Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Embroidery only · Specs checked October 2026

Brother PE500: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: PE-500, PE 500

An older embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) field, 70 built-in designs and 5 lettering fonts. Designs load from a computer over USB or from Brother cards. Brother US lists it as discontinued, and it has no Wi-Fi or USB-stick port.

The Brother PE500 is a discontinued embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .DST files and gets designs by USB cable to a computer or Memory card, and has 70 built-in designs and 5 lettering fonts.

PE500 hoop size and embroidery area

The PE500 can stitch a design up to 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) in one hooping, which is the 4 × 4 in size. That is the field limit: a larger hoop from another maker will not let it stitch a bigger area.

5 × 7PE500 field
The PE500 field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

In the box: 4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)).

Optional from Brother: 4" × 6.7" hoop (large, repositionable, stitches 4" × 4" per position) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)), Small frame (about 2.5" × 1") (2.4 × 0.8 in (60 × 20 mm)).

Fits in one hooping at typical size: left chest, pocket, sleeve, beanie, baby onesie, baby bib, patch.

Check if your design fits the PE500

What file format does the PE500 use?

The PE500 reads .PES and .DST files. You load designs by USB cable to a computer or Memory card. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .EXP) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Brother PE500

Discontinued: you will mostly find it used or refurbished.

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Brother PE500 specs

TypeEmbroidery only
Embroidery field4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)
Hoops included4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm))
Optional hoops4" × 6.7" hoop (large, repositionable, stitches 4" × 4" per position) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)); Small frame (about 2.5" × 1") (2.4 × 0.8 in (60 × 20 mm))
Cap frameNo
File formats it reads.PES, .DST
Design transferUSB cable to a computer or Memory card
Built-in designs70
Lettering fonts5
Screentouch screen
Max embroidery speed400 stitches per minute
Weight18.1 lb (8.2 kg)
StatusDiscontinued
Skill levelBeginner

Who the PE500 is for

A fit for a hobbyist who finds one used or refurbished and wants simple 4 × 4 in embroidery such as names, pockets and small motifs. Skip it if you want Wi-Fi, a USB-stick port, designs bigger than 4 × 4 in or finished hats.

Strengths

  • 70 built-in designs, 5 lettering fonts and 120 frame patterns (10 shapes with 12 stitch types)
  • Automatic thread cutting, a one-lever needle threader, a quick-set bobbin and an LED light
  • Reads .pes and .dst files from a computer over the USB cable in the box, and takes Brother embroidery cards
  • A 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop and embroidery foot come in the box
  • Weighs about 18 lb (8.2 kg) and uses a touch-panel LCD

Limits

  • The field is only 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm); the optional 6.7 × 4 in frame is for placing several designs without re-hooping
  • No Wi-Fi and no USB-stick port: designs go in over a cable from a computer or from Brother cards, and it reads only .pes and .dst, so other formats such as .jef or .exp need converting first
  • Single needle, so you change the thread by hand for every color, and Brother lists no cap frame
  • Brother US lists it as discontinued, so you will mostly find used or refurbished units

Good to know: Brother's US page for the PE500 is marked discontinued and lists no specs, so the data comes from Brother's operation manual (a 2011 revision) plus dealer pages. The manual gives the frames, the 70 designs, the .pes and .dst file types and the USB and card connections. It does not give speed, weight or screen size: the 400 stitches per minute and 18.1 lb (8.2 kg) come from dealer and third-party spec text. Screen size is left empty because the sources disagree (2.7 × 1.4 in on one page, about 1.6 × 3 in on another) and Brother does not publish it. The screen looks monochrome in the manual's pictures and a third-party review calls it monochrome, but the manual does not say so. Brother's page names no successor and no release year, so both are left empty. The optional large frame (part SA434 for the Americas) is listed by Brother as 6.7 in (170 mm) tall by 4 in (100 mm) wide. The manual describes it as a way to place several patterns without re-hooping, and dealers give a 4 × 4 in maximum embroidery area, so it is listed at 100 × 100 mm. The USB port is for a computer link; the manual describes no flash-drive use. Dealer text says 5 lettering fonts, and the manual's character-style screen shows five styles (sans serif, serif, outline and others); the manual also lists 5 character types (upper case, lower case, numbers, symbols and European characters). Dealers also write the name as Innov-is PE-500.

How the PE500 compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What size is the Brother PE500 hoop?

The hoop in the box is 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), and dealers list 4 × 4 in as the largest embroidery area. Brother's manual also lists an optional 6.7 × 4 in frame for placing several designs without re-hooping and a small 2.5 × 1 in frame.

What file types does the Brother PE500 read?

Its manual says only .pes and .dst files can be used. You copy them from a computer over the included USB cable, or you can use Brother embroidery cards.

Does the Brother PE500 have a USB stick port or Wi-Fi?

No Wi-Fi is listed. The USB port is described as a link to a computer, and the manual does not describe flash drives. The current Brother PE545 adds a USB-stick port, Wi-Fi and the Artspira app.

Is the Brother PE500 still sold, and what does it cost?

Brother US lists the PE500 as discontinued and names no successor. We show no price range because new stock is not reliably available, so check whether a unit is new, refurbished or used before you buy.

Can the Brother PE500 embroider hats?

Brother lists no cap frame for the PE500. The frames in its manual are flat hoops up to 4 × 4 in, so it is not set up for finished caps.

Sources

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