2026. Reddit threads about this machine are mostly people asking for help, so problems are over-represented here. See the counted themes
VerdictSpecs checked against Juki data · Checked Oct 2026
8.4/108.4
out of 10
A real factory lockstitch for a home workshop, if you have a table, a motor and the floor space; Juki classes the base model as medium-weight.
Who it's for
Bag makers, gear sewers and small production shops who sew straight seams all day and want speed, a knee lift and an oil-bath hook.
Skip it if
You need a portable machine, any stitch besides straight, or you expect it to sew heavy leather; Juki positions the DDL-8700H variant for heavy weight.
Price band$500–1,000
$$ 500–1kMechanical
Check lowest priceLast seen $999 on September 29, 2026 at another dealer. Today's price is on the Sewing Machines Plus page.
Real cost to get sewing
Machine $$ 500–1kServo motor if the bundle ships with a clutch motorJuki New Defrix No. 1 oil for the oil panDBx1 needles in sizes 14 to 18 and industrial bobbinsA second machine for zigzag and buttonholes
Specs
Checked against Juki 2026-10-01Source: juki.com · goldstartool.com · cutsew.com · sewingmachinesplus.com. Bracketed cells are values the manufacturer does not publish; we never fill a spec we can't source.
Juki's documents vs dealers
3 checksSpeed
Juki says5,500 stitches per minute on the base DDL-8700; the A and H variants top out at 4,000.Juki DDL-8700 page
Dealers and ownersDealers quote 5,500.
ConfirmedPresser foot lift
Dealers and ownersDealers quote 13 mm.
ConfirmedNoise
Dealers and ownersOwners describe noise and vibration; see the rollup.
UnverifiedWhere sources disagree
- Speed: Juki's page gives 5,500 stitches per minute for the base DDL-8700 and 4,000 for the DDL-8700A and DDL-8700H; marketplace listings pool the variants under similar titles, so a quoted speed may belong to a different variant.
- Arm space: a review site states about 11 in from needle to arm; not found on juki.com in accessible snippets. Left null pending a Juki PDF check.
- Price: $999 (Walmart, servo and table, DIY assembly) vs $899.99 (second Walmart listing) vs $1,004.40 (DDL-8700-H variant). The Sewing Machines Plus listing has an assembled table but no price in the snippet.
- Thread trimmer: Juki's page names none on the base DDL-8700; dealer and owner sources name the DDL-8700-7 as the trimmer variant, and listings often mix the two.
- Weight: Juki's product page and manual do not publish a weight, so it shows as [verify]. A 61.7 lb figure circulates in non-maker sources and is not used.
Manufacturer claims we quote but do not assert (4)
- "High-speed, 1-needle, Lockstitch Machine" (manufacturer description, juki.com)
- "medium-weight" for the base DDL-8700, "light-weight" for the DDL-8700A and "heavy-weight" for the DDL-8700H (Juki product page variant table)
- "Fully Assembled Ready To Sew" (dealer claim, Cut Sew listing title)
- "incredible punching power" (review-site copy, not manufacturer)
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.
Weight[verify]Light enough to move between table and shelf.
Table footprint[verify]Add room on the left for the fabric to spill.
Strengths
Owners report solid build and smooth running, with 6 of 7 build-quality voices positive.
Retailer reviewers often call it quiet; Juki's manual gives 83.5 dB(A) at 5,000 sti/min, a maker figure on paper.
Owners report standard feet, bobbins and DBx1 needles are easy to buy, and a free-motion foot worked for one owner.
Weaknesses
Owners report recurring tension trouble, such as top thread showing underneath, though many of these are help-seeking Reddit threads.
Owners report setup and defect problems, such as a motor that ran backward at first and a bobbin that bunched when the needle did not stop up.
Owners report limits on thick or slippery work: one gets two layers of heavy waxed denim but thread snaps at three, and another could not sew split leather.
Check before you buy
3 checks01
Which motor is in the bundleOwners on Quiltingboard and Backpacking Light favour a servo motor for slow, controllable sewing, and one Reddit owner with a clutch motor wants to swap. Confirm the motor type in writing.
02
Assembled or knock-downSewing Machines Plus lists the table shipped assembled. The Walmart listings are DIY kits with assembly required. Factor freight and assembly.
03
Suffix mattersJuki's page lists the base DDL-8700 as medium-weight at 5,500 spm, the DDL-8700A as light-weight and the DDL-8700H as heavy-weight, both at 4,000 spm, with different needle systems. The DDL-8700-7 is the automatic trimmer variant per dealer sources. Match the suffix to your fabric before ordering.
Buying from Sewing Machines Plus
Checked Oct 2026WarrantyJuki's US warranty term for this model: [verify]. Confirm SMP is an authorized Juki dealer before you buy.
ReturnsSewing Machines Plus lists a 60-day return window; the buyer pays return shipping and opened machines may be refunded as store credit. Restocking fee: [verify]. Re-check the policy page before ordering a heavy machine.
ServicingWarranty repairs go through Juki's authorized service network. Whether a local Juki dealer will service a machine bought online varies by dealer; ask before you buy.
Setup and lessonsOnline orders may not include the lessons a local dealer offers. Ask before you buy if that matters to you.
What owners say
Counted from 100 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.
Good
No theme clears the bar: 60 percent of the statements on a theme, from at least 8 that took a side.Not good
Tension7 of 10 negative · 10 owner voices
Owners split on: Reliability and defects, Fabric handling (knits, wovens).
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.
