Head to head
Marcato Atlas 150 vs Imperia iPasta Classic (2026)
Atlas 150 vs iPasta Classic: the two great Italian rollers, compared on thickness control, feel, and accessories.
#1 in our rankings · Best overall
Marcato Atlas 150 Classic
Best for: Home cooks who want the standard against which other manual pasta makers are judged, and who enjoy rolling dough by hand.
#5 in our rankings · Best traditional rival
Imperia iPasta Classic Line
Best for: Cooks who want an Italian steel roller with a warmer, more traditional feel than the chrome Marcato, and a positive locking thickness dial.
Our recommendation
Buy the Marcato Atlas 150 if you want the finer thickness range and the widest accessory choice, since its ten positions suit filled pasta and delicate noodles alike. Buy the Imperia iPasta if you prefer a heavier, traditional machine with a lock dial that clicks firmly into place. Both roll excellent pasta, so the choice is about feel and fine control, not about quality.
Thickness control
The Atlas offers ten positions, which gives finer steps between a sturdy sheet and a delicate one. The Imperia uses a lock dial with fewer steps, which feels more positive at each click but leaves larger gaps between settings. Cooks who fine-tune filled pasta notice the difference, while everyday noodle cooks rarely do.
Feel and build
The Imperia feels heavier and more traditional, with a wood handle and a planted stance that suits a permanent worktop spot. The Atlas feels lighter and more refined, with chrome steel that suits cooks who lift the machine on and off a shelf. Neither feel is better in itself, but each suits a different kitchen habit.
Accessories and range
The Atlas has the broader separately available accessory range, covering more cuts and shapes over time. The Imperia range is solid but narrower, so cooks who plan to expand into many shapes should weigh future purchases, not just the machine in the box.
Choose Marcato Atlas 150 Classic if…
- You want the finest thickness control for filled pasta
- You plan to expand into many shapes over time
- You lift the machine on and off a shelf regularly
Choose Imperia iPasta Classic Line if…
- You prefer a heavier, traditional machine
- You like a lock dial that clicks firmly into place
- You want a wood handle and classic Italian styling
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Marcato Atlas 150 Classic | Imperia iPasta Classic Line |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Type | Manual roller and cutter, hand crank | Manual roller and cutter, hand crank |
| Sheet width | 150 mm | 150 mm |
| Thickness positions | 10 positions | - |
| Included cutters | Fettuccine and tagliolini | Fettuccine at 6.5 mm and tagliolini at 2 mm |
| Cleaning | Dry brush cleaning; not dishwasher safe | - |
| Handle | - | Wood grip handle |
| Thickness control | - | Easy-lock dial |
| Best for | Home cooks who want the standard against which other manual pasta makers are judged, and who enjoy rolling dough by hand. | Cooks who want an Italian steel roller with a warmer, more traditional feel than the chrome Marcato, and a positive locking thickness dial. |
| Skip if | You want pasta without learning to roll dough, or you need shaped pasta like penne straight from the machine. | You want motorised rolling, or you dislike a machine that shows its working parts and needs a firm table clamp. |
Strengths and limitations
Marcato Atlas 150 Classic
Strengths
- The chrome steel rollers turn smoothly and hold their thickness setting through a whole batch, so sheets come out even from the first pass to the last.
- Ten thickness positions give real control, from a sturdy sheet for filled pasta down to a thin sheet for delicate noodles, without forcing a compromise.
- The included fettuccine and tagliolini cutters cover the two shapes most home cooks make weekly, and separately available accessories extend the range later.
Limitations
- It is fully manual, so rolling a large batch takes time and a free hand for the crank, which suits unhurried cooking more than weeknight speed.
- Cleaning is brush-only once dough has dried, and the machine must never be washed under running water, which surprises buyers used to dishwasher-safe tools.
- The table clamp needs a sturdy edge with enough overhang, so very thick worktops and breakfast bars can be awkward to fit.
Imperia iPasta Classic Line
Strengths
- The easy-lock dial clicks positively between thickness settings, so the setting stays put while a sheet is fed through repeatedly.
- Heavy steel construction and a wooden grip handle give a planted, traditional feel that many cooks prefer to lighter machines.
- The included double cutter produces fettuccine and tagliolini, and the sheet width suits lasagne as well as noodles.
Limitations
- It has fewer thickness positions than the Marcato Atlas, so fine tuning between settings is coarser, though most cooks never miss the in-between steps.
- The steel body is heavy to lift on and off a shelf, and it needs the same dry-brush cleaning routine as other Italian rollers.
- Extra cutters and accessories are sold separately, so the full shape range costs more than the headline machine price suggests.
How they fit the wider field
- Marcato Atlas 150 Classic: ranked #1 (Best overall) in The Best Pasta Makers. Read the full Marcato Atlas 150 Classic review.
- Imperia iPasta Classic Line: ranked #5 (Best traditional rival) in The Best Pasta Makers.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Questions, answered
Which makes better pasta?
Both make excellent pasta, and dough quality matters more than the choice between them. The Atlas wins on fine control, the Imperia on feel, and a good dough makes either machine shine.
Can I fit a motor to either machine?
The Atlas accepts the separately available Pastadrive motor, which is a well-trodden upgrade path. Imperia offers its own motor options, so check compatibility for the exact model before buying a motor for either machine.
Which is easier for a beginner?
The Imperia lock dial is slightly easier to trust, since each setting clicks into place, while the Atlas dial needs a glance to confirm. The difference is small, and either machine suits a careful beginner.