What size wood lathe should a beginner buy?

For most newcomers, a midi or benchtop lathe with a 10" to 12" swing and variable speed hits the sweet spot: enough capacity for spindles, pens, and small bowls without the footprint and cost of a full-size floor model. Verified-purchase reviewers in this pool consistently favor variable-speed benchtop machines like the JET 1015VS and 1221VS for that reason. True micro lathes (under 8" swing) are best treated as dedicated pen/small-craft tools rather than do-everything first machines.