The best embroidery machine for beginners, picked by what you want to make
Most beginner guides rank machines by gut feeling. We pick by the two things that decide your first year: how big your designs are, and whether you need the machine to sew too.
Updated November 13, 2026. Specs and prices come from each maker’s page, linked below. We don’t test machines in a lab; here’s how we compare.
The short answer
| If you… | Pick | Field | Price on maker’s site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Already sew and want to try embroidery cheaply | Brother PE545 | 4 × 4 in | $429.99 |
| Want one machine that sews and embroiders | Brother SE700 | 4 × 4 in | $499.99 |
| Want totes, bigger lettering and quilt blocks | Brother PE900 | 5 × 7 in | $1,179.99 |
| Want a 5 × 7 field and sewing in one | Brother SE2000 | 5 × 7 in | $1,499.99 |
| Want sweatshirt-size designs from day one | Poolin EOC06 | 7.9 × 11 in | Varies by bundle |
Before you pick: answer two questions
1. How big are the designs you want to stitch?
The embroidery field is the one thing you can’t upgrade later. A left-chest logo is about 3.5 to 4 inches wide and fits a 4 × 4 in field. A tote bag design is usually around 5 × 6 in, which needs 5 × 7. Not sure? Type your design size into our hoop size checker and see which hoops it fits.
2. Do you already own a sewing machine?
If you do, an embroidery-only machine adds what you’re missing, and you often get a bigger field for the money. If you don’t, a combo covers both. More on this in combo vs embroidery-only.
Our picks for beginners
Best first machine for small projects
Brother PE545
- 4 × 4 in field
- Embroidery only
- 135 built-in designs
- $429.99 on brother-usa.com
Embroidery only, a 4 × 4 in field and the lowest Brother list price in our database. Names, monograms, baby items and left-chest logos fit. If you already own a sewing machine and want to try embroidery without spending much, start here.
Watch out: Totes, pillows and sweatshirt fronts won’t fit in one hooping.
Best if you also want a sewing machine
Brother SE700
- 4 × 4 in field
- Sews + embroiders
- 135 built-in designs
- $499.99 on brother-usa.com
One machine that sews (103 built-in stitches) and embroiders in 4 × 4 in. It is the best seller of the machines we track on Amazon.com, with 900+ bought in the past month when we checked.
Watch out: Same 4 × 4 in limit as the PE545. Brother lists no USB port; designs go over wireless.
Best step up: room for bigger designs
Brother PE900
- 5 × 7 in field
- Embroidery only
- 193 built-in designs
- $1,179.99 on brother-usa.com
Embroidery only, with a 5 × 7 in field: 2.2 times the area of 4 × 4. That opens up tote bags, larger lettering and most quilt blocks. It also has 193 built-in designs and 13 fonts, tied with the SE2000 for the most among the Brother models here.
Watch out: It doesn’t sew. It costs more than twice the PE545 on Brother’s site.
Best combo with a 5 × 7 field
Brother SE2000
- 5 × 7 in field
- Sews + embroiders
- 193 built-in designs
- $1,499.99 on brother-usa.com
Sews (241 stitches) and embroiders in 5 × 7 in, with wireless transfer. The pick if you want one machine and know 4 × 4 will feel small.
Watch out: The highest Brother list price in this guide.
Biggest field for the money, if you’re ambitious
Poolin EOC06
- 7.9 × 11 in field
- Embroidery only
- 156 built-in designs
- Price varies
A 7.9 × 11 in field with three hoop sizes in the box, and it reads DST files. That field size covers sweatshirt fronts and pillow covers.
Watch out: A newer brand with a smaller support network than Brother. Wireless is listed only on newer units, so check the listing.
What beginners should look for
- Embroidery field first. It sets the biggest design you can stitch in one hooping. Everything else is secondary.
- An easy way to get designs onto the machine. Wireless transfer or a USB port both work. Check which one the machine has before you buy designs.
- The file format it reads. Brother uses PES, Janome uses JEF, and the Poolin EOC06 reads DST. Design shops offer all of them; you just need to pick the right one. See file formats explained.
- Discontinued models. The Brother PE800 and SE1900 still show up in searches, but Brother lists both as discontinued. That can mean old stock and fewer accessories over time.
Common questions
What is the best embroidery machine for a complete beginner?
If you already sew, an embroidery-only 4 × 4 in machine such as the Brother PE545 is the cheapest way to start. If you don’t own a sewing machine, a combo like the Brother SE700 gives you both in one.
Is a 4 × 4 hoop enough for a beginner?
For names, monograms, small motifs and baby items, yes. If you already know you want tote bags, pillows or sweatshirt designs, a 5 × 7 in field saves you from upgrading later.
Should a beginner buy a combo machine or an embroidery-only machine?
Buy embroidery-only if you already have a sewing machine; you usually get a bigger field for the money. Buy a combo if you have room for one machine.
How much should a beginner spend on an embroidery machine?
On Brother’s own site, current 4 × 4 in machines sat in the $430–500 range and current 5 × 7 in machines started around $1,180 when we checked. Prices move often, so check the current price.
Still deciding? Filter every machine we track by field size, sewing and wireless in the machine finder, or compare the two most popular head to head: Brother SE700 vs PE900.
Sources: Brother PE545, SE700, PE900 and SE2000 pages on brother-usa.com; Poolin EOC06 listing from swingdesign.com, Poolin’s US distributor. Amazon sales badges as shown on Amazon.com. All checked November 13, 2026.