Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Embroidery only · Specs checked October 2026

Brother PE535: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: PE-535, PE 535

Entry-level embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) field, 80 built-in designs and a color touch screen. Designs load from a USB stick only. Brother US lists it as discontinued.

The Brother PE535 is a discontinued embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .PHC, .DST files and gets designs by USB stick, and has 80 built-in designs and 9 lettering fonts.

PE535 hoop size and embroidery area

The PE535 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 × 7PE535 field
The PE535 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 1" × 2.5") (2.4 × 0.8 in (60 × 20 mm)).

Check if your design fits the PE535

What file format does the PE535 use?

The PE535 reads .PES, .PHC and .DST files. You load designs by USB stick. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .EXP) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Brother PE535

Discontinued: you will mostly find it used or refurbished.

Check price on Amazon

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write. Disclosure.

Brother PE535 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 1" × 2.5") (2.4 × 0.8 in (60 × 20 mm))
Cap frameNo
File formats it reads.PES, .PHC, .DST
Design transferUSB stick
Built-in designs80
Lettering fonts9
Screencolour, touch screen
Weight14.99 lb (6.8 kg)
Released2017
StatusDiscontinued
Skill levelBeginner

Who the PE535 is for

A fit for someone who only embroiders small items such as names, pockets and monograms. Skip it if you want designs bigger than 4 × 4 in, wireless transfer, or a machine Brother still sells new.

Strengths

  • 80 built-in designs, 10 frame patterns and 9 lettering fonts for names and monograms
  • Color touch screen with on-screen editing
  • Reads .pes, .phc and .dst files from a USB flash drive
  • 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop in the box
  • Light at about 15 lb

Limits

  • The field is only 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), and no hoop makes it larger
  • No wireless transfer and no app: designs go in by USB stick
  • Brother lists no cap frame for it, so it is not set up for finished hats
  • Brother US lists it as discontinued

Good to know: Brother's US page lists no hoop or embroidery foot in the carton, but the manual's accessory list includes a 4 × 4 in frame and embroidery foot Q, so the hoop is marked as included. Brother's US page says embroidery speed is adjustable, but the manual's settings screens show no speed setting and no top speed is published, so maxSpeedSpm is left empty (third-party sites say 400 spm). Screen size is not published; sources disagree. The optional large frame (part SA434 for the Americas) is 6.7 in tall: moving it covers a 17 × 10 cm (6.7 × 4 in) area without re-hooping, but each design is still limited to 4 × 4 in. Brother does not name a successor; the PE545 is a similar 4 × 4 in model with wireless transfer.

How the PE535 compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What size is the Brother PE535 hoop?

The hoop in the box is 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), which is also the largest design size. Brother's manual lists an optional 6.7 × 4 in frame that moves between positions and a small 1 × 2.5 in frame, but neither makes the field larger.

What file types does the Brother PE535 use?

It reads .pes, .phc and .dst files from a USB flash drive. Brother warns that files not made by its own software or machines can cause problems.

Does the Brother PE535 have Wi-Fi or USB?

It has a USB port for a flash drive but no Wi-Fi and no app. The PE545 adds wireless transfer and the Artspira app.

Can the Brother PE535 embroider hats?

Brother lists no cap frame for the PE535. The frames in its manual are flat hoops up to 4 × 4 in, so it is not set up for finished caps.

Brother PE535 or PE545?

Both have a 4 × 4 in field and read .pes, .phc and .dst files. The PE545 adds wireless LAN, the Artspira app, .pen files, 135 built-in designs (PE535: 80) and 10 fonts (PE535: 9). Brother US lists the PE535 as discontinued.

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.