Top Thread Brands: The Pinnacle of Seamless Stitching

Choosing the right thread for your sewing or crafting projects can significantly impact the quality and durability of the finished product. With a plethora of brands on the market, selecting the best can be challenging, especially when factors like strength, flexibility, and color variety are considered. Some brands have emerged as leaders due to their superior quality, versatility, and reliability, catering to the needs of both amateur and professional creators alike. Ready to discover which top brands stand out in the world of thread? Find out more below.

Illustration of thread

Best brands of thread in 2025

DMC

DMC is a renowned and trusted brand in the embroidery thread market, known for its high-quality threads made from 100% Egyptian cotton, which undergo a double mercerization process to enhance luster, dye uptake, and strength. With a standard solid color palette of 482 colors, DMC threads are widely used and appreciated for their stitching experience. Despite some rumors about outsourcing, DMC has maintained its production quality, although it did restructure to move bulk production to Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe in the mid-1990s to leverage lower wage costs. DMC threads are available globally, with a significant presence in the US and Europe. The threads are priced competitively, ranging from $0.56 USD in the USA to 95 pence in the UK. For a detailed comparison of cross-stitch floss brands, you can visit this comprehensive guide.

Coats & Clark

Coats & Clark is a renowned brand in the thread industry, known for its high-quality threads used in various sewing applications. The company has been a leader in thread production for decades, with its Dual Duty XP thread offering 500 yards per spool at a cost of $4.59, translating to $0.00918 per yard. Coats & Clark threads are available in different types, including cotton-covered polyester and 100% polyester, with some users noting changes in thread quantity and quality over the years. Their threads are widely used in garment manufacturing, quilting, and other sewing projects, with thread consumption calculations often involving factors like stitch type and seam length. The brand's threads are appreciated for their durability and consistency.

Gutermann

Gutermann, a renowned brand since 1864, is a leading producer of premium sewing threads, catering to consumers, industry, and the automotive sector. As part of Elevate Textiles, Inc., Gutermann benefits from a global manufacturing platform with 37 facilities across six continents and over 15,000 employees. The company is known for its high-quality threads, such as the Mara 100, which uses Micro Core Technology for smooth and consistent seams. Gutermann threads are versatile, suitable for various applications from general clothing to leather stitching. The yarn fiber and thread market, in which Gutermann operates, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024 to 2031, reaching USD 138.94 billion by 2031.

Aurifil

Aurifil is renowned as one of the best producers of thread, utilizing 100% Egyptian Cotton from the Mako region of Egypt, known for its extra-long staple fibers which ensure superior strength and smoothness. The thread undergoes a 15-step production process in Milan, Italy, and is available in a wide range of weights, including 12wt, 28wt, 40wt, 50wt, and 80wt, with over 270 colors to choose from. Aurifil threads are mercerized, producing vibrant colors and minimal lint, making them ideal for quilting, embroidery, and other textile projects. The 2-ply construction reduces pressure on each ply, enhancing durability and reducing the likelihood of breaking or fraying. Since its introduction in the U.S. in 2007, Aurifil has become a favorite among quilters and textile artists. For more information, visit their Aurifil Thread FAQ.

Mettler

Mettler, founded in 1883, is a renowned brand under the AMANN Group, celebrated for its high-quality sewing and embroidery threads. With over 140 years of experience, Mettler offers a broad assortment of threads, including the popular Silk-Finish Cotton threads made from 100% long staple Egyptian Cotton. These threads are available in various weights, such as 28, 40, and 50, and come in a wide range of colors. Mettler threads are ideal for sewing, embroidery, and machine quilting, with properties like 6% elongation at break for the 28-weight thread. The AMANN Group, which includes Mettler, produces over 1 million kilometers of thread daily and operates in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Sulky

Sulky is renowned as one of the best producers of embroidery thread, particularly its 40 Wt. Rayon thread, which offers the same luster and smoothness as silk but is stronger and less expensive. Industry experts calculate that a 250 yd. spool of Sulky 40 Wt. Rayon thread can create 44,000 embroidery stitches, while a 1,500 yd. spool can produce 273,000 stitches. Sulky threads are made exclusively from high-quality ENKA fibers, ensuring unparalleled quality and excellent runability. The vast majority of embroidery designs are digitized for Sulky 40 Wt. Rayon thread, making it the first choice for machine embroiderers. With a huge selection of colors, Sulky has maintained its position as a top choice in the industry.

Madeira

Madeira is a leading global provider of high-quality embroidery threads, celebrating 100 years of manufacturing since 2019 and marking 40 years of Madeira UK in 2023. The company supplies Classic Rayon and Polyneon Polyester threads globally, with a focus on environmental sustainability, fire resistance, and luminosity. In 2022, Madeira UK sold nearly 1 million spools, equivalent to approximately 3 billion meters of thread. With over 400 employees worldwide and subsidiaries in Europe, the USA, and Asia, Madeira ensures a broad range of threads for various applications, including uniform, workwear, PPE, sportswear, and fashion. The company's commitment to innovation and sustainability has established it as a trusted partner in the embroidery industry. For more insights, read about following the thread of innovation at Madeira UK.

Presencia

Presencia is a renowned brand for high-quality threads, particularly favored for hand and machine embroidery. Made in Spain since 1960, Presencia threads are crafted from 100% long staple Egyptian cotton, ensuring durability and a bright, lustrous finish through a special mercerization process. These threads are colorfast, bleachfast, and shrinkfast, making them ideal for projects exposed to sunlight or washing. Available in a wide range of colors, Presencia threads are popular for various needlework techniques, including knitting, crochet, and embroidery. With a strong reputation for quality and manufacture, Presencia threads are a top choice among crafters.

WonderFil

WonderFil Specialty Threads is a renowned brand in the quilting and sewing industry, founded in 1988 by a Canadian family and now an international company participating in over 100 events annually. They offer 36 unique thread lines ranging from 100wt to 3wt in various materials such as cotton, polyester, rayon, metallic, and wool. Known for their innovative thread technology and commitment to quality, WonderFil manufactures every thread line in their own facilities, ensuring high-quality products at competitive prices. The company also emphasizes thread education through programs like the WonderFil Boutique Program and global Threaducators. Their threads are used in a wide range of projects, from award-winning quilts to personal sewing projects. Learn more about their innovative thread offerings on their website.

Superior Threads

Superior Threads is a leading producer of high-quality industrial threads, offering a range of products including Bonded Nylon and Bonded Polyester, which are renowned for their strength, smooth stitching, and resistance to wear and tear. Their Bonded Nylon threads, made from strong nylon fibers like Nylon 6,6, are ideal for upholstery, leather, and heavy fabrics, available in seven different thicknesses. Bonded Polyester threads, with their excellent UV resistance, are perfect for outdoor applications such as marine fabrics and awnings. The brand also innovates with products like SewGlow, a glowing thread for unique projects. With a focus on quality and durability, Superior Threads meets the demands of commercial and industrial sewing applications.