overall
Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine
9.4
Check price on Amazon → Compare the 10 best embroidery machines of 2026, including beginner, budget, combo sewing and embroidery, and multi-needle picks for every project.
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Most embroidery machine shoppers blow their budget on a model loaded with features they will never use, then discover the real costs are in hoops, software, and thread. The category is crowded with tempting specs, but the best embroidery machine for you depends on your skill level, project size, and workspace. This guide cuts through the noise to help you weigh what actually matters, so you can pick a machine that pays for itself without overpaying.
| # | Product | Best for | Type | Hoop Area | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine | overall | Embroidery-only | 5" x 7" | Best overall | Check Price |
| 2 | Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine | combo sewing and embroidery | Sewing + embroidery combo | 4" x 4" | Sewing + embroidery | Check Price |
| 3 | Brother PE545 Embroidery Machine | best budget embroidery-only | Embroidery-only | 4" x 4" | Budget pick | Check Price |
| 4 | Brother Skitch Single-Needle Embroidery Machine | best for absolute beginners | Embroidery-only (app-based) | 4" x 4" | Beginners | Check Price |
| 5 | Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine | best for larger designs | Embroidery-only | 5" x 7" | Large designs | Check Price |
| 6 | Janome Memory Craft 500e LE Embroidery Machine | best premium embroidery-only | Embroidery-only | 7.9" x 11" | Premium | Check Price |
| 7 | Janome Memory Craft 100E Embroidery Machine | best compact and travel-friendly | Embroidery-only | 5.5" x 5.5" | Compact/travel | Check Price |
| 8 | SINGER SE9180 Sewing & Embroidery Machine | best combo alternative | Sewing + embroidery combo | 170mm x 100mm | Combo alternative | Check Price |
| 9 | Smartstitch S-1001 10-Needle Embroidery Machine | best multi-needle for small business | 10-needle commercial | 9.5" x 14.2" | Multi-needle/pro | Check Price |
| 10 | PooLin EOC03 Embroidery Machine | best value multi-hoop starter kit | Embroidery-only (2 hoop sizes) | 4"x4" & 4"x9.25" | Starter kit value | Check Price |
Why we picked it: The Brother PE800 is the machine most home embroiderers should start with in 2026. It is a dedicated embroidery-only machine, so there is no sewing mechanism to learn or work around, and its 5 inch by 7 inch hoop field is large enough to stitch full designs on jacket backs, tote bags and larger quilt blocks without repositioning. The 138 built-in designs and 11 fonts, including Cyrillic lettering, cover most monogramming and gift projects out of the box, and the 3.2 inch color touchscreen lets you preview a design before committing thread to fabric. A USB port allows importing additional designs from a computer, which matters once built-in patterns are exhausted. For anyone who wants one reliable embroidery-only machine without paying commercial prices, the PE800 is the clearest all-around choice.
Home embroiderers who want a dedicated machine with a large hoop field and enough built-in designs to start immediately.
Buyers who want to sew garments and embroider on the same machine, or who need wireless design transfer.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 5x7 inch hoop - 138 designs - 11 fonts - 3.2 inch touchscreen - USB port
Why we picked it: The Brother SE700 is the pick for anyone who wants to sew garments and embroider designs without owning two separate machines. It combines 103 built-in sewing stitches with a 4 inch by 4 inch embroidery arm and 135 built-in embroidery designs, so it handles everyday sewing tasks like hemming and seams as well as monogramming and small decorative embroidery. Wireless LAN lets you send embroidery files from a computer using Brother's Design Database Transfer software, or connect via USB, and the Artspira mobile app lets you draw your own patterns on a phone and send them wirelessly. The 3.7 inch touchscreen and 8 included presser feet round out a machine built to cover both crafts without compromise.
Buyers who want to both sew and embroider on a single machine without a large investment.
Buyers who only want embroidery and would rather have a bigger 5x7 hoop field on an embroidery-only machine.
Key specs: Sewing + embroidery combo - 4x4 inch hoop - 135 designs - 103 stitches - wireless LAN + USB - 3.7 inch touchscreen
Why we picked it: The Brother PE545 is the pick for buyers who want a dedicated embroidery machine at the lowest realistic price point without losing wireless connectivity. It shares the same 135 built-in designs, 3.7 inch touchscreen and wireless LAN transfer as pricier Brother models, just in a smaller 4 inch by 4 inch hoop field, which is genuinely enough for most monogramming, small patches and single-line designs on shirts, towels and bags. Built-in tutorial videos on the touchscreen walk new users through threading, hooping and basic editing, which shortens the learning curve considerably for a first embroidery machine. For buyers deciding whether embroidery is a hobby worth investing in, the PE545 removes the biggest financial barrier.
