Sergers

3 Best Serger Threads and What to Buy First in 2026

The short answer

Buy serger cone thread, not standard sewing-machine spools. It's cheaper per yard for the volume a serger consumes and feeds more smoothly through multiple thread paths.

Serger thread comes on large cones. A serger feeds three or four threads at once and uses far more thread per seam than a sewing machine. Below are three widely sold serger threads.

After them, you will find what to look for when you buy serger thread for the first time. Details come from each listing.

#1. Maxi-Lock: best value everyday cones

Maxi-Lock all-purpose serger thread

Our verdict:

Best value everyday cones

Best for a first set of four matching cones for a 4-thread serger.

View at Maxi-Lock

Keep in mind: check the cone quantity and colors in the package you order.

Maxi-Lock all-purpose serger thread comes on cones for routine overlocking. Choose the colors and number of cones for your machine's threading arrangement. Compare the current spool quantity before ordering; the linked manufacturer page describes the thread line.

#2. Coats Surelock: best large cones for color sets

Coats Surelock overlock thread

Our verdict:

Best large cones for color sets

Best for a color set of large cones for regular serging.

View at Coats & Clark

Keep in mind: pack colors vary by listing, so check the set before you buy.

Large cones sold in packs. Handy when you want a set of colors.

#3. Gütermann Toldi-Lock overlock thread: best single-project spools

Gütermann Toldi-Lock overlock thread

Our verdict:

Best single-project spools

Best for one project in a single matching color.

View at Gütermann

Keep in mind: a smaller put-up; you need several spools for a 4-thread setup.

A smaller spool. Useful when a project needs just one color.

Factors to consider when choosing serger thread

• Loopers (the threads that wrap the edge): these use the most thread and are often less visible in the finished seam, so a budget all-purpose cone thread is a reasonable choice here.
• Needle threads: more visible, especially on rolled hems or decorative stitches, worth matching more closely to the project or using a slightly higher-quality thread.
• Consistency over price matters more than brand: uneven thread thickness is a common cause of skipped stitches and tension trouble on a serger.
• Woolly nylon or texturized thread for rolled hems specifically, since it fills the stitch more fully and gives a softer, more finished-looking edge than standard thread.

Serger thread: cone vs. spool

Normal sewing thread comes on small spools. They feed one thread path at a time. Serger thread, also called cone thread, comes on much larger cones. It is usually a little finer and more even.

It is made to run smoothly through 3 or 4 thread paths at once without snagging in the loopers. You can run spool thread on a serger with a cone adapter. But you will use up spools fast. Some spool thread is also thicker and less even, so it catches in the loopers more easily.

How much you actually need

A serger uses far more thread per seam than a sewing machine, because of the looping stitch. If you are just learning the machine and testing stitches, start with a set of four cones. Pick a couple of neutral colors, such as white, black or a color that matches your usual fabric.

You don't need a full range of colors right away. To give a rough sense of scale, the seams of one knit garment can use several times the thread a sewing machine needs. Each serger stitch wraps thread around the edge instead of passing through once.

Storing and organizing serger thread

Cones take up more shelf space than spools, and they tangle if you store them loose. A thread rack or a set of small bins keeps cones upright. It stops their ends from catching on each other. That matters more than you might think.

A tangled cone can make the thread feed unevenly partway through a seam. Keep thread out of direct sun, too. That helps it keep its strength and color over time, most of all with cheaper all-purpose cones.

Reading a thread cone's label

Serger cones are labeled by weight and by fiber. The weight is a number for thickness. A higher number usually means a finer thread. Polyester is the most common all-purpose fiber.

Cotton and nylon versions exist for certain fabrics. For most beginner projects on knits or mixed fibers, an all-purpose polyester cone in a standard weight is a safe default. Try special threads once a project calls for them. Examples are a heavier thread for decorative rolled hems or a finer one for delicate fabric.

If you're having tension or skipping issues

Old or poor thread is a common, overlooked cause of serger tension problems. Before you change the tension dials, try a fresh cone of even thread. See Overlocker Sewing Machine for other setup basics to check first. See Fixing a Serged Seam if you need to unpick a seam that didn't come out right.