Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Multi-needle · Specs checked October 2026

Brother PR680W: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: Entrepreneur W PR680W, Brother Entrepreneur W PR680W, PR-680W, PR 680W

Six-needle machine with an 8 × 12 in (300 × 200 mm) field, a 10.1 in color touch screen, wireless LAN and up to 1,000 stitches per minute. Four hoops come in the box. Cap frames are optional extras, and the price is several times that of a single-needle home machine.

The Brother PR680W is a 6-needle embroidery machine with a 12 × 8 in (300 × 200 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN files and gets designs by USB stick or Wi-Fi or Memory card, and has 100 built-in designs and 50 lettering fonts.

PR680W hoop size and embroidery area

The PR680W 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.

PR680W field6 × 105 × 74 × 4
The PR680W 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: Flat brim cap frame and driver set (PRCF5) (5 × 2.4 in (130 × 60 mm)), sold separately; Cap frame and driver set (PRCF3) (5 × 2.4 in (130 × 60 mm)), sold separately.

Check if your design fits the PR680W

What file format does the PR680W use?

The PR680W reads .PES, .PHC, .DST and .PEN files. You load designs by USB stick or Wi-Fi or Memory card, 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 PR680W

About $12,999–$13,629 new (checked October 2026)

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Brother PR680W 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 frameFlat brim cap frame and driver set (PRCF5) (optional); Cap frame and driver set (PRCF3) (optional)
File formats it reads.PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN
Design transferUSB stick or Wi-Fi or Memory card
AppArtspira
Built-in designs100
Lettering fonts50
Screen10.1 in, colour, touch screen
Max embroidery speed1000 stitches per minute
Weight83.78 lb (38 kg)
Released2021
StatusSold new
Typical priceAbout $12,999–$13,629 new (checked October 2026)
Skill levelIntermediate

Who the PR680W is for

A hobbyist moving up to production, or a small shop that wants six colors loaded at once and a large 8 × 12 in field for hats, jackets and bags. Skip it if a single-needle machine covers your projects.

Strengths

  • Six needles hold six thread colors at once, so you change thread less often
  • 8 × 12 in (300 × 200 mm) field, with 8 × 12, 5 × 7, 4 × 4 and 1.5 × 2 in hoops in the box
  • Up to 1,000 stitches per minute, reached in about seven seconds according to Brother
  • Wireless LAN, Design Database Transfer from a PC, the Artspira app and My Stitch Monitor alerts for thread changes
  • Cap frame capability with 130 × 60 mm (5 × 2.4 in) frames, plus a laser crosshair for placement

Limits

  • No cap frame in the box; the cap frames are separate purchases
  • Costs several times more than a single-needle home machine
  • Heavy at about 84 lb (38 kg)
  • 8 × 12 in field is shorter than the 8 × 14 in on Brother's 10-needle PR1055X and PR1060W

Good to know: Brother Canada's spec table shows an 8 × 10 in area and wireless as No, while its own text says 8 × 12 in and wireless; Brother US and Brother's accessory guide (300 × 200 mm on six-needle machines) are used instead. Brother US lists Cap Frame Capability as Yes but does not name a frame in the spec table; its page recommends the PRCF5 flat brim set, Brother Australia's PRCF5 page names the PR680W, and Brother Canada's PR680W page lists the PRCF3. Both frames stitch 130 × 60 mm. Brother US lists the hoops in inches only; the mm sizes are the metric sizes shown in dealer listings. Brother US lists 100 built-in designs, 50 lettering fonts, 18 monogram styles and 140 frame patterns, while Brother Canada's table counts 989 patterns in total. Brother's FAQ for the PR680W lists .pes, .phc and .dst, and Brother's general page also lists .pen designs from iBroidery.com. Brother US shows no price because it sells through dealers; dealers often show a higher crossed-out regular price, and some run bundles.

How the PR680W compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery area of the Brother PR680W?

8 × 12 in (300 × 200 mm). Four hoops come in the box: 8 × 12, 5 × 7, 4 × 4 and 1.5 × 2 in.

Can the Brother PR680W embroider hats?

Yes, with an optional cap frame. Brother lists cap frame capability and cap speeds of 400 to 600 stitches per minute, and the PRCF5 and PRCF3 sets stitch a 130 × 60 mm (5 × 2.4 in) area. No cap frame is in the box.

What file formats does the Brother PR680W read?

Brother's FAQ says it reads .pes, .phc and .dst files, and Brother's help page adds .pen designs from iBroidery.com. DST files carry no thread colors, so the machine assigns its own color order.

Does the Brother PR680W have Wi-Fi?

Yes. On a wireless network it takes designs from a PC with Design Database Transfer, and the My Stitch Monitor app alerts you to thread changes. It is also on Brother's Artspira compatibility list, and PE-DESIGN 11 software (sold separately) can link up to 10 machines.

Brother PR680W or PR1055X: what is the difference?

The PR680W has 6 needles and an 8 × 12 in (300 × 200 mm) field, while the PR1055X has 10 needles and an 8 × 14 in (360 × 200 mm) field. Brother US lists the PR680W as current and the PR1055X 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.