Best embroidery machine for beginners: Brother SE700 vs PE800 vs Janome 500E vs Singer SE300
By EmbroidHub Editorial Team · Updated · How we compare
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Buying your first embroidery machine is exciting and a little confusing. The biggest decisions are the size of the embroidery area (the hoop), whether you also want to sew regular seams on the same machine, and your budget.
These four machines are the ones beginners in the US ask about most. They range from an affordable sewing and embroidery combo to a large-hoop embroidery-only machine.
Quick picks
- Beginners who want to sew and embroider: Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery MachineCheck price on Amazon
- Bigger designs on a budget: Brother PE800 Embroidery MachineCheck price on Amazon
- Large designs on a combo machine: Singer Legacy SE300 Sewing and Embroidery MachineCheck price on Amazon
- Serious hobbyists who want room to grow: Janome Memory Craft 500ECheck price on Amazon
Side-by-side comparison
| Product | Best for | Price tier | Max embroidery area | Sews regular seams | Built-in designs | Design transfer | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine | Beginners who want to sew and embroider | Mid-range | 4 x 4 in | Yes | 103 | USB and Wi-Fi | See on Amazon |
| Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine | Bigger designs on a budget | Mid-range | 5 x 7 in | No | 138 | USB | See on Amazon |
| Singer Legacy SE300 Sewing and Embroidery Machine | Large designs on a combo machine | Premium | 10.25 x 6 in | Yes | 200 | USB | See on Amazon |
| Janome Memory Craft 500E | Serious hobbyists who want room to grow | Premium | 7.9 x 11 in | No | 160 | USB | See on Amazon |
#1 · Beginners who want to sew and embroider · Mid-range
Brother SE700 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
One of the best-selling combo machines in America. It sews and embroiders, has a color touchscreen, more than 100 built-in designs and stitches, and wireless transfer so you can send designs from your computer.
What we like
- Sewing and embroidery in one machine
- Color LCD touchscreen
- Wireless design transfer
- Automatic needle threader
Keep in mind
- 4 x 4 inch hoop limits design size