First-time embroiderers who want to try the hobby with a real wireless-enabled machine at a fair price.
Buyers who need a 5x7 inch or larger hoop field for bigger single-pass designs.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 4x4 inch hoop - 135 designs - 10 fonts - wireless LAN + USB - 3.7 inch touchscreen
Why we picked it: The Brother Skitch strips embroidery down to its simplest form, which makes it the least intimidating way to try the hobby. It connects to the free Artspira mobile app over Bluetooth, so designs are drawn or chosen on a phone and sent directly to the machine rather than navigating a built-in menu system, and its single-needle 4 inch by 4 inch embroidery area keeps setup fast for small projects like patches, labels and gift items. It can import PES, PHC, PHX and DST embroidery files and store up to 20 designs in the app at a time. Because it is embroidery-only and has no sewing function, first-time buyers are not overwhelmed by settings meant for garment construction.
Total beginners who want the least complicated possible introduction to embroidery.
Buyers who want a traditional on-machine touchscreen or need larger hoop sizes.
Key specs: Single needle - 4x4 inch hoop - Bluetooth + Artspira app control - up to 400 SPM - imports PES/PHC/PHX/DST
Why we picked it: The Brother PE900 steps up from the PE545 with the same 5 inch by 7 inch hoop field as the PE800 but adds wireless LAN connectivity and a larger built-in design library of 193 patterns and 13 fonts, including scrollwork, florals and quilt patterns. The Artspira app unlocks 50 additional free designs and lets you draw custom patterns on a phone for wireless transfer, which speeds up the workflow for anyone stitching frequently. The 7.4 inch space from needle to arm gives extra clearance when hooping bulkier items like jackets or bags. For buyers who already know they want a 5x7 hoop and also want wireless transfer, the PE900 is the more connected alternative to the PE800.
Buyers who want a large 5x7 hoop field along with wireless design transfer and a bigger built-in design library.
Buyers on a tight budget who do not need wireless transfer and would save money with the PE800.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 5x7 inch hoop - 193 designs - 13 fonts - wireless LAN + USB - 3.7 inch touchscreen
Why we picked it: The Janome Memory Craft 500e LE is built for embroiderers who have outgrown entry-level machines and want a larger, faster, more precise platform. Its 7.9 inch by 11 inch maximum embroidery size handles jacket backs and larger home decor pieces in a single hoop, and the top-loading full rotary hook bobbin system is engineered for smoother, more consistent stitch tension over long runs than typical drop-in bobbins. Embroidery speed adjusts up to 860 stitches per minute, well above entry-level machines, and programmable jump thread trimming saves manual cleanup between color changes. With 160 built-in designs, 6 monogramming fonts and 2 and 3 letter monogramming, it is aimed squarely at serious hobbyists ready to invest in a long-term machine.
Experienced embroiderers who want a larger hoop, faster stitching and better bobbin consistency than entry-level machines offer.
Beginners or casual crafters who do not yet need the larger hoop field or higher price point.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 7.9x11 inch hoop - 160 designs - 6 fonts - top-loading rotary hook bobbin - up to 860 SPM
Why we picked it: The Janome Memory Craft 100E is the pick for anyone who needs to carry an embroidery machine to classes, workshops or a second home. At just 20 lbs and with dual voltage support, it travels far more easily than most embroidery machines twice its weight, without giving up a genuine feature set. It includes 274 built-in designs and more than 11 fonts for 2 and 3 letter monogramming, and its 3.5 inch touchscreen supports a full on-screen editing suite including resize, rotate, flip, duplicate, arc, group and combine functions, plus the ability to load custom designs from USB. Two LEDs in two locations keep the stitching area lit, and an upgraded needle threader speeds up setup between projects.
Embroiderers who take classes, teach workshops, or travel between homes and need a genuinely portable machine.
Buyers who need a larger hoop field for bigger single-pass designs and do not need portability.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 5.5x5.5 inch hoop - 274 designs - 11+ fonts - 20 lbs, dual voltage - 3.5 inch touchscreen
Why we picked it: The SINGER SE9180 is a strong alternative for buyers who want a combo machine but prefer Singer's stitch library and controls to Brother's. It pairs 250 built-in sewing stitches and 401 stitch applications with 150 embroidery designs and 10 fonts, and its endless hoop capability allows stitching continuous borders for home decor and quilting projects that would otherwise need repositioning. The 7 inch color touchscreen is larger than most machines in this price range, and WiFi connectivity plus an automatic needle threader and built-in thread cutter reduce the manual fuss of switching between sewing and embroidery tasks. Embroidery speed tops out at 450 stitches per minute, which is on par with other combo machines at this price.
