Longarm Quilting Machines for Home: Throat, Frame or Sit-Down

Guide type: Comparison
Last reviewed: 2026-11-10
Sources: 10 cited
Tested by us: No. How we research

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Short answer

Grace defines a longarm by its throat: 18 in or more, usually mounted on a frame; a mid-arm has 12 to 17 in.^1,2 Decide first between a machine that rides on a frame and a sit-down model, then compare throat, stitch regulation and the frame it needs. Grace's 16X and 19X Elite are frame machines sold online; JUKI's Miyabi J-350QVP works on a frame and the J-350QVP S is a sit-down version, both through dealers.^3,4,5,6

Frame-mounted or sit-down?

On a frame, the quilt stays in place and the machine head moves around it.¹ A sit-down machine works the other way: you move the quilt under a fixed needle, seated. Grace notes that a mid-arm lets you stay seated while you work.²

Longarm and mid-arm machines on this page
Machine	Type	Throat	Stitch regulation	Sold
Grace 16X	Frame	16 in³	Yes³	Online
Grace 19X Elite	Frame	19 in⁴	Yes⁴	Online
JUKI Miyabi J-350QVP	Frame or sit-down	18 × 10 in⁵	Yes⁵	Dealers
JUKI Miyabi J-350QVP S	Sit-down	18 × 10 in⁶	Yes⁶	Dealers

As published by each maker. Speed units as given.

By Grace’s definitions, the 16X is a mid-arm (12 to 17 in) and the others are longarms (18 in or more).^1,2

Mid-arm: between a domestic machine and a longarm

A mid-arm (or medium arm) quilting machine sits between the two: Grace puts it at 12 to 17 in of throat, against 9 in or less for a domestic machine.^1,2 On this page, the Grace 16X is the mid-arm. Grace adds that stitch regulation is optional on many mid-arm machines.²

Sit-down longarm

A sit-down longarm keeps the needle fixed and moves the quilt under it, so it needs no frame. JUKI’s Miyabi J-350QVP S is a sit-down machine with an 18 in throat.⁶

Throat: why it matters more than anything else

A larger throat lets you handle more of the quilt before you reroll, fold or move it.¹ For scale: Brother’s PQ1600S, a domestic quilting machine, has 8.7 in of needle-to-arm space.⁷ The machines here offer 16 to 19 in.

Grace’s own page for the 19X Elite gives two figures: a 19 in throat, and quilt blocks “up to 15” wide”.⁴ Expect the usable width to be less than the throat.

The frame you will need

Grace pairs its machines with four frames, from a tabletop model to rolling frames; the Q-Zone Queen is 102 in wide in its queen setting.^3,8 JUKI lists the J-350QVP as a sit-down (33 × 33 in) or on 5, 7, 10 or 12 ft frames.⁵ See our guide to quilting frames for footprints and fit.

The four machines

Mid-arm for a frame, 16 in

Grace 16X

Throat: 16 in
Stitch regulation: yes: Precise and Cruise modes, plus Manual and Baste
Frames shown: 4, each sold separately

Strengths

Regulated stitch modes
Shown with four frame options, from tabletop to rolling
Sold online by Grace

Drawbacks

16 in: a mid-arm by Grace's own definition
Frame sold separately
No Canadian dealer in Grace's locator when we read it

Good fit: you want a frame machine with a 16 in throat, bought online.
Skip it if: you want to quilt seated at a table.

Longarm for a frame, 19 in

Grace 19X Elite

Throat: 19 in
Stitch regulation: yes: Precise, Cruise, Manual, Baste
Top speed: 2,600 stitches/min
Screen: 7 in

Strengths

19 in throat
2,600 stitches per minute
Regulated stitch modes

Drawbacks

Grace's page also says blocks up to 15 in wide
Frame sold separately
No Canadian dealer in Grace's locator when we read it

Good fit: you have room for a rolling frame and want a 19 in throat.
Skip it if: you have only a desk's width of room.

Longarm, frame or sit-down

JUKI Miyabi J-350QVP

Throat: 18 × 10 in
Stitch regulation: yes, with image sensors
Set-ups: sit-down 33 × 33 in, or 5, 7, 10, 12 ft frames
Top speed: 2,200 stitches/min

Strengths

18 in throat, 10 in high
Sit-down or frame set-ups
Regulated stitching

Drawbacks

Sold through JUKI dealers
JUKI does not say what comes with the head

Good fit: you want one head that can work seated or on a frame, through a dealer.
Skip it if: you want to buy online.

Sit-down longarm, 18 in

JUKI Miyabi J-350QVP S

Throat: 18 × 10 in (457 × 254 mm)
Stitch regulation: yes, with image sensors
Top speed: 2,200 stitches/min

Strengths

18 in throat for seated quilting
Regulated stitching
No frame needed

Drawbacks

Sold through JUKI dealers
JUKI does not say whether the table comes with the head

Good fit: you want to quilt seated with an 18 in throat, without a frame.
Skip it if: you want to buy online, or prefer to quilt standing at a frame.

Buying in Canada

When we read Grace’s dealer locator, every dealer listed was in the US.⁹ JUKI’s worldwide dealer list puts Canada under JUKI America.¹⁰ Ask the maker about shipping and service in Canada before you order.

Questions

What is the difference between a longarm and a mid-arm?

The throat. Grace puts mid-arm machines at 12 to 17 in and longarms at about 18 to 24 in, and notes that a mid-arm lets you stay seated.²

Do I need stitch regulation?

It keeps stitch length even while you move the machine at different speeds. JUKI describes its regulator as reading movement with image sensors to keep stitches accurate at any speed.⁵ Grace calls it optional on many mid-arm machines; both Grace machines here have regulated modes.^2,3,4

Does a longarm come with a frame?

Not always. Grace shows its machines with four frames, each sold as a separate product.³ JUKI offers the J-350QVP as a sit-down or on 5 to 12 ft frames, but its page does not say what comes with the head.⁵

Can I get a computerized longarm, with automation?

Computer-guided quilting is sold as a separate system and is not covered on this page. The machines here have computerized stitch regulation, not automated quilting.

Is a longarm a good choice for a beginner?

We can't judge how easy a machine is without testing it. Start from your room and your quilts: a sit-down longarm or a hoop-style frame keeps the footprint small, and Grace notes that a mid-arm lets you stay seated.²

Bottom line

If your room has about 8.5 ft of wall, a frame machine quilts a full width; if not, a sit-down or a hoop-style frame keeps the footprint small. Compare throat first: Grace puts a longarm at 18 in or more.

Related guides

What we checked, and what we didn't

Checked

Throat, stitch regulation modes, speed and frame options on each maker's page
How Grace defines domestic, mid-arm and longarm throats

Not checked

How each machine stitches in real use: we have not tested them
Whether JUKI includes a frame or a table with the Miyabi heads: JUKI's pages don't say
Dealer service and warranty claims

Sources

Choosing the Sewing Machine with the Correct Throat Length · The Grace Company
Mid Arm Quilting Machines for Home Use · The Grace Company
Grace 16X · The Grace Company
Grace 19X Elite · The Grace Company
Miyabi J-350QVP · JUKI America
Miyabi J-350QVP S · JUKI America
PQ1600S High-Speed Straight Stitch Sewing Machine · Brother USA
Q-Zone Queen · The Grace Company
Dealer Locator · The Grace Company
Dealers (worldwide) · JUKI

Revision history

2026-11-10

First version.