Brother vs Janome embroidery machines: how they differ

Brother machines read PES files, use hoops named in inches (4 × 4, 5 × 7, 6 × 10) and are sold online, at big retailers and through dealers. Janome machines read JEF files, use SQ and RE hoop codes sized in centimeters, and are sold through authorized dealers. In our data, Janome's single-needle machines give a larger field (from 6.7 × 7.9 in) at prices where Brother offers 5 × 7 or 6 × 10 in, while Brother has the cheaper entry machines, Wi-Fi and the Artspira app.

Brother and Janome both make single-needle home embroidery machines, and they differ in four practical ways: the file format the machine reads, the way hoops are named and sized, where you buy the machine, and how much stitch area a given budget buys. Brother reads PES files and names hoops in inches. Janome reads JEF files and names hoops with codes such as SQ14b and RE20b. Prices below are ranges we checked in October 2026.

This site is not affiliated with Brother, Janome or any other maker. The models named are examples, not recommendations.

Brother vs Janome at a glance

	Brother	Janome
Main file format	PES (also PHC and DST, and PEN on newer models)	JEF (JEF+ and JPX on the MC550E, DST on the MB-4S)
Hoop names	Inches: 4 × 4, 5 × 7, 6 × 10, 8 × 12	Codes: SQ14b, RE20b, SQ20b, RE28b, RE36b
Smallest field on a current machine	4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)	6.7 × 7.9 in (170 × 200 mm), Skyline S9
Largest single-needle field in our data	10.7 × 16.1 in (272 × 408 mm), Luminaire XP3	7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm), MC550E
Getting designs in	USB, plus Wi-Fi and the Artspira app on most current models	USB stick on the Memory Craft models; Wi-Fi on the Skyline S9; a cable on the MB-4S
Where sold	Brother’s site, other retailers, dealers for top models	Authorized Janome dealers
Multi-needle	Six- and ten-needle PR line	Four-needle MB-4S and seven-needle MB-7

File formats: PES vs JEF

Brother’s help page says its embroidery machines read .pes, .phc, .dst and .pen files, and warns that data in other formats may make the machine malfunction. PES is the one to look for. Our file formats page explains each type.

Janome machines read JEF. Dealer spec pages list JEF for the MC400E, and JEF, JEF+ and JPX for the MC550E. The MB-4S reads JEF, JEF+ and DST. Brother’s list does not include JEF, so a JEF file will not load on a Brother machine without conversion, and a PES file will not load on a Janome.

What this means when you shop:

Buy designs in your machine’s format. Large design stores usually let you pick the format at download.
Converting is possible, but not perfect. JEF stores thread colors from a fixed palette of fewer than 80 colors, so a converted color can be a near match. Convert from the original editable file when you have it. Our guide to converting embroidery files shows the steps.
Never rename a file. Changing .jef to .pes changes the label, not the data.
DST is the common ground. Brother machines and the Janome MB-4S read it. It records where colors change but not which thread colors to use, so you set the colors on the machine.

If you already own a large design library in one format, that is a fair reason to stay with the matching brand.

Hoops: inches vs SQ and RE codes

Brother names hoops in rounded inches, and the stitch area is a little smaller than the name suggests. Its “4 × 4 in” hoop stitches 100 × 100 mm (about 3.9 in), the “5 × 7 in” hoop stitches 130 × 180 mm, and the “6 × 10 in” hoop stitches 160 × 260 mm.

Janome uses codes. In its range the SQ hoops are square and the RE hoops are rectangular, and the number is the longer side in centimeters. The SQ14b is 140 × 140 mm and the RE36b is 360 × 200 mm. The sizes below come from dealer spec pages and our machine data, so confirm them in your manual.

Janome hoop	Stitch area	On the three Memory Craft machines	Nearest Brother size
SQ14b	5.5 × 5.5 in (140 × 140 mm)	Included on the 500E and 550E, optional on the 400E	Between 4 × 4 and 5 × 7 in
RE20b	5.5 × 7.9 in (140 × 200 mm)	Included on the 500E and 550E, optional on the 400E	A little bigger than 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)
SQ20b	7.9 × 7.9 in (200 × 200 mm)	Included on all three	Brother’s 8 × 8 in hoop (200 × 200 mm) on the PRS100
RE28b	7.9 × 11 in (200 × 280 mm)	Included on the 500E, optional on the 550E	Between 6 × 10 and 8 × 12 in
RE36b	7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm)	Included on the 550E	No match; Brother’s Stellaire hoop is 9.5 × 14 in (240 × 360 mm)

Three things to remember:

The names do not line up. Janome’s RE20b is not a 5 × 7 in hoop. Our hoop sizes overview lists the standard sizes and what each one fits.
Hoops are brand-specific. Brother lists its hoops for specific Brother models, and Janome does the same. Plan on buying extra hoops from your machine’s maker.
A bigger hoop never enlarges the field. The machine sets the maximum stitch area.

Both brands sell some extras, such as hat frames, for certain models only. Brother’s PE900 page mentions a 4 × 7 in magnetic frame, and Janome lists an optional hat hoop for the MB-4S. Check the accessory list for your exact model before you count on either.

