Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Embroidery only · Specs checked October 2026

Brother PE550D: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: PE-550D, PE 550D, PE550, Disney PE550D

Brother's discontinued entry-level embroidery-only machine with Disney designs built in: 125 designs (45 of them Disney), a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) field and a color touch screen. Designs load by USB. The small field is the main limit.

The Brother PE550D 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 125 built-in designs and 9 lettering fonts.

PE550D hoop size and embroidery area

The PE550D 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 × 7PE550D field
The PE550D 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" × 4" magnetic hoop (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)), 4" × 6.7" hoop (large, each design still limited to 4" × 4") (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)), 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 PE550D

What file format does the PE550D use?

The PE550D 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 PE550D

Discontinued: you will mostly find it used or refurbished.

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Brother PE550D specs

TypeEmbroidery only
Embroidery field4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)
Hoops included4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm))
Optional hoops4" × 4" magnetic hoop (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)); 4" × 6.7" hoop (large, each design still limited to 4" × 4") (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 designs125
Lettering fonts9
Screen3.7 in, colour, touch screen
Weight14.99 lb (6.8 kg)
StatusDiscontinued
Skill levelBeginner

Who the PE550D is for

A fit for someone who wants a small, simple embroidery machine with Disney designs built in, for personal projects such as names, pockets and baby items. Skip it if you want designs bigger than 4 × 4 in, wireless transfer, hats, or a machine Brother still sells new.

Strengths

  • 125 built-in designs, including 45 Disney Mickey Mouse & Friends designs, plus 9 lettering fonts (6 English, 3 Japanese)
  • Color touch screen with on-screen editing, a realistic preview, curved text and a built-in border function
  • USB port for loading your own designs, plus built-in memory
  • 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop and embroidery foot come in the box, with an automatic needle threader and LED lighting
  • Light at about 15 lb

Limits

  • The embroidery field is only 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), so larger designs will not fit
  • Embroidery only: Brother lists just an embroidery foot, so it does not sew seams or garments
  • Designs go in through the USB port only; Brother lists no Wi-Fi and no app
  • Brother US lists it as discontinued and out of stock, and lists no cap frame, so it is not set up for finished hats

Good to know: Brother's US page gives the maximum embroidery area as 4 × 4 in and lists one 4 × 4 in hoop in the box; Brother's accessory sheet confirms a 4 × 4 in (10 × 10 cm) frame and embroidery foot Q. Brother's file-type FAQ for this machine says it reads only .pes, .phc and .dst files and limits patterns to 4 × 4 in (10 × 10 cm); .dst files show by name only, with no thumbnail and no thread colors. Brother's PE550D accessory page lists three optional frames: a small frame (1 × 2.5 in), a large frame (6.7 × 4 in, part SA434) and a 4 × 4 in magnetic frame. Brother's own page for the large frame does not list the PE550D, so check before buying one, and note that it does not raise the 4 × 4 in design limit. Brother lists the cap frame as not applicable and lists no cap frame for this machine. Brother shows no speed setting and no top speed, so the speed is left empty. Brother gives the screen as 3.2 × 1.8 in (width × height), which works out to about 3.7 in on the diagonal. Brother's Disney design guide says the built-in Disney patterns are for personal, non-commercial use only. Brother's page shows a list price but marks the machine out of stock, and dealer listings are sold out or priced well above it, so no typical new price range is given. Brother names no successor. The weight on Brother's page has no unit; it is read as pounds.

How the PE550D compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery size of the Brother PE550D?

The largest design is 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm). One 4 × 4 in hoop comes in the box, and Brother's page gives 4 × 4 in as the maximum embroidery area. Brother's support page lists a larger optional frame, but each design is still limited to 4 × 4 in.

How many Disney designs does the Brother PE550D have?

It has 125 built-in designs, and 45 of them are Disney Mickey Mouse & Friends designs. Brother's Disney design guide says the built-in Disney patterns are for personal, non-commercial use only.

Is the Brother PE550D a sewing machine?

No. Brother lists it as an embroidery machine with an embroidery foot only. For sewing and embroidery in one machine, look at a combo model such as the Brother SE700.

Is the Brother PE550D still sold?

Brother US lists it as discontinued and out of stock. Any units still for sale come from dealers or resellers, so stock and prices vary.

Brother PE550D or PE535?

Both are 4 × 4 in embroidery-only machines with 9 lettering fonts and a USB port, and both use the same Brother operation manual. The PE550D has 125 built-in designs including 45 Disney designs, and the PE535 has 80. Brother US lists both 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.