Buyers who want a combo sewing and embroidery machine and prefer Singer's stitch library and touchscreen size.
Buyers who specifically want Brother's Artspira ecosystem or need a larger embroidery-only hoop field.
Key specs: Sewing + embroidery combo - 170x100mm hoop - 250 stitches - 150 designs - WiFi - 7 inch touchscreen
Why we picked it: The Smartstitch S-1001 is built for anyone monogramming or embroidering at a volume that makes single-needle machines impractical. Its 10 needles allow up to 10 thread colors loaded at once with automatic color changing between them, removing the manual rethreading that slows down single-needle machines on multi-color designs, and a max speed of 1200 stitches per minute moves through runs far faster than any home machine on this list. The 9.5 inch by 14.2 inch embroidery area covers full jacket backs and large cap fronts, and it is rated to stitch on denim, canvas, leather, vinyl, caps, shoes and bags. Auto thread trimming, thread break detection and a self-lubrication system are aimed at keeping a small embroidery business running with minimal downtime.
Small embroidery businesses or serious hobbyists running frequent multi-color designs who need real production speed.
Occasional or beginner embroiderers who do not need multi-needle speed or commercial-grade output.
Key specs: 10-needle commercial - 9.5x14.2 inch area - up to 1200 SPM - auto color change - 7 inch touch screen
Why we picked it: The PooLin EOC03 is a value pick for beginners who want more hoop flexibility than a single 4x4 machine without paying premium prices. It ships with two embroidery area options, a standard 4 inch by 4 inch hoop and a longer 4 inch by 9.25 inch hoop, which opens up projects like sleeve cuffs and longer text lines that a single small hoop cannot fit in one pass. It includes 130 built-in designs and 8 fonts to get started immediately, plus WiFi design transfer for sending files from a phone or computer. PooLin also maintains an active user community where new embroiderers share projects and troubleshooting tips, which is a genuine help for a newer, less established brand.
Budget-conscious beginners who want extra hoop-size flexibility without a big price jump.
Buyers who want the widest built-in design library or a long-established machine brand.
Key specs: Embroidery-only - 4x4 and 4x9.25 inch hoops - 130 designs - 8 fonts - WiFi transfer
A sewing machine joins fabric together using a single moving needle guided by hand, used for garment construction, hemming and repairs. An embroidery machine uses a computer-controlled hoop that moves the fabric automatically beneath the needle to stitch a pre-loaded design, font or pattern with no manual guidance required. Some machines, called combo machines, like the Brother SE700 or SINGER SE9180, include both a full sewing function and an embroidery arm in one unit, while embroidery-only machines like the Brother PE800 skip the sewing function entirely in exchange for a larger embroidery hoop.
It depends on the model. Embroidery-only machines like the Brother PE800, PE900 or PE545 do not sew garments at all, so you would need a separate sewing machine for hemming, seams or repairs. Combo machines like the Brother SE700 and SINGER SE9180 include full sewing functionality alongside embroidery in one unit, which is the better choice if you want both crafts without buying two machines, though their embroidery hoop area is usually smaller than a dedicated embroidery-only model at a similar price.
A 4x4 inch hoop, found on machines like the Brother PE545, Skitch and SE700, comfortably covers monograms, small patches, pocket designs and single lines of text, and is the most common starting size. A 5x7 inch hoop, found on the Brother PE800 and PE900, is large enough for jacket backs, tote bag panels and bigger single-pass designs without repositioning the fabric. If you plan to embroider full garment backs, caps at scale, or run a small embroidery business, commercial multi-needle machines like the Smartstitch S-1001 offer considerably larger embroidery areas built for that volume.
Generally no. Multi-needle commercial machines like the Smartstitch S-1001 cost several times more than single-needle home machines and are built around production speed, holding multiple thread colors loaded at once with automatic color changing between them. That speed only pays off once you are stitching multi-color designs frequently or running an embroidery business at volume. Beginners are almost always better served starting with an affordable single-needle machine like the Brother PE545 or Skitch to confirm the hobby is a good fit before investing in commercial equipment.
