Embroidery Machine Guide

Bernina · Sewing and embroidery · Specs checked October 2026

Bernina B 880 PLUS: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: B880 PLUS, B 880 PLUS, 880 PLUS, Bernina 880 Plus

Bernina's top-tier sewing, quilting and embroidery machine. It has a 15.7 × 10.2 in (400 × 260 mm) embroidery field, 462 built-in designs, a 7 in touchscreen and up to 1,000 stitches per minute. The large hoops are extras, and it is single-needle.

The Bernina B 880 PLUS is a sewing and embroidery machine with a 15.7 × 10 in (400 × 260 mm) embroidery field. It reads .EXP, .DST, .PES, .PEC, .JEF, .SEW, .PCS, .XXX files and gets designs by USB stick or USB cable to a computer, and has 462 built-in designs and 21 lettering fonts.

B 880 PLUS hoop size and embroidery area

The B 880 PLUS can stitch a design up to 15.7 × 10 in (400 × 260 mm) in one hooping, which is the 9.5 × 14 in size. That is the field limit: a larger hoop from another maker will not let it stitch a bigger area.

B 880 PLUS field8 × 126 × 105 × 74 × 4
The B 880 PLUS field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

In the box: Large oval hoop (about 5.7 × 10 in) (10 × 5.7 in (255 × 145 mm)).

Optional from Bernina: Midi hoop (10.4 × 6.5 in (265 × 165 mm)), Mega hoop (15.7 × 5.9 in (400 × 150 mm)), Jumbo hoop (15.7 × 9.5 in (400 × 240 mm)).

Fits in one hooping at typical size: left chest, full front, full back, pocket, sleeve, beanie, towel, baby onesie, baby bib, tote bag, pillow cover, quilt block, patch.

Check if your design fits the B 880 PLUS

What file format does the B 880 PLUS use?

The B 880 PLUS reads .EXP, .DST, .PES, .PEC, .JEF, .SEW, .PCS and .XXX files. You load designs by USB stick or USB cable to a computer. Designs in other formats (for example .VP3) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Bernina B 880 PLUS

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Bernina B 880 PLUS specs

TypeSewing and embroidery
Embroidery field15.7 × 10 in (400 × 260 mm)
Hoops includedLarge oval hoop (about 5.7 × 10 in) (10 × 5.7 in (255 × 145 mm))
Optional hoopsMidi hoop (10.4 × 6.5 in (265 × 165 mm)); Mega hoop (15.7 × 5.9 in (400 × 150 mm)); Jumbo hoop (15.7 × 9.5 in (400 × 240 mm))
Cap frameNo
File formats it reads.EXP, .DST, .PES, .PEC, .JEF, .SEW, .PCS, .XXX
Design transferUSB stick or USB cable to a computer
Built-in designs462
Lettering fonts21
Sewing stitches1764
Screen7 in, colour, touch screen
Max embroidery speed1000 stitches per minute
Weight35.3 lb (16 kg)
StatusSold new
Skill levelAdvanced

Who the B 880 PLUS is for

Experienced sewists and quilters who want one premium machine that sews, quilts and embroiders large designs. Skip it if you only want small monograms on a budget, or if you plan to embroider in volume, where a multi-needle machine suits better.

Strengths

  • A 15.7 × 10.2 in (400 × 260 mm) embroidery field, over four times the area of a 5 × 7 in (130 × 180 mm) field
  • Embroiders at up to 1,000 stitches per minute and sews at up to 1,200
  • Reads eight formats: .exp, .dst, .pes, .pec, .jef, .sew, .pcs and .xxx, from a USB stick or over a USB cable to a PC
  • 7 in color touchscreen, 462 built-in embroidery designs and 21 embroidery alphabets
  • 12 in (300 mm) of room right of the needle, 1,764 built-in stitches (alphabets included) and a Jumbo bobbin that holds 70% more thread

Limits

  • Only a large oval, a medium and a small hoop come with it; the Midi, Mega and Jumbo hoops for large designs are optional extras
  • Single needle, so you change the thread by hand for each color
  • Heavy at about 35.3 lb (16 kg), which matters if you move it between rooms
  • Dealer spec pages list USB stick and USB cable transfer only, with no Wi-Fi

Good to know: These specs come from US dealer listings that copy Bernina's spec table, because Bernina's own pages could not be opened for direct checking. The 400 × 260 mm field is the figure in those tables. A dealer listing for Bernina's Jumbo hoop gives 400 × 240 mm, a little under that, so confirm the exact stitch area with a Bernina dealer if you plan to fill the full height. A medium and a small hoop also come with the machine; their sizes were not confirmed, so they are not listed here. Bernina's Medium Clamp hoop (8 × 8 in) and Large Freearm hoop are listed as compatible, but dealers did not state their stitch areas. Dealer pages differ slightly on the design count (460 or 462) and on lettering (21 embroidery alphabets, or 12 font styles in one description); the structured spec table is used here. No Bernina cap frame appeared in the hoop listings. BERNINA ArtLink software is listed as compatible. No current new price could be confirmed, because Bernina sells through dealers.

How the B 880 PLUS compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery size of the Bernina 880 PLUS?

Dealer spec tables give a maximum embroidery area of 15.7 × 10.2 in (400 × 260 mm). The machine comes with a large oval hoop of about 5.7 × 10 in (145 × 255 mm), and the Jumbo hoop is needed for the largest designs.

What embroidery file formats does the Bernina 880 PLUS read?

Its spec lists .exp, .dst, .pes, .pec, .jef, .sew, .pcs and .xxx files. You can load them from a USB stick or send them over a USB cable from a PC.

Which hoops fit the Bernina 880 PLUS?

The machine lists Midi (265 × 165 mm), Mega (400 × 150 mm) and Jumbo (about 400 × 240 mm) hoop functions, and a large oval, a medium and a small hoop come with it. Bernina also lists a Medium Clamp hoop (8 × 8 in) and a Large Freearm hoop as compatible.

Can the Bernina 880 PLUS embroider hats?

We found no Bernina cap frame listed for the B 880 PLUS, so it is not set up for finished caps. Its hoops are made for flat fabric and, with the freearm hoop, tubular items.

Does the Bernina 880 PLUS work with magnetic hoops?

We found no magnetic hoop from Bernina for this machine. Some third-party snap-style hoops are sold for Bernina machines, so ask the seller to confirm the exact model before you buy.

Sources

Specs come from Bernina's own pages and manuals, checked October 2026. Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. We are not affiliated with Bernina. See how we research.