Brother PE545: hoop size, file formats and specs
Also written: PE-545, PE 545
Embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) field, 135 built-in designs, a 3.7 in color touch screen, wireless transfer and the Artspira app. Top speed is 400 stitches per minute. Designs bigger than 4 × 4 in will not fit.
The Brother PE545 is a embroidery-only machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN files and gets designs by USB stick or Wi-Fi, and has 135 built-in designs and 10 lettering fonts.
PE545 hoop size and embroidery area
The PE545 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.
In the box: 4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)).
Optional from Brother: Small frame (about 1" × 2.5") (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 PE545
What file format does the PE545 use?
The PE545 reads .PES, .PHC, .DST and .PEN files. You load designs by USB stick or Wi-Fi, and the Artspira app works with it. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .EXP) need converting first with embroidery software.
Where to buy the Brother PE545
About $480–$500 new (checked October 2026)
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Brother PE545 specs
| Type | Embroidery only |
|---|---|
| Embroidery field | 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) |
| Hoops included | 4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)) |
| Optional hoops | Small frame (about 1" × 2.5") (2.4 × 0.8 in (60 × 20 mm)) |
| Cap frame | No |
| File formats it reads | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Design transfer | USB stick or Wi-Fi |
| App | Artspira |
| Built-in designs | 135 |
| Lettering fonts | 10 |
| Screen | 3.7 in, colour, touch screen |
| Max embroidery speed | 400 stitches per minute |
| Weight | 14.07 lb (6.4 kg) |
| Released | 2022 |
| Status | Sold new |
| Typical price | About $480–$500 new (checked October 2026) |
| Skill level | Beginner |
Who the PE545 is for
A beginner who wants small designs such as monograms, patches and kids' clothes, with wireless transfer. Skip it if you want hats, designs bigger than 4 × 4 in, or sewing features.
Strengths
- Wireless LAN and the Artspira app: send designs from a PC or mobile device with no USB stick
- 135 built-in designs and 10 lettering fonts, with drag-and-drop placement on a 3.7 in color touch screen
- Reads .pes, .phc, .dst and .pen files
- 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop in the box
- Weighs about 14 lb (6.4 kg)
Limits
- The field is only 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), and no hoop makes it larger
- Top speed is 400 stitches per minute, against 650 on the PE800 and PE900
- Brother lists no cap frame for it, so it is not set up for finished hats
Good to know: Brother also lists a PE570, a Walmart-exclusive model with the same listed specs (4 × 4 in field, 135 designs, 10 fonts, 400 spm). On the check date Brother's US page showed the PE545 as out of stock but not as discontinued, and several dealers listed it as in stock, so status is set to current; confirm before relying on it. The manual lists only the 4 × 4 in hoop (in the box) and a small hoop (sold separately). Artspira drawings are limited to 4 × 4 in. Wireless works on 2.4 GHz networks only.
How the PE545 compares
- Brother SE700 vs PE545: SE700 has a 4 × 4 in field and also sews.
- Brother PE535 vs PE545: PE535 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE800: PE800 has a 5 × 7 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE550D: PE550D has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE500: PE500 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE540D: PE540D has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE570: PE570 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PE525: PE525 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Brother PE545 vs PP1: PP1 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Bernina DECO 650 vs PE545: DECO 650 has a 4 × 4 in field.
- Elna Air Artist vs PE545: Air Artist has a 4 × 4 in field.
Listed in our buying guides
- Embroidery machines for beginners
- Cheap embroidery machines (around $500 or less)
- Embroidery machines for home use
- Embroidery machines for monograms and names
- Which Brother embroidery machine should you buy?
Frequently asked questions
What is the Brother PE545 embroidery area?
4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm). The 4 × 4 in hoop comes in the box, and Brother's manual lists a small 1 × 2.5 in hoop as optional. Designs bigger than 4 × 4 in will not fit.
What file formats does the Brother PE545 read?
It reads .pes, .phc, .dst and .pen files. Load them from a USB flash drive or send them over wireless LAN.
Does the Brother PE545 have Wi-Fi and an app?
Yes. Wireless LAN (2.4 GHz) lets you send designs from a PC with Design Database Transfer. The Artspira app lets you draw designs up to 4 × 4 in and send them to the machine.
Brother PE545 or PE535: which should I pick?
Both have a 4 × 4 in field. The PE545 adds wireless LAN, the Artspira app, .pen files, 135 built-in designs (PE535: 80) and 10 fonts (PE535: 9). The PE545 tops out at 400 stitches per minute, and Brother does not publish a top speed for the PE535.
Brother PE545 or SE700?
The SE700 is a sewing and embroidery combo with a 4 × 4 in embroidery area. The PE545 only embroiders, so pick the SE700 if you also want to sew.
Similar machines
- Embroidery only
Brother PE535
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE550D
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE500
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE540D
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .DST
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Bernina DECO 650
4 × 4 in field
.CARD
Discontinued
- Embroidery only
Brother PE570
4 × 4 in field
.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN · Wi-Fi
$394–$439 new
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.