PES, DST, JEF: which file format your machine reads
Buy a design online and you’ll be asked which format you want. Pick the wrong one and your machine won’t open it. Here is how to know which one you need.
Why there are so many formats
An embroidery file is a list of needle moves, colour changes and trims. Each machine brand stores that list its own way, so each brand has its own file type. Most design shops let you download the same design in several formats, so you just need to know yours.
The formats used by the machines we track
Checked November 13, 2026. Brother home machines use PES; we list it for each Brother model on that basis. For any model, your manual has the final word.
The short version
- PES is Brother’s format, and the one you’ll see offered most often for home machines.
- JEF is Janome’s format. Janome lists “Embroidery Format .JEF” for the Memory Craft 500E.
- DST started on commercial Tajima machines and is now widely accepted. The Poolin EOC06 imports DST or DSB files by USB.
What if a design comes in the wrong format?
Convert it with embroidery software before you stitch. Converting works best between formats that store colour information; a DST file has no colours, so after converting you set the thread colours yourself.
Choosing a machine? File format rarely decides it, since good design shops offer every major format. The hoop size matters far more.