Embroidery Machine Guide

Janome · Multi-needle · Specs checked October 2026

Janome MB-7: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: MB7, MB 7

Janome's single-head, seven-needle embroidery machine for home use. It stitches up to 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm) at up to 800 stitches per minute, reads JEF, JEF+ and DST, and takes Tajima-style hoops. It cannot sew, and the field is capped at 9.4 in wide.

The Janome MB-7 is a 7-needle embroidery machine with a 9.5 × 8 in (240 × 200 mm) embroidery field. It reads .JEF, .JEF+, .DST files and gets designs by USB stick, and has 50 built-in designs and 10 lettering fonts.

MB-7 hoop size and embroidery area

The MB-7 can stitch a design up to 9.5 × 8 in (240 × 200 mm) in one hooping, which is the 8 × 8 in size. That is the field limit: a larger hoop from another maker will not let it stitch a bigger area.

MB-7 field6 × 105 × 74 × 4
The MB-7 field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

In the box: M1 hoop (9.5 × 8 in (240 × 200 mm)), M2 hoop (5 × 4.3 in (126 × 110 mm)), M3 hoop (2 × 2 in (50 × 50 mm)).

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

Check if your design fits the MB-7

What file format does the MB-7 use?

The MB-7 reads .JEF, .JEF+ and .DST files. You load designs by USB stick. Designs in other formats (for example .EXP or .PES) need converting first with embroidery software.

Where to buy the Janome MB-7

About $5,999 new (checked October 2026)

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Janome MB-7 specs

TypeMulti-needle (7 needles)
Embroidery field9.5 × 8 in (240 × 200 mm)
Hoops includedM1 hoop (9.5 × 8 in (240 × 200 mm)); M2 hoop (5 × 4.3 in (126 × 110 mm)); M3 hoop (2 × 2 in (50 × 50 mm))
Cap frameNo
File formats it reads.JEF, .JEF+, .DST
Design transferUSB stick
Built-in designs50
Lettering fonts10
Screen5.7 in, colour, touch screen
Max embroidery speed800 stitches per minute
Weight50.7 lb (23 kg)
StatusSold new
Typical priceAbout $5,999 new (checked October 2026)
Skill levelIntermediate

Who the MB-7 is for

Suits people who stitch designs with many colors, or caps and shirts in small runs, and want seven threads loaded at once. Not for anyone who needs a machine that also sews, a multi-head setup, or a field wider than 9.4 in (240 mm).

Strengths

  • Seven needles: load seven thread colors at once and skip most manual re-threading
  • Reads DST as well as JEF and JEF+, so industry-style designs load without conversion
  • Up to 800 stitches per minute, with programmable trimming of jump threads
  • Takes Tajima-style hoops, and Janome lists optional lettering hoops, a sock hoop kit and a hat hoop
  • 5.7 in color touchscreen, 50 built-in designs and 10 fonts, with 2- and 3-letter monograms

Limits

  • Embroidery only: it cannot sew
  • Single head: one hooped item at a time
  • The field is 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm), and Janome lists no larger hoop for it
  • Weighs about 51 lb and has no built-in needle threader, so it needs a stable table

Good to know: Janome's own page could not be opened for this entry (it blocks automated fetching), so the specs come from three US dealer pages that copy Janome's spec list. Janome writes the maximum area as 9.4 × 7.9 in (238 × 200 mm) while naming the M1 hoop 240 × 200 mm; the M1 size is used here. One dealer's comparison table says four hoops are included, but only M1, M2 and M3 are named. Janome also lists optional lettering hoops (J1 to J8, from about 25 × 54 mm up to about 120 × 121 mm), a sock hoop kit and a Hat Hoop for its multi-needle machines. Janome's Hat Hoop is listed as a flat type (part 770489005) and is a flat insert for designs made for the M2 hoop, about 4.9 × 4.3 in, so it is not counted as a cap frame and no cap hoop is listed above. Durkee sells separate cap frame and EZ Frame packages made for the MB-4 and MB-7. An optional support table covers the MB-4 and MB-7. The MB-7 sits next to the MB-4S in Janome's lineup rather than replacing it. Dealers list the weight as about 50 lb (50.7 lb on one page).

How the MB-7 compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery area of the Janome MB-7?

Up to 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm) with the M1 hoop. The M2 hoop covers 5 × 4.3 in (126 × 110 mm) and the M3 hoop 2 × 2 in (50 × 50 mm). All three come with the machine.

Which hoops does the Janome MB-7 use?

It comes with the M1, M2 and M3 hoops and is listed as compatible with Tajima-style hoops. Janome also sells lettering hoops, a sock hoop kit and a Hat Hoop for its multi-needle machines, all separate.

Can the Janome MB-7 embroider hats?

Yes, with an optional frame. Janome sells a Hat Hoop for its multi-needle machines, and Durkee sells cap frame packages made for the MB-4 and MB-7. A cap frame does not come in the box.

What file formats does the Janome MB-7 read?

JEF, JEF+ and DST. Designs go in from a USB drive plugged into the machine's USB port.

What is the difference between the Janome MB-7 and the MB-4S?

The MB-7 has seven needles and the MB-4S has four. Dealer specs list the same 9.4 × 7.9 in (240 × 200 mm) field, 800 stitches per minute, 50 designs and 5.7 in screen for both. The MB-7 is also a few pounds heavier.

Sources

Specs come from Janome's own pages and manuals, checked October 2026. Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. We are not affiliated with Janome. See how we research.