Best Brother Embroidery Machine (2026): Every Model Ranked, PE545 to Stellaire
The best Brother embroidery machine for most serious hobbyists is the Brother NQ1700E, about $2,400, with a 6 x 10 in field and 8.3 in of arm space. The PE900 (about $1,180) is the best value 5 x 7, the SE2000 is the best combo, and the Stellaire XE1 is the no-compromise flagship.
Brother sells more home embroidery machines than any other brand, and the lineup can feel like alphabet soup. For most people ready to invest, the Brother NQ1700E at about $2,400 is the best Brother embroidery machine: a 6 x 10 in field for sweatshirts and larger designs, 8.3 in of needle-to-arm space and bundled BES Blue software, without jumping to flagship pricing.
If your budget is closer to $1,000, the Brother PE900 is the best 5 x 7 in value. If you also want to sew, the Brother SE2000 is the model to beat. Below, every current Brother line is decoded so you can see exactly what each step up buys.
Brother embroidery machine comparison chart
| Product | Price | Embroidery field | Built-in designs | Sews | Screen | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brother PE545 | $429.99 | 4 x 4 in | 135 | No, embroidery only | 3.7 in color touchscreen | Price |
 Brother SE700 | $529.99 | 4 x 4 in | 135 | Yes | 3.2 x 1.8 in LCD touchscreen | Price |
 Brother SE600 | $589.99 | 4 x 4 in | 80 | Yes | 3.2 in color touchscreen | Price |
 Brother PE800 | See price | 5 x 7 in | 138 | No, embroidery only | 3.2 in color touchscreen | Find |
 Brother PE900 | $1,179.99 | 5 x 7 in | 193 | No, embroidery only | 3.7 in LCD touchscreen | Price |
 Brother SE1900 | $1,128.95 | 5 x 7 in | 138 | Yes | 3.2 in color touchscreen | Price |
 Brother SE2000 | $1,469.99 | 5 x 7 in | 193 | Yes | 3.7 in LCD touchscreen | Price |
 Brother NQ1700E | $2,399.99 | 6 x 10 in | 258 | No, embroidery only | 4.85 in color touchscreen | Price |
 Brother NQ3550W | $2,999.99 | 6 x 10 in | 258 | Yes | 3.67 in color touchscreen | Price |
 Brother PRS100 | $4,499.99 | 8 x 12 in | Not listed | No, embroidery only | Not listed | Price |
 Brother Stellaire XE1 | $6,499.99 | 9.5 x 14 in | 727 | No, embroidery only | 10.1 in HD LCD | Price |
 Brother Stellaire XJ1 | $8,499.99 | 9.5 x 14 in | 727 | Yes | 10.1 in HD LCD | Price |
Beginner
Beginner Brothers: PE545, SE700 and PE800
The PE (embroidery only) and SE (sews and embroiders) entry models are where most Brother owners start. The 4 x 4 in models share a 3.7 in touchscreen and wireless LAN.
Brother PE545 Embroidery Machine
$429.99Embroidery only, 4 x 4 in field, 135 designs, 10 fonts, wireless LAN. At about $430 it is the lowest-cost current Brother with a full touchscreen.
Best for: Monograms on a budget
Check price Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
$529.99The PE545 embroidery unit plus 103 sewing stitches, usually for around $100 more. Note that the older SE600 has fewer designs (80), a smaller 3.2 in screen and no wireless, yet often lists for more.
Best for: First machine that also sews
Check price Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine
The long-running 5 x 7 in embroidery-only model with 138 designs, 11 fonts and USB transfer. It lacks the PE900 wireless LAN and trimming, so compare the live price against the PE900 before choosing it.
Best for: 5 x 7 on a budget
Find on AmazonPrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Intermediate
Intermediate Brothers: PE900, SE2000 and NQ1700E
This tier adds automatic jump stitch trimming and color sort, and the NQ line jumps to a 6 x 10 in field.
Brother PE900 Embroidery Machine
$1,179.995 x 7 in, 193 designs, 13 fonts, 7.4 in needle to arm, wireless LAN, color sort and jump stitch trimming. The best value in the whole Brother range for a dedicated embroiderer.
Best for: Best value 5 x 7
Check price Brother SE2000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
$1,469.99Everything the PE900 embroiders plus 241 sewing stitches. Its predecessor, the SE1900, has a smaller 3.2 in screen and lacks wireless LAN, so the SE2000 is the one to buy new.
