Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Multi-needle · Specs checked October 2026

Brother PR655: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: Entrepreneur PR655, Brother Entrepreneur PR655, PR-655, PR 655

Discontinued six-needle machine from Brother. It has a 12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm) field, runs up to 1,000 stitches per minute and ships with four hoops. A cap frame is an optional extra. It reads only .pes, .phc and .dst files and has no Wi-Fi.

The Brother PR655 is a discontinued 6-needle embroidery machine with a 12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .PHC, .DST files and gets designs by USB stick or USB cable to a computer, and has 25 built-in designs and 28 lettering fonts.

PR655 hoop size and embroidery area

The PR655 can stitch a design up to 12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm) in one hooping, which is the 8 × 12 in size. That is the field limit: a larger hoop from another maker will not let it stitch a bigger area.

PR655 field6 × 105 × 74 × 4
The PR655 field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

In the box: 8 × 12 in hoop (extra large) (12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm)), 5 × 7 in hoop (large) (7 × 5 in (180 × 130 mm)), 4 × 4 in hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)), 1.5 × 2 in hoop (small) (2.4 × 1.6 in (60 × 40 mm)).

Cap frame: Cap frame and driver set (PRCF3) (5 × 2.4 in (130 × 60 mm)), sold separately.

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

Check if your design fits the PR655

What file format does the PR655 use?

The PR655 reads .PES, .PHC and .DST files. You load designs by USB stick or USB cable to a computer. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .EXP) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Brother PR655

Discontinued: you will mostly find it used or refurbished.

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Brother PR655 specs

TypeMulti-needle (6 needles)
Embroidery field12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm)
Hoops included8 × 12 in hoop (extra large) (12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm)); 5 × 7 in hoop (large) (7 × 5 in (180 × 130 mm)); 4 × 4 in hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)); 1.5 × 2 in hoop (small) (2.4 × 1.6 in (60 × 40 mm))
Cap frameCap frame and driver set (PRCF3) (optional)
File formats it reads.PES, .PHC, .DST
Design transferUSB stick or USB cable to a computer
Built-in designs25
Lettering fonts28
Screen8.5 in, colour, touch screen
Max embroidery speed1000 stitches per minute
Weight81 lb (36.7 kg)
StatusDiscontinued
Skill levelIntermediate

Who the PR655 is for

A home embroiderer or small shop moving up to six colors at once and large 8 × 12 in designs, and happy to buy used or old stock. Skip it if you want Wi-Fi, a current warranty or a machine Brother still sells.

Strengths

  • Six needles hold six thread colors at once, and each needle threads automatically at the press of a button
  • 12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm) field, with 8 × 12, 5 × 7, 4 × 4 and 1.5 × 2 in hoops in the box
  • Runs 400 to 1,000 stitches per minute on flat hoops and 400 to 600 on caps, and you can set the speed
  • Cap embroidery is possible with the optional PRCF3 cap frame, which stitches a 130 × 60 mm (about 5 × 2.4 in) area
  • Large color touch screen (4.4 × 7.3 in) and a Droplight LED marker that shows where the needle will drop

Limits

  • Brother US lists it as discontinued, so any machine you find is used or leftover stock
  • Brother lists USB only, either a flash drive or a link to a computer, and no Wi-Fi
  • Reads only .pes, .phc and .dst files, with no .jef, .exp or .vp3 support
  • Only 25 built-in designs (60 more come on the included USB stick), and the cap frame is not in the box

Good to know: The numbers come from Brother US's PR655 spec sheet, Brother's 2014 and 2015 product brochures and Brother's own frame and cap-frame pages, not from the full user guide, which was too large to open here. Brother's spec sheet gives the weight as 81 lb and the size as about 20 × 23 × 30 in (W × D × H). The hoop sizes in mm are converted from Brother's inch names and match Brother's PR frame guide (300 × 200, 180 × 130, 100 × 100 and 60 × 40 mm); Brother's PRH60 page gives the small hoop as 1.5 × 2-3/8 in. The screen size is the diagonal worked out from Brother's 4.4 × 7.3 in figure. Brother's spec sheet and 2014 brochure show three USB ports, while the 2015 brochure shows two. Brother's own page for the PRCF3 cap frame names the PR655 (and a PR-655C) and carries the note 'Compatible with Version 2.10 Only', so check your machine's software version before buying one. Brother's PRCF5 flat-brim cap frame page does not list the PR655. Brother's support site groups the PR655 with the PR655C. The brochures also mention an optional Arm D and clamp frame plus border, quilt and round frames. Brother's FAQ for this model says .dst files carry no thread colors, so the machine picks its own color order. The PR655 sits in the same line as the PR650 and PR650e (they share hoops, USB drive list and cap frame), but no Brother page names a direct predecessor or successor, so none is linked. The launch year is left blank: Brother's PR655 manual is dated August 2013 and its spec sheet carries a 2013 copyright, but the machine appears in Brother's 'New for 2014' brochure. Brother US lists the machine as discontinued and shows no price, so no price range is given.

How the PR655 compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery area of the Brother PR655?

12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm), the largest area it stitches in one hooping. Four hoops come with it: 8 × 12, 5 × 7, 4 × 4 and 1.5 × 2 in.

Does the Brother PR655 have a hat hoop?

It can embroider caps with the optional PRCF3 cap frame, which Brother lists for the PR655. The cap area is 130 × 60 mm (about 5 × 2.4 in), and no cap frame comes in the box. Brother's PRCF3 page carries a software-version note, so check it against your machine first.

What file formats does the Brother PR655 read?

Brother's FAQ says only .pes, .phc and .dst files work on it. DST files carry no thread colors, so the machine assigns its own color order and you should check the preview.

Is the Brother PR655 still sold?

Brother US lists the PR655 as discontinued. Machines turn up used or as old stock, and Brother's 2014 and 2015 brochures still describe it, so use them to check a listing against the real specs.

How fast is the Brother PR655?

Brother lists 400 to 1,000 stitches per minute on flat hoops and 400 to 600 on cap frames, and the speed is adjustable. It runs six needles at once.

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.