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A presser foot holds fabric flat against the feed dogs while the needle stitches. Different sewing machine presser feet are shaped for different jobs: an all-purpose foot for everyday seams, a zipper foot to sew close to teeth, a buttonhole foot to size buttonholes, a blind hem foot for invisible hems, and a walking foot to feed layers evenly. Most beginner machines come with four to ten feet, and you can add more later.
The trick is knowing which foot to reach for, and whether a new one will fit your machine. This guide covers both.
What a Presser Foot Does
The presser foot sits on the presser bar above the needle plate. When you lower it, it presses the fabric down onto the feed dogs, the toothed bars that move the fabric under the needle. The foot's shape decides what you can do: how close to an edge you can sew, how thick a layer it rides over, and how it guides the fabric.
New to the parts names? Our parts of a sewing machine diagram shows the presser bar, foot and feed dogs.
Presser Foot Types: The Complete Chart
| Foot | What it does | Use it for | Usually in the box? |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose / zigzag | Wide needle opening for straight and zigzag stitches | Everyday seams, zigzag, most stitches | Yes |
| Zipper | Narrow foot that sits to one side of the needle | Zippers, piping, sewing close to a raised edge | Yes |
| Buttonhole (one-step) | Holds the button and sizes the buttonhole | Buttonholes | Yes, on one-step machines |
| Blind hem / blind stitch | Guide that rides along a fold | Nearly invisible hems on trousers and skirts | Usually |
| Button sewing | Short, grippy foot that holds a button | Sewing on flat buttons by machine | Often |
| Overcasting | A bar keeps the stitch wrapped over the raw edge | Finishing seam edges without a serger | Sometimes |
| Narrow hemmer / rolled hem | Scroll rolls the edge as you sew | Narrow hems on napkins, scarves, ruffles | Sometimes |
| Satin / monogramming | Grooved underside lets dense stitches pass | Satin stitch, appliqué, decorative stitches | Sometimes |
| Walking / even feed | Its own feed dogs move the top layer | Quilting, layers, plaids, slippery or stretchy fabric | Mid-range machines |
| 1/4" piecing | Edge guide set 1/4" from the needle | Accurate quilt piecing | Quilting machines |
| Free-motion / darning | Hops up and down with the needle | Free-motion quilting, darning, thread drawing | Quilting machines |
| Open toe | No bar in front of the needle | Appliqué and decorative stitching with clear visibility | Mid-range machines |
| Non-stick | Low-friction sole | Vinyl, faux leather, laminated fabrics | Occasionally |
| Invisible zipper | Grooves that uncurl zipper coils | Invisible zippers on dresses and skirts | Rarely |
| Edge / stitch-in-the-ditch | Center blade guides along a seam or edge | Edge stitching, topstitching, quilting in the ditch | Rarely |
| Cording / gathering | Guides cord, or gathers fabric as it sews | Decorative cording; ruffles | Rarely |
The Feet Beginners Use Most
All-purpose (zigzag) foot
This is the foot that lives on your machine. Its wide opening lets the needle swing for zigzag and decorative stitches, as well as straight stitch. Use it for 90% of seams.
Zipper foot
A zipper foot is narrow, so the needle can sew right beside the zipper teeth. Most snap onto either side, so you can sew both sides of a zipper. It's also the foot for piping and cording.
Buttonhole foot
On a one-step buttonhole machine, you slip the button into the back of the foot, pull down the buttonhole lever, and the machine sews a buttonhole sized to match. Four-step machines use a simpler foot, and you turn the dial through each step.
Blind hem foot
The blind hem foot has a guide that rides against a folded edge, so the blind hem stitch's sideways bite catches just a thread of the garment. It's the foot for neat trouser and skirt hems. Our guide to hemming trousers with a sewing machine shows the fold step by step.
Overcasting foot
A small bar on the foot keeps an overcast stitch wrapped neatly around the raw edge instead of tunneling it. It's the best way to finish seams without a serger, as we explain in our serger vs sewing machine comparison.
Feet Worth Adding
Walking foot
If you buy one extra foot, make it this one. A walking foot has its own set of feed dogs that move the top layer of fabric while the machine's feed dogs move the bottom layer, so the layers don't shift. Brother describes its SA140 walking foot as a "moving feed system that holds and moves fabric," recommended for multiple layers, matching prints or plaids, preventing fabric drift and quilting.
Two cautions from Brother: walking feet vary in feed dog width and shank height, so check your model is on the compatibility list. And a walking foot isn't meant for reverse or side-to-side sewing, or for stitches that move the feed dogs in directions other than forward.
1/4" piecing foot
Quilters sew almost every seam at 1/4", and this foot makes it automatic. Brother's SA125 foot is designed for the center needle, straight-stitch position. Its right front edge guides a 1/4" seam, and its left side guides a 1/8" seam. Our best sewing machines for quilting note which machines include one.
Free-motion (darning) foot
For free-motion quilting, you drop or cover the feed dogs and move the fabric yourself. A free-motion foot "raises and lowers with the needle," as Brother puts it for its SA129, so you can move the fabric between stitches while the foot holds it down during each stitch. It's also used for darning. Brother notes that the SA129 needs a low-shank adapter on its ULT/PC series machines.