Best for: Best sewing and embroidery combo
Check price Brother Innov-is NQ1700E Embroidery Machine with BES Blue Software
$2,399.996 x 10 in field, 8.3 in needle to arm, 258 designs, 140 frame combinations, 4.85 in touchscreen and BES Blue software. The best Brother for most hobbyists ready to grow.
Best for: Sweatshirts and big designs
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Expert
Expert Brothers: Stellaire, Persona and Entrepreneur One
These are for embroiderers who already know exactly what they are limited by: field size, caps and tubular items, or batch work. Do not buy this tier as a first machine unless you have a specific large-format or cap project in mind; the NQ1700E does everything most hobbyists will ever stitch at a third of the price.
Brother Stellaire XE1 Embroidery Machine
$6,499.99The flagship embroidery-only Brother: 9.5 x 14 in field, 727 designs including Disney designs, 24 fonts, a 10.1 in HD display, an LED embroidery pointer and up to 1,050 spm.
Best for: Large designs, maximum features
Check price Brother Persona PRS100 Single-Needle Embroidery Machine
$4,499.99A single-needle machine with a tubular free arm and an included cap frame, for caps, sleeves, bags and small shirts that cannot lie flat on a PE or SE machine.
Best for: Caps and tubular items
Check price
Brother Entrepreneur One PR1X Single-Needle Embroidery Machine
$6,999.98Free-arm single-needle design with an 8 x 12 in field, 495 designs and a crosshair laser for positioning. Aimed at small-batch custom work on finished garments.
Best for: Custom orders on finished goods
Check pricePrices change often, so confirm on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What is the difference between Brother embroidery machines?
Brother's model names follow a pattern once you know it. PE models are embroidery only. SE models sew and embroider. NQ models step up to a 6 x 10 in field. Stellaire is the flagship line (XE is embroidery only, XJ sews too). Persona and Entrepreneur are free-arm machines designed around caps, sleeves and small business work, including the multi-needle Brother PR680W.
| Line | What it means | Field sizes | Current models |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | Embroidery only | 4 x 4 or 5 x 7 in | Brother PE545, Brother PE800, Brother PE900 |
| SE | Sews and embroiders | 4 x 4 or 5 x 7 in | Brother SE600, Brother SE700, Brother SE1900, Brother SE2000 |
| NQ | Larger 6 x 10 in field | 6 x 10 in | Brother NQ1700E (embroidery), Brother NQ3550W (combo) |
| Stellaire | Flagship, 10.1 in display | 9.5 x 14 in | Brother Stellaire XE1 (embroidery), Brother Stellaire XJ1 (combo) |
| Persona, Entrepreneur One | Single needle, free arm, caps | 8 x 12 in | Brother PRS100, Brother PR1X |
| Entrepreneur multi-needle | Six needles, auto color change | Up to 30 x 20 cm | Brother PR680W |
Which Brother embroidery machine is the best for beginners?
The Brother PE545 is the best Brother for testing the hobby cheaply, and the Brother SE700 is the best if you also need a sewing machine. If you are confident you will stick with it, start at the Brother PE900 and skip the upgrade cycle. Our full best embroidery machine for beginners roundup includes Janome and Poolin options too, and Brother SE700 vs SE2000 compares the two most popular combos head to head.
Is the Brother PE900 better than the PE800?
Both stitch 5 x 7 in designs, but the Brother PE900 adds wireless LAN transfer, color sort, automatic jump stitch trimming, a larger 3.7 in screen, 55 more built-in designs and two more fonts. The Brother PE800 still works well and uses the same 5 x 7 in hoops, so it can make sense when found well below the PE900 price. At similar prices, the PE900 is the easy choice because trimming jump stitches by hand is the most common complaint from PE800 owners.
Brother embroidery machine with 5x7 hoop: which one should you buy?
Four current Brothers stitch 5 x 7 in. Choose by whether you sew and whether you want wireless and trimming.
| Model | Sews? | Wireless LAN | Jump stitch trimming | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother PE800 | No | No (USB) | No | 3.2 in |
| Brother PE900 | No | Yes | Yes | 3.7 in |
| Brother SE1900 | Yes, 240 stitches | No | No | 3.2 in |
| Brother SE2000 | Yes, 241 stitches | Yes | Yes | 3.7 in |
The Snap Hoop Monster Brother 5x7 magnetic frame fits all four, which makes thick towels and slippery performance fabrics much easier to hoop.
