Hoop size guide

4 × 4 in embroidery hoop (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.

A 4 × 4 in hoop gives about 15.5 square inches of stitch area: 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm). 25 machines in our guide can stitch this size in one hooping.

4 × 4 in next to 5 × 7 in, drawn to scale.

What fits in a 4 × 4 in hoop

Left-chest logos up to about 3.5 in (89 mm) wide
Single-letter or three-letter monograms up to about 3.5 in (89 mm) across
Small motifs on baby clothes and bibs, up to about 3.5 × 3.5 in (89 × 89 mm)
Napkin and handkerchief corner designs up to about 3.5 in (89 mm) square
Pocket-sized designs on sleeves, cuffs and small pouches
Patches stitched on stabilizer, up to about 3.9 in (99 mm) square

Needs a bigger hoop

Standard 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) designs, the size many commercial design packs use
Jacket-back designs, which Singer's size guide puts at 6 × 10 in (160 × 260 mm) or larger
8 in (200 mm) quilt blocks
Logos or names wider than about 3.9 in (99 mm)

Good to know: Brother, Baby Lock and Singer all quote 100 × 100 mm for a 4 × 4 in hoop. The name is approximate: 4 in is 101.6 mm, and the machine cannot stitch right up to the frame, so keep designs under about 3.9 in (99 mm) and check the field in your manual. Janome's Memory Craft 400E, 500E and 550E do not use this size. Their smallest regular square hoop is the SQ14b at 5.5 × 5.5 in (140 × 140 mm). A square field gives no rotation advantage: turning a design 90 degrees does not change whether it fits. For some older 4 × 4 in models Brother lists a 6.75 × 4 in hoop (SA434). Its page says you can combine smaller designs into one larger design without re-hooping the fabric, so check that your model is on the list. In general the machine's maximum area sets the limit, not the hoop label, so a bigger hoop does not enlarge what a 4 × 4 in machine can stitch in one position.

Check your exact design size

Machines that can stitch a 4 × 4 in design

Machines whose largest field is 4 × 4 in

Machine	Type	Formats	Typical price
Brother SE700	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN	$550–$600
Brother SE600	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .PHC, .DST	—
Brother PE535	Embroidery only	.PES, .PHC, .DST	—
Brother PE545	Embroidery only	.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN	$480–$500
Brother SE725	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN	$497–$550
Brother SE400	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .DST	—
Brother SE625	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .PHC, .DST	—
Brother SE630	Sewing and embroidery	.PES, .PHC, .DST	—

Machines with a bigger field (also fit 4 × 4 in designs)

Machine	Field	Type	Typical price
Singer SE9180	6.7 × 4 in	Sewing and embroidery	$800–$1,100
Brother PE800	5 × 7 in	Embroidery only	—
Brother SE2000	5 × 7 in	Sewing and embroidery	$1,500–$1,600
Brother PE900	5 × 7 in	Embroidery only	$1,100–$1,180
Brother PE770	5 × 7 in	Embroidery only	—
Brother SE1900	5 × 7 in	Sewing and embroidery	—
Brother PRS100	8 × 8 in	Embroidery only	$3,999–$4,499
Janome Memory Craft 400E	8 × 8 in	Embroidery only	$1,399–$1,699
Brother NQ1700E	6 × 10 in	Embroidery only	$2,399–$2,400
Baby Lock Flare	6 × 10 in	Embroidery only	$2,299–$2,529
Janome MB-4S	9.5 × 8 in	Multi-needle	$4,999
Janome Memory Craft 500E	11 × 8 in	Embroidery only	$2,099–$2,399
Brother PR680W	12 × 8 in	Multi-needle	$12,999–$13,629
Baby Lock Array	12 × 8 in	Multi-needle	$13,249–$14,574
Brother PR1055X	14 × 8 in	Multi-needle	—
Janome Memory Craft 550E	14 × 8 in	Embroidery only	$2,899–$3,499
Brother Stellaire XE2	9.5 × 14 in	Embroidery only	$8,449–$8,500

Frequently asked questions

What size design fits a 4x4 embroidery hoop?

Keep the design slightly under 4 × 4 in. Brother and Baby Lock quote the stitch area as 100 × 100 mm (about 3.9 in), so a design that measures exactly 4 in wide can be too big. Check the size in your software before you save the file.

Can I embroider a left-chest logo in a 4x4 hoop?

Often, yes. Left-chest logos are typically 3.5 to 4 in wide, so the narrower ones fit a 4x4 hoop. A wide, short text logo may go over the limit, so check the width in millimeters first.

Can I use a bigger hoop on a machine that came with a 4x4 hoop?

Only if the maker lists that hoop for your model. The machine's maximum embroidery area sets the limit, and each hoop has a compatibility list. Brother's 5 × 7 in SA444, for example, is listed for specific models, not for every Brother machine.

Are there magnetic hoops for 4x4 machines?

Yes. Brother sells a 4 × 4 in magnetic hoop (SAMFM100) for models such as the SE600, SE700 and PE535, rated for material up to 2 mm thick. Third-party magnetic hoops exist too, so check that the one you buy is listed for your exact model.