Independent · specs from the makers' manuals
Find the embroidery machine that fits what you want to make
Real embroidery field sizes, file formats, Wi-Fi and price ranges for 25 popular machines, side by side. Start with the biggest design you want to stitch.
Choose by hoop size
Hoop size chart- 25 machines
4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)
The smallest common home-machine hoop, with a stitch area of 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm). It suits left-chest logos, monograms and small motifs. Anything wider needs a bigger hoop, a repositionable hoop or a split design.
- 16 machines
5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)
The most common home-machine hoop size, quoted as 130 × 180 mm (5 × 7 in) by Brother and Baby Lock. It fits chest designs, towel monograms and quilt blocks, and matches the size many commercial design packs are sold in.
- 8 machines
6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm)
A large home-machine hoop, 160 × 260 mm (about 6.3 × 10.2 in) on Brother. It covers T-shirt fronts, tote bags, pillow covers and small jacket-back designs. Brand sizes differ more here than at 4 × 4 or 5 × 7, so check your field.
Most-searched machines
All 25 machines- Sewing and embroidery
Brother SE700
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN · Wi-Fi
$550–$600 new
- Embroidery only
Brother PE800
5 × 7 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST
Discontinued
- Sewing and embroidery
Brother SE2000
5 × 7 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN · Wi-Fi
$1,500–$1,600 new
- Embroidery only
Brother PE900
5 × 7 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN · Wi-Fi
$1,100–$1,180 new
- Sewing and embroidery
Brother SE600
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE535
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE545
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN · Wi-Fi
$480–$500 new
- Embroidery only
Brother PE770
5 × 7 in field
.PES, .DST
Discontinued
Buying guides
All guides- 13 machines
Embroidery machines for beginners
Most beginners do best with a single-needle home machine that has a 4 × 4 or 5 × 7 inch embroidery field.
- 5 machines
Embroidery machines for hats and caps
To embroider finished, structured caps you need a machine with a cap frame (cap driver): mostly multi-needle machines, plus a few single-needle models built for caps.
- 5 machines
Embroidery machines for a small business
For selling embroidered products, a multi-needle machine is usually worth it: it switches thread colours by itself, runs unattended, and takes cap frames and larger hoops.
- 2 machines
Cheap embroidery machines (around $500 or less)
The lowest-priced new embroidery machines from major brands are mostly 4 × 4 inch models, typically a few hundred dollars.
- 8 machines
Embroidery machines with a large hoop
A large-hoop machine has an embroidery field of at least 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm), so it can stitch jacket backs, quilt blocks, large towels and bigger lettering in one hooping.
- 9 machines
Sewing and embroidery combo machines
A combo machine sews like a normal sewing machine and, with the embroidery unit attached, embroiders designs from a hoop.
Popular comparisons
Compare any two- SE700 vs SE725
- PE800 vs PE900
- PE900 vs SE2000
- SE700 vs SE2000
- SE700 vs PE900
- SE700 vs PE545
- SE700 vs SE600
- SE630 vs SE700
- PE800 vs SE700
- SE630 vs SE725
Which file format does my machine use?
File formats explained- .PES · Brother, Baby Lock
- .DST · Tajima
- .JEF · Janome, Elna
- .EXP · Melco, Bernina
- .VP3 · Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff
- .XXX · Singer
Guides
All guides- Buying
Buying a used embroidery machine: checklist and red flags
How to buy a used or refurbished embroidery machine safely: what to ask, what to test in person, hoop and field limits, warranty differences and red flags.
- Buying
Embroidery machine vs sewing machine: what's the difference?
A plain-English guide to embroidery machines, sewing machines and sewing-and-embroidery combos, plus whether a regular sewing machine can embroider.
- Buying
How much does an embroidery machine cost? Real price ranges
What home and multi-needle embroidery machines cost in the US by hoop size and type, plus the hidden costs of stabilizer, thread, hoops, software and designs.
- Hoops & sizes
Magnetic embroidery hoops: how they work and how to choose
How magnetic hoops hold fabric, their pros and cons versus standard hoops, safety with strong magnets, and how to pick one that fits your machine.
Why trust this guide
Every number comes from the maker's own product pages and manuals, with the sources listed on each page and the date we checked. We separate the embroidery field (what the machine can actually stitch) from the hoop's outside size, which many listings mix up. We show price ranges, never "deals", and nobody pays to be listed. How we research · How we make money.
Embroidery Machine Guide is independent and not affiliated with Brother, Baby Lock, Janome, Singer or any other maker.