Embroidery Machine Guide

Brother · Sewing and embroidery · Specs checked October 2026

Brother SE425: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: SE-425, SE 425

A 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) sewing and embroidery combo with 70 built-in designs, 5 lettering fonts and 67 sewing stitches, plus 100 more designs on an included CD. It reads PES and DST from a computer. No wireless, and Brother has stopped selling it.

The Brother SE425 is a discontinued sewing and embroidery machine with a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) embroidery field. It reads .PES, .DST files and gets designs by USB cable to a computer or Memory card, and has 70 built-in designs and 5 lettering fonts.

SE425 hoop size and embroidery area

The SE425 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 × 7SE425 field
The SE425 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: Large frame (about 4" × 6.7"; each design still 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 SE425

What file format does the SE425 use?

The SE425 reads .PES and .DST files. You load designs by USB cable to a computer or Memory card. Designs in other formats (for example .JEF or .EXP) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Brother SE425

Discontinued: you will mostly find it used or refurbished.

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Brother SE425 specs

TypeSewing and embroidery
Embroidery field4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm)
Hoops included4" × 4" hoop (medium) (4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm))
Optional hoopsLarge frame (about 4" × 6.7"; each design still 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, .DST
Design transferUSB cable to a computer or Memory card
Built-in designs70
Lettering fonts5
Sewing stitches67
Screentouch screen
Weight13.7 lb (6.2 kg)
StatusDiscontinued
Skill levelBeginner

Who the SE425 is for

A fit for a beginner who wants a simple 4 × 4 in embroidery and sewing combo and is happy to buy used or refurbished. Skip it if you want wireless transfer, designs bigger than 4 × 4 in or to embroider in volume.

Strengths

  • 70 built-in designs, 5 lettering fonts and 120 frame-pattern combinations (10 shapes × 12 stitch types), plus 100 more designs on the CD Brother lists in the box
  • Also sews: 67 built-in stitches, including 10 buttonhole styles
  • Reads PES and DST files from a computer over the USB cable Brother's USB guide describes, or designs from optional Brother embroidery cards
  • A 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) hoop and the embroidery foot come with it, and an automatic thread cutter and needle threader are built in

Limits

  • Only a 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm) embroidery area; the optional large frame only lets you place several designs without re-hooping
  • Brother's US page shows it as discontinued and out of stock, so you will mostly find used or refurbished machines
  • Small 2.7 × 1.4 in LCD, and no wireless and no USB stick slot (Brother lists no memory card reader)
  • Single needle, so you change the thread by hand for every color, and Brother lists no cap frame

Good to know: Brother's US page marks the SE425 discontinued and out of stock, and it lists no price, so we show none. Brother's SE425 page does not give an embroidery speed. It lists 710 as the maximum sewing speed, which is not the embroidery speed, so we show no embroidery speed. Brother's spec sheet for the SE400, which has the same headline specs, lists 400 stitches per minute for embroidery and a monochrome screen; there is no SE425 spec sheet, so the screen is shown as not color but that is carried over from the SE400. Brother gives the screen as 2.7 × 1.4 in (width × height), not a diagonal. Brother's page lists USB as No and the USB cable as not included in one table, yet its carton list names a USB cable and its description says you can import PES designs from a PC. Brother's USB guide names the SE425 in its list of covered models, says the cable plugs into a USB port on the right side, and says only PES and DST files can be used, so we follow the guide. The Operation Manual that Brother lists for the SE425 also covers other models; it describes an optional small frame (1 × 2-1/2 in, 20 × 60 mm) and an optional large frame (up to about 4 × 6.7 in, 100 × 170 mm) for placing several patterns without re-hooping. Brother's US accessory list does not show either frame, so check with a dealer first. Brother's page gives the unit weight as 13.669 with no unit; we read it as pounds, as on the SE400. We found no Brother statement that the SE425 replaces or is replaced by another model, so those links are empty.

How the SE425 compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery size of the Brother SE425?

The largest design is 4 × 4 in (100 × 100 mm), and one 4 × 4 in hoop comes with it. Brother's manual also describes an optional large frame for placing several designs without re-hooping, but the maximum design size stays 4 × 4 in.

What embroidery file formats does the Brother SE425 read?

Brother's USB guide says only PES and DST files can be used. Brother's page says you can import PES designs from a PC, and there is a slot for optional Brother embroidery cards.

How do I get designs onto the Brother SE425?

Copy PES or DST files from a computer over the USB cable, which Brother's USB guide describes, or use optional Brother embroidery cards. Brother lists no wireless and no memory card reader. Brother's page also lists 100 extra designs on a CD in the box.

Is the Brother SE425 still sold new?

Brother's US page marks it discontinued and out of stock and shows no price. Expect to find used or refurbished machines, and check what the seller includes.

What is the difference between the Brother SE425 and the SE400?

Brother's pages give them the same core specs: a 4 × 4 in field, 70 built-in designs, 67 stitches and 5 fonts. Brother's SE425 page adds 100 more designs on a CD in the box, and Brother's USB guide covers both models.

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.