Embroidery Machine Guide

Janome · Embroidery only · Specs checked October 2026

Janome Memory Craft 550E: hoop size, file formats and specs

Also written: MC550E, MC 550E, 550E, Janome 550E, MC550E LE, 550ELE

Janome's largest stand-alone embroidery machine: a 7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm) field, four hoops and an extra-wide table in the box. It stitches up to 860 stitches per minute and reads JEF files. One needle, no sewing, USB transfer only.

The Janome Memory Craft 550E is a embroidery-only machine with a 14 × 8 in (360 × 200 mm) embroidery field. It reads .JEF, .JEF+, .JPX files and gets designs by USB stick, and has 180 built-in designs and 6 lettering fonts.

Memory Craft 550E hoop size and embroidery area

The Memory Craft 550E can stitch a design up to 14 × 8 in (360 × 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.

Memory Craft 550E field8 × 126 × 105 × 74 × 4
The Memory Craft 550E field (filled) next to standard hoop sizes, drawn to scale.

In the box: RE36b hoop (14 × 8 in (360 × 200 mm)), SQ20b hoop (8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm)), RE20b hoop (8 × 5.5 in (200 × 140 mm)), SQ14b hoop (5.5 × 5.5 in (140 × 140 mm)).

Optional from Janome: RE28b hoop (11 × 8 in (280 × 200 mm)), ASQ18b hoop (AcuFil quilting kit) (7.2 × 7.2 in (184 × 184 mm)), RE10b hoop (4 × 1.6 in (100 × 40 mm)).

Check if your design fits the Memory Craft 550E

What file format does the Memory Craft 550E use?

The Memory Craft 550E reads .JEF, .JEF+ and .JPX 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 Janome Memory Craft 550E

About $2,899–$3,499 new (checked October 2026)

Check price on Amazon

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write. Disclosure.

Janome Memory Craft 550E specs

TypeEmbroidery only
Embroidery field14 × 8 in (360 × 200 mm)
Hoops includedRE36b hoop (14 × 8 in (360 × 200 mm)); SQ20b hoop (8 × 8 in (200 × 200 mm)); RE20b hoop (8 × 5.5 in (200 × 140 mm)); SQ14b hoop (5.5 × 5.5 in (140 × 140 mm))
Optional hoopsRE28b hoop (11 × 8 in (280 × 200 mm)); ASQ18b hoop (AcuFil quilting kit) (7.2 × 7.2 in (184 × 184 mm)); RE10b hoop (4 × 1.6 in (100 × 40 mm))
Cap frameNo
File formats it reads.JEF, .JEF+, .JPX
Design transferUSB stick
Built-in designs180
Lettering fonts6
Screencolour, touch screen
Max embroidery speed860 stitches per minute
Released2019
StatusSold new
Typical priceAbout $2,899–$3,499 new (checked October 2026)
Skill levelIntermediate

Who the Memory Craft 550E is for

Good for stitching jacket backs, quilt blocks and long border designs in a single hooping, if you already own a separate sewing machine. Not for anyone who wants one machine that also sews, or who wants Wi-Fi design transfer.

Strengths

  • 7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm) field with the RE36b hoop, much longer than the 7.9 × 11 in (200 × 280 mm) of the Janome MC500E
  • Four hoops included (RE36b, SQ20b, RE20b, SQ14b), plus magnetic clamps and an extra-wide extension table
  • Embroiders at 400 to 860 stitches per minute, and you can change the speed while it stitches
  • 180 built-in designs, 6 monogram fonts and on-screen editing such as rotate, flip, resize and combine
  • Automatic thread cutter, needle threader and bobbin thread sensor

Limits

  • Embroidery only: it cannot sew, so you need a second machine for sewing
  • Single needle: every color change means stopping and re-threading
  • Janome's US spec page lists only JEF, JEF+ and JPX, so PES and most other formats need converting first
  • Design transfer is by USB stick only; Janome lists no Wi-Fi or app

Good to know: Janome now sells this machine as the 550E Limited Edition, which adds a USB drive with 30 large designs; the machine and hoops are the same. Janome describes it as an updated version of the MC500E, but both were sold side by side, so no replaces link is set. Janome Australia's spec sheet also lists DST (Tajima) for this machine, but Janome's US page does not, so DST is left out. Janome's own pages show different machine weights (roughly 11 to 25 lb), so weight is left blank. The optional hat hoop is listed by Janome for this model; its stitch area was not confirmed. Dealer pages show the RE10b hoop as 100 × 40 mm; one inch figure on a dealer page looks like a typo.

How the Memory Craft 550E compares

Listed in our buying guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the embroidery area of the Janome MC550E?

The largest area is 7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm), which you get with the RE36b hoop. The other included hoops are 7.9 × 7.9 in (200 × 200 mm), 5.5 × 7.9 in (140 × 200 mm) and 5.5 × 5.5 in (140 × 140 mm).

What file formats does the Janome 550E read?

Janome's US spec page lists JEF, JEF+ and JPX, and designs come in by USB stick. Janome Australia's spec sheet also lists DST, but because the US page does not, convert DST files to JEF to be safe.

What is the difference between the Janome 550E and 500E?

The 550E stitches a longer 7.9 × 14.2 in (200 × 360 mm) area, while the 500E stops at 7.9 × 11 in (200 × 280 mm). The 550E has 180 built-in designs against 160, and both have 6 fonts and a top speed of 860 stitches per minute.

Can I use a magnetic hoop on the Janome 550E?

The 550E comes with magnetic clamps for its own hoops. Janome's spec pages do not list third-party magnetic frames, so check the hoop maker's fit list for the 550E before you buy one.

Does the Janome 550E sew as well as embroider?

No. It is an embroidery-only machine, so you will need a separate sewing machine for seams and hems.

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.