How much does a Brother embroidery machine cost?
Current Amazon prices run from about $300 for the app-driven Brother Skitch PP1 to about $13,000 for the six-needle Brother PR680W. Most hobbyists land between $430 and $2,400. The big price jumps track field size: 4 x 4 machines sit around $430 to $590, 5 x 7 machines around $1,130 to $1,470, 6 x 10 machines around $2,400 to $3,000, and the 9.5 x 14 in Stellaire models around $6,500 to $8,500.
If you are weighing Brother against Janome at the same price, see Brother vs Janome embroidery machines and Janome 500E vs Brother PE900.
Is the Brother Stellaire worth it?
The Brother Stellaire XE1 is worth it if you regularly stitch designs larger than 6 x 10 in, want the 10.1 in HD display for easier on-screen editing, or value the LED pointer for precise placement. For readers who find small screens tiring, that display is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. It is not worth it for monograms, left-chest logos and 5 x 7 projects, where the Brother PE900 produces the same stitch quality. The Brother Stellaire XJ1 adds sewing and 11.25 in of needle-to-arm space for quilters.
How we chose
We did not test these machines in person. This ranking uses Brother's published specifications and owner manuals, current Amazon listings, warranty terms, and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We weighed field size most heavily because it cannot be upgraded, then wireless transfer and jump stitch trimming, which owners most often cite as time savers.
Buying tips
- Decide PE (embroidery only) or SE (combo) first, then field size.
- Skip the SE600 unless it is clearly cheaper than the SE700, which has more designs, a bigger screen and wireless.
- Buy the PE800 only when it is priced well below the PE900.
- Brother machines use PES files, the most widely sold home embroidery format.
- Estimate stitch time on bigger designs with the stitch count calculator before stepping up to a large field.
Frequently asked questions
Which Brother embroidery machine is the best?
For most serious hobbyists, the Brother NQ1700E is the best balance of field size and price, with a 6 x 10 in field, 8.3 in of needle-to-arm space and BES Blue software for about $2,400. The PE900 is the best value 5 x 7 in machine, the SE2000 is the best Brother combo, and the Stellaire XE1 is the flagship for large 9.5 x 14 in designs.
What is the difference between Brother PE and SE embroidery machines?
PE machines are embroidery only, while SE machines combine a sewing machine with an embroidery unit. At the same field size, a PE model usually costs less and leaves your regular sewing machine free while designs stitch. An SE model saves space and money if you do not already own a sewing machine, but it cannot sew while it is embroidering.
Is the Brother SE700 or PE900 better?
They suit different people. The SE700 costs about $530, sews as well as embroiders, and has a 4 x 4 in field. The PE900 costs about $1,180, is embroidery only, and stitches 5 x 7 in with jump stitch trimming and color sort. If you already own a sewing machine and want larger designs, choose the PE900; if you need one affordable machine for both, choose the SE700.
Does Brother make a multi-needle embroidery machine?
Yes. The Brother Entrepreneur PR680W is a six-needle machine with automatic color changes, a maximum area up to 30 x 20 cm, speeds up to 1,000 stitches per minute and a cap embroidery kit, priced around $13,000. Brother also sells single-needle free-arm machines, the Persona PRS100 and Entrepreneur One PR1X, aimed at caps and finished garments.
What file format do Brother embroidery machines use?
Brother home embroidery machines use the PES format, which is the most widely available format from design shops. Many designs are sold in several formats at once, so choose PES at checkout. The Skitch PP1 imports PES, PHC, PHX and DST through the Artspira app. If a design only comes in another format, embroidery software can usually convert it.
Can a Brother PE545 embroider hats?
Only in a limited way. A flatbed 4 x 4 in machine like the PE545 cannot hold a finished structured cap. You can embroider unstructured caps with the side seams opened, embroider a patch and attach it, or stitch the panel before a cap is assembled. For finished caps, a free-arm machine with a cap frame, such as the Brother Persona PRS100, is the proper tool.
How we research: we compare manufacturer specifications, owner manuals, published standards and recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We do not test products in person, and this is researched guidance, not professional advice. Follow your machine manual and pattern, and take care with rotary cutters, hot irons and needles. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.