Where each brand is sold

Brother sells direct. Its PE900 and SE700 pages on brother-usa.com have an add-to-cart button and also point to other retailers. Some models are made for one store: Brother’s page calls the PE570 a Walmart exclusive, with the same 4 × 4 in field as the PE545. At the top end, the Stellaire XE2 page shows a dealer locator instead of a price.

Janome sells through authorized dealers, and many of them also sell online. One US dealer’s page quotes Janome’s warranty as requiring purchase from an authorized Janome dealer in the US, and says problems should go to a dealer or an authorized service center. Read Janome’s current warranty terms before you buy from any other seller.

For you, that means Brother prices are easy to compare online, while a Janome price may depend on the dealer, the bundle and the stock. Ask a dealer for the current price and what comes in the box. Our cost guide covers the add-ons that raise the total.

Embroidery field at each price

These are typical new US price ranges seen at big retailers on October 15, 2026, rounded. Dealer prices vary.

Price	Brother	Janome
About $500 to $600	PE545 and SE700 combo, 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)	None in our data
About $1,100 to $1,700	PE900 and SE2000 combo, 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm)	MC400E, 7.9 × 7.9 in (200 × 200 mm)
About $2,100 to $3,500	NQ1700E, 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm), about $2,400	MC500E, 7.9 × 11 in (200 × 280 mm), and MC550E, 7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm)
About $4,000 to $5,000	PRS100, 8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm), and NQ3700D combo, 6 × 10 in	MB-4S four-needle, 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm)
$8,000 and up	Stellaire XE2, 9.5 × 14 in (240 × 360 mm), and PR680W six-needle, 8 × 12 in	None in our data

Two patterns show up. Brother has the cheapest machines. Janome starts higher, but its fields are bigger for the money. The Janome MC400E stitches about 1.7 times the area of the Brother PE900 for a few hundred dollars more. The MC500E has about a third more area than the NQ1700E at a similar price. Our Janome MC500E vs Brother PE900 comparison puts a Janome next to the Brother most people search against it.

Brother’s side has its own strengths. The NQ1700E lists 258 built-in designs and 13 fonts, against 160 designs and 6 fonts on the MC500E. Most current Brother single-needle models also take designs by Wi-Fi, while the Memory Craft models use a USB stick. The shapes differ too: Janome’s 200 mm width suits square designs, and Brother’s 6 × 10 in field is narrower but longer, at 260 mm.

Multi-needle and sewing combos

Janome’s MB-4S is a four-needle machine at about $5,000, with a 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm) field. It reads DST and takes Tajima-style hoops, according to a dealer’s page. Brother’s multi-needle machines in our data start at six needles and about $13,000, so the MB-4S is the lower-cost way into multiple needles, with fewer needles and a smaller field.

Brother has more sewing-and-embroidery combos, such as the SE700 and SE2000. Apart from the Skyline S9, the Janome machines in our data are embroidery-only or multi-needle, though Janome’s own site may list combos we have not added yet.

How to choose between them

Under about $700, with 4 × 4 in designs: Brother’s entry machines are the only ones in this price band in our data.
About $1,400 to $3,500, and you want more stitch area: price a Janome MC machine next to Brother’s 5 × 7 and 6 × 10 in models.
You want Wi-Fi transfer and an app: check Brother’s current models.
You want a local dealer for setup and service: Janome’s warranty ties you to authorized dealers, and Brother sells top models through them too.
You already own many designs: pick the brand whose format matches, and skip conversions.

Before you pay, confirm the field, the hoops in the box and the file formats in the maker’s manual or product page, because models within each brand differ.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Janome machine read Brother PES files?

Not directly. The Janome spec pages we read list JEF, plus JEF+, JPX or DST on some models, but not PES. Open the design in embroidery software and save a JEF copy, and do not just rename the file.

Are Brother and Janome embroidery hoops interchangeable?

No. Each maker lists hoops for its own models, and the sizes differ: Janome's RE20b is 5.5 × 7.9 in (140 × 200 mm), not Brother's 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm). Buy hoops from your machine's maker and check its compatibility list.

Which has the bigger embroidery area, Brother or Janome?

It depends on the price. At about $2,100 to $2,400, Janome's MC500E stitches 7.9 × 11 in (200 × 280 mm) and Brother's NQ1700E stitches 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm). At the top, Brother's Stellaire XE2 reaches 9.5 × 14 in (240 × 360 mm), more than any Janome single-needle machine in our data.

Is Brother or Janome a better choice for a beginner?

Both sell single-needle machines for home use. Brother's entry machines in our data have a 4 × 4 in field and cost about $500 to $600 new, while Janome's entry machine, the MC400E, costs about $1,400 to $1,700. Most current Brother models also take designs over Wi-Fi and from the Artspira app, while the Memory Craft models use a USB stick.

Where can I buy a Janome embroidery machine?

From an authorized Janome dealer. One US dealer's page quotes Janome's warranty as requiring purchase from an authorized dealer in the US, so ask before you buy elsewhere. Brother sells direct on brother-usa.com and through other retailers, and its top Stellaire line goes through dealers.