Reliability and defectsrecurring
7 positive · 1 mixed · 8 negative
16 voices · 9 threads or pages
Reddit 10 · retail 6
Owner's motor turned backward at first and needed a technician call.sewingmachinesplus.com
Owner reports no problems so far.sewingmachinesplus.com
Tensionrecurring
0 positive · 3 mixed · 7 negative
13 voices · 7 threads or pages
Reddit 12 · retail 1
Heavy thread leaves top-thread knots unburied on the underside.reddit.com
New owner found the machine needed little tension adjustment when switching fabrics at first.reddit.com
Power on heavy fabricreported
1 positive · 3 mixed · 1 negative
10 voices · 9 threads or pages
Reddit 10
On heavy denim the owner could not use the larger needle size wanted.reddit.com
Fabric handling (knits, wovens)reported
5 positive · 3 mixed · 2 negative
10 voices · 8 threads or pages
Reddit 10
Owner could not sew split or deer leather; top thread frays and snaps after about ten stitches despite heavy needles and bonded nylon thread.reddit.com
Owner of an 8700 finds it great for denim and also sews very light silnylon on it.reddit.com
Noise and vibrationrecurring
5 positive · 0 mixed · 1 negative
8 voices · 4 threads or pages
retail 5 · Reddit 3
Owner reports odd motion and a popping noise from the check spring.reddit.com
Long-time sewist finds it very quiet.sewingmachinesplus.com
Threading and loopersreported
0 positive · 0 mixed · 1 negative
8 voices · 5 threads or pages
Reddit 8
How we collected this
Refreshed 2026-10-0262sources read
620reviews, comments and pages
68owner voices counted
2010 to 2026years covered
Sources: 2 retailer reviews, 60 Reddit. 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: 4.55 out of 5 from 62 reviews, 6 rated 3 or lower. Seller-collected, seen 2026-10-01.amazon.com: 4.2 out of 5 from 86 reviews, 2 rated 3 or lower. Seller-collected, seen 2026-10-01.
- 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 pagesDDL-8700 vs Juki DDL-8700H (heavy-weight)
claimed differencesFabric classHeavy-weight; base DDL-8700 is medium-weight.maker documents
Juki product page
Juki product page
DDL-8700 vs Juki DDL-8700-7 (automatic trimmer)
claimed differencesPriceOne European poster put the base near 1,100 EUR and the -7 over 1,800 EUR.1 page
one forum post, one market
one forum post, one market
DDL-8700 vs Juki DDL-8700A (light-weight)
claimed differencesFabric classLight-weight; base DDL-8700 is medium-weight.maker documents
Juki product page
Juki product page
Questions people ask
What do owners say about the Juki DDL-8700?
Across 60 Reddit threads and 2 retailer pages from 2010 to 2026, owners most often praise the build and the smooth, quiet running. Recurring complaints are tension and top-thread trouble on heavy thread, fabric limits on thick or grippy material, and motor faults. Reddit leans toward people asking for help, so problems are over-represented.
What is the Juki DDL-8700 used for?
It is a straight-stitch, single-needle lockstitch machine. Juki's variant table calls the base DDL-8700 medium-weight, the 8700A light-weight and the 8700H heavy-weight. Owners report bag making, where one no longer hand cranks through bulky seams, and one owner says a lockstitch machine like it is unsuited to jersey because the stitch breaks when stretched.
How much does the Juki DDL-8700 cost?
Juki does not publish a price and sells through dealers. A Walmart marketplace listing with servo motor and table, assembly required, showed $999 on 2026-09-29, with a second listing at $899.99 and a DDL-8700-H listing at $1,004.40. Dealer bundles differ in what they include, so check the listing.
Can the Juki DDL-8700 sew leather?
Owner reports lean cautious. One owner could not sew split or deer leather, as the top thread frayed and snapped after about ten stitches despite heavy needles and bonded nylon thread. Buyers asking about leather coats are steered to a servo motor and to the -H heavy variant, which Juki lists as heavy-weight at 4,000 spm.
What is the difference between the Juki DDL-8700, the -7 and the -H?
Per Juki's page the base DDL-8700 is medium-weight at 5,500 spm, the 8700A is light-weight and the 8700H is heavy-weight, both at 4,000 spm. The -7 is the trimmer variant per dealer and owner sources, since Juki's page names no trimmer on the base machine, and listings often mix the versions up. Marketplace titles pool these variants, so a quoted speed may belong to a different one [verify].
Does the Juki DDL-8700 come with a table and motor?
Not from the maker: it is sold as a head only. Dealer bundles add a table, stand, sewing light and a clutch or servo motor, so check what a listing includes. Sewing Machines Plus lists the table as shipped assembled.
Should I get a servo motor or a clutch motor on a Juki DDL-8700?
Owners on Quiltingboard and Backpacking Light recommend a servo for slow, controllable sewing, and one owner says the servo handles slow precision stitching through to very fast stitching. Another owner whose machine has a clutch motor says they want a servo. The servo has a speed dial under the table.
How fast is the Juki DDL-8700, and can it be slowed down?
Juki lists 5,500 stitches per minute for the base DDL-8700, while the DDL-8700A and DDL-8700H are 4,000. Slow control depends on the motor, and owners point to a servo with its speed dial.
What needles does the Juki DDL-8700 use?
Juki's page lists DB x 1 in sizes 9 to 18, with 14 as standard. The DDL-8700A uses DA x 1 and the DDL-8700H uses DB x 1 in sizes 19 to 23, so do not mix the variants up. One owner could not use the larger needle size wanted on heavy denim.