Most machines on this list support importing outside embroidery files in addition to their built-in design libraries. Brother machines generally accept transfer via USB, wireless LAN, or the Artspira mobile app, and the Skitch can import PES, PHC, PHX and DST file formats directly through the app. Janome machines load additional designs via USB alongside their on-screen editing suite. This means the built-in design count is a helpful starting point, not a hard limit, and most buyers eventually supplement it with downloaded or purchased embroidery files in a compatible format.
An embroidery-only machine like the Brother PE800 or PE900 gives you a larger hoop field and a simpler menu focused entirely on embroidery, which is the better choice if you already own a sewing machine or only plan to embroider. A combo machine like the Brother SE700 or SINGER SE9180 handles both crafts on one machine and one footprint, which suits buyers with limited space or a single budget for both hobbies. The tradeoff is that combo machines generally ship with a smaller embroidery hoop than dedicated embroidery-only models at the same price.
Every machine on this list except the Smartstitch S-1001 is single-needle, meaning you rethread the machine by hand each time you change thread color, which is perfectly fine for occasional projects and most home embroiderers. A multi-needle machine holds several thread colors loaded at once and changes between them automatically, which matters once you are stitching multi-color designs regularly or running a small embroidery business, because it removes most of the manual rethreading time. Multi-needle machines cost several times more than single-needle home machines, so they only make sense once volume justifies the investment.
The hoop area determines the largest design you can stitch in a single pass without repositioning the fabric, and it is the single biggest factor separating machines on this list. A 4x4 inch hoop, like the Brother PE545 or Skitch, comfortably covers monograms, small patches and single-line text. A 5x7 inch hoop, like the PE800 or PE900, handles jacket backs and larger single-pass designs. Commercial machines like the Smartstitch S-1001 go well beyond that for full garment and cap embroidery. Buy for the largest projects you realistically plan to make, since repositioning fabric mid-design is fiddly and reduces accuracy.
If you are not yet sure embroidery is a hobby you will stick with, start with an affordable, wireless-enabled machine like the Brother PE545 or the app-controlled Brother Skitch rather than overspending upfront. Once you are stitching regularly and want a bigger hoop, faster stitching speed and steadier bobbin tension, machines like the Janome Memory Craft 500e LE are worth the jump. Compact models like the Janome Memory Craft 100E are worth prioritizing if you travel to classes or workshops, since weight and dual voltage support matter more than they first appear.
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Built-in designs and fonts library | A larger library of built-in patterns and lettering fonts means you can start monogramming and stitching immediately without buying extra files. |
| Wireless or USB design transfer | WiFi, Bluetooth or USB connectivity lets you send custom or downloaded embroidery files from a phone or computer straight to the machine. |
| Hoop area and embroidery field size | A larger hoop lets you stitch bigger single-pass designs like jacket backs without repositioning fabric mid-project. |
| Touchscreen editing | An on-screen touchscreen lets you preview, resize, rotate and combine designs before committing thread to fabric. |
| Automatic thread trimming and color change | Multi-needle commercial machines trim thread and switch colors automatically, which saves significant time on multi-color production runs. |
Every product above was scored out of 10 on the same six-part rubric, then sorted into an S to C tier. We do not accept free units or payment for placement, and price or affiliate commission never factors into the score.
| Criterion | What we check | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Core performance | The numbers that define the category: capacity, power, resolution, battery life, speed or output, taken from manufacturer specs and cross-checked against independent test data where it exists. | High |
| Build & reliability | Materials, warranty length, brand track record, and how often the model shows up in long-term failure or return complaints. | High |
| Real-world usability | Weight, dimensions, noise level, setup difficulty and day-to-day friction, drawn from owner reviews and published measurements. | Medium |
| Running cost | Ongoing costs beyond the purchase: subscriptions, consumables, energy use or maintenance, where they apply to the category. | Medium |
| Owner feedback | Patterns across aggregated verified owner reviews: recurring praise, recurring complaints, and whether the experience matches the marketing. | Medium |
| Value | What you get relative to the rest of the field at a similar price band, not an absolute price judgment. | Medium |
Sources: manufacturer spec sheets and manuals, retailer listing data, aggregated verified owner reviews, and published independent test results where available for the category.
Honesty note: We have not hands-on tested every product on this page. Where we have not personally used a product, its ranking is based on verified specs, aggregated owner feedback, availability and editorial comparison rather than a hands-on review. Hands-on impressions, when included in a product entry above, are clearly written from direct use.
We don't accept free units or payment for placement. Our rankings combine verified manufacturer specifications, real owner feedback and availability, compared on one transparent S to C rubric.