Non-stick foot
Vinyl, oilcloth and faux leather tend to stick to a metal foot and stop feeding. A non-stick foot glides over them. The SINGER Heavy Duty 4452 includes one, along with a walking foot.
Open-toe foot
With no bar in front of the needle, an open-toe foot gives a clear view for appliqué and decorative stitches. It's a small upgrade, but a nice one if you like decorative work.
For attachments beyond feet, such as extension tables, quilt guides and seam guides, see our guide to sewing machine attachments.
What Comes in the Box?
The number of included feet is one of the biggest differences between budget and mid-range machines. Here are a few examples from manufacturer spec sheets:
| Machine | Included feet (per manufacturer) |
|---|---|
| Brother XM2701 | 6: buttonhole, button sewing, narrow hemmer, zipper, blind stitch, zigzag |
| Brother CS5055 | 7: zigzag, buttonhole, zipper, button sewing, overcasting, blind stitch, monogramming |
| Brother XR3774 | Adds a walking foot and quilting foot to the basics, plus a quilt guide and wide table |
| SINGER Heavy Duty 4452 | Includes an even feed (walking) foot and a non-stick foot |
| SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 | 13 listed, including open toe, cording, satin, darning/embroidery, even feed/walking, overcasting, narrow hem and quarter inch |
When you compare machines, count the feet you'll actually use. A walking foot and a 1/4" foot in the box are worth more than dozens of extra decorative stitches. Our best sewing machines for beginners lists the feet for each pick.
Shank Types and Attachment: Will a Foot Fit?
Snap-on vs screw-on
Most modern home machines use snap-on feet. A permanent holder (the "ankle") is screwed to the presser bar, and the feet clip onto it. Older machines and some specialty feet, like many walking feet, screw on directly to the presser bar instead.
Low, high and slant shank
The shank is the distance from the presser bar screw to the bottom of the foot. There are three common types:
- Low shank: the most common on home machines, including many Brother, SINGER and Janome models.
- High shank: found on some higher-end and semi-industrial machines.
- Slant shank: found mainly on certain vintage SINGER machines, where the needle bar and foot slant forward.
How to check: with the presser foot down, measure from the center of the presser foot screw to the needle plate. Sewing-machine retailers' guides put low shank at about 1/2 inch and high shank at about 1 inch. The easiest check of all is your manual or the foot maker's compatibility list.
Stitch width matters too
Some feet are made for a specific maximum stitch width. Brother's SA140 walking foot, for example, is listed for 7 mm stitch-width machines. A foot made for a narrower machine can be hit by a wide zigzag, which can break the needle.
How to Change a Snap-On Presser Foot
- Raise the needle to its highest position by turning the handwheel toward you, and turn off the machine.
- Raise the presser foot lever.
- Press the release button on the back of the foot holder. The foot drops off.
- Place the new foot under the holder so its pin lines up with the groove in the holder.
- Lower the presser foot lever. The foot snaps on. Raise it again to check it's secure.
- Check the stitch. Before sewing, turn the handwheel by hand through one full stitch to make sure the needle clears the foot, especially with zigzag or a narrow foot.
Common Mistakes
- Using a zigzag stitch with a straight-stitch foot. The needle can strike the foot and break. Match the stitch to the foot.
- Buying feet without checking shank type. Check your manual or the compatibility list first.
- Sewing in reverse with a walking foot. Brother warns against reverse and side-to-side stitches with its walking foot.
- Forgetting to drop the feed dogs for free-motion work.
- Leaving the foot up while sewing. The fabric won't feed, and you'll get a thread nest underneath.
- Ignoring presser foot pressure. Machines that have a pressure dial, like the SINGER Heavy Duty line, let you lighten it for thick layers or knits.
FAQ
What presser feet do I really need as a beginner?
An all-purpose (zigzag) foot, a zipper foot, a buttonhole foot and a blind hem foot cover nearly every beginner project, and most machines include them. The first foot worth adding is usually a walking foot, for quilting, layers and slippery or stretchy fabric, followed by a 1/4-inch foot if you piece quilts.
What does a walking foot do?
A walking foot has its own feed dogs that grip the top layer of fabric while the machine's feed dogs move the bottom layer, so both layers feed evenly. Brother describes its SA140 walking foot as a moving feed system that holds and moves fabric, useful for multiple layers, matching plaids and quilting. It isn't meant for reverse or side-to-side stitches.
Are presser feet universal?
No. Feet differ by shank height (low, high or slant), attachment style (snap-on or screw-on) and, for some feet, stitch width and feed dog width. Many current Brother, SINGER and Janome home machines use low-shank snap-on feet, but always check your manual or the foot's compatibility list before buying.
How do I know if my machine is low shank or high shank?
With the presser foot down, measure from the center of the presser foot screw to the needle plate. Sewing-machine retailers' guides put low shank at about 1/2 inch and high shank at about 1 inch. Slant shank, found mainly on certain vintage SINGER machines, has an obvious forward slant.
Can I use a different brand's presser feet on my machine?
Often, if the shank type matches and the foot suits your machine's stitch width. Generic low-shank feet fit many home machines. Brand feet, like Brother's, list exact compatible models, which is the safest route for specialty feet like walking and free-motion feet.