Zipper Foot vs Invisible Zipper Foot: Which One You Need
- Guide type
- Best of
- Last reviewed
- Sources
- 8 cited
- Tested by us
- No. How we research
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A standard zipper foot sews beside the zipper teeth or along piping, and often comes with your machine. An invisible (concealed) zipper foot has grooves underneath that hold the zipper coils, so the stitches hide inside the seam.1 A Brother help answer, written for the CE1100PRW, says the zipper foot that came with the machine "is not designed for invisible zippers".2 Buy the foot listed for your exact machine: Janome publishes its fit list by model (after login), SINGER by machine family.1,3
Standard zipper foot: what it does
A standard zipper foot is narrow, so it can run right beside the zipper teeth. Brother’s SE700 manual shows how: for a centered zipper, align the seam with the center of the zipper and baste it, then attach the presser foot holder “to the right pin of zipper foot “I””.5 Three cautions from the manual:5
- Select the straight stitch in the middle (center) needle position, and turn the handwheel slowly to check that the needle does not touch the foot.
- “When sewing, be sure that the needle does not touch the zipper, otherwise the needle may break and cause injury.”
- If the foot hits the zipper slider, leave the needle down, raise the foot, move the slider out of the way, and continue.
Janome’s adjustable zipper foot does the same job and more: it “can be set to sew on each side of the zipper by adjusting the position of the foot and tightening the thumb screw. Also great for sewing close to piping.”3
Invisible (concealed) zipper foot: what is different
An invisible zipper shows only its pull on the outside. SINGER explains: “No stitching is visible on the outside of the fabric. The foot has a needle hole in the center and two grooves underneath to accommodate the zipper coils.”1 Brother’s SA102 does the same: “This foot will hold your zipper coils in place allowing you to achieve a professional finish to the topstitch.”7
The order of work is different too: “Unlike a regular zipper, an invisible zipper is inserted before any part of the seam is stitched.”1
Side by side
| Standard zipper foot | Invisible (concealed) zipper foot | |
|---|---|---|
| Zipper type | Regular zippers, piping3 | Invisible zippers only1 |
| How it sews | Beside the teeth, one side at a time5 | Grooves hold the coils, stitches hidden1 |
| When you sew the zipper | Into a seam, often after basting5 | Before the rest of the seam1 |
| In the box? | Often: the LX3817 includes one6 | Usually a separate purchase: Brother says the foot included with the CE1100PRW “is not designed for invisible zippers”2 |
Two feet from the makers
Brother SA102 concealed zipper foot
- Type
- concealed (invisible) zipper foot
- What it does
- holds the zipper coils in place
- Part numbers
- SA102 (a help answer names SA128 for one model)
- Made for concealed zippers, per Brother
- Listed in Brother's accessory catalogue
- Two part numbers appear on Brother's sites: check your manual
Good fit: you own a Brother and sew invisible zippers.
Skip it if: you only sew regular zippers: your included foot I does that.
Janome zipper foot (6 versions)
- Versions
- E, E (5-7mm), E (7mm) New Shape, E (9mm), E (Front Load), Narrow FL
- Adjustment
- thumb screw, sews either side
- Fit list
- on janome.com, after login
- Sews either side of the zipper with one adjustment
- Also for piping, per Janome
- Six versions: the wrong one may not fit
- Janome's fit list needs a login
Good fit: you own a Janome and need a replacement or a piping-friendly zipper foot.
Skip it if: you don't know your machine's version: check Janome's list first.
Finding the right foot for your machine
Feet are not universal. Check your manual for the shank type (most Brother machines are low shank) and the foot’s part number.8 SINGER publishes a “Machine Compatibility” list by machine family on its Invisible Zipper Foot page; on 2026-11-10 it included families such as the M Series, Simple and Tradition, but no Heavy Duty model.1
Questions
What are the types of zipper foot?
The standard zipper foot, an adjustable zipper and piping foot, and the invisible or concealed zipper foot. Brother's catalogue lists a foot "For easier attaching of zippers and piping tapes" and another "For easy installation of concealed zippers".4
Zipper foot vs regular foot: why change?
A regular foot is wide and rides over the teeth. The zipper foot is narrow, so the needle can sew right beside them. Brother's manual asks for the straight stitch in the middle needle position with zipper foot I, and to check by hand that the needle does not touch the foot.5
Is there a zipper foot for Brother sewing machines?
Brother machines such as the SE700 use zipper foot I, and the LX3817 includes a zipper foot in the box.5,6 For invisible zippers, Brother sells the SA102 concealed zipper foot; a Brother help answer names part SA128 for one model, so check your manual's list.2,7 Most Brother machines are low shank.8
Is there a zipper foot for a Singer Heavy Duty?
Check your Heavy Duty manual. On 2026-11-10, SINGER's compatibility list for its Invisible Zipper Foot covered families such as the M Series, Simple and Tradition, but no Heavy Duty model.1
Is there a zipper foot for Husqvarna Viking or Kenmore machines?
We found no maker page we could read for either. Look in your manual for the shank type and the foot's part number, and buy a foot listed for your model.
Which Janome zipper foot do I need?
Janome makes several versions, each with its own part number: Zipper Foot E, E (5-7mm), E (7mm) New Shape, E (9mm), E (Front Load) and a narrow FL foot. Janome shows which one fits your machine after you log in.3
Bottom line
For regular zippers and piping, the zipper foot that came with your machine does the job. For invisible zippers, buy an invisible (concealed) zipper foot listed for your exact model, from your machine's maker if possible.
Related guidesWhat we checked, and what we didn't
- How Brother's SE700 manual sews a zipper with zipper foot I
- What Brother, Janome and SINGER say their zipper feet do, and their fit lists
- How each foot sews on your fabric: we have not tested them
- Which Janome version fits your machine: Janome's list needs a login
- Kenmore and Husqvarna Viking zipper feet: we found no maker page we could read
Sources
- SINGER Invisible Zipper Foot · SINGER
- Can the included zipper foot work with invisible zippers? · Brother USA help
- Zipper Foot · Janome America
- Accessory catalogue, lineup A · Brother
- SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine Operation Manual (888-P10) · Brother
- Brother LX3817 Sewing Machine · Brother USA
- Brother SA102 Concealed Zipper Foot · Brother USA
- Determine if machine is low or high shank · Brother USA help
Revision history
| 2026-11-10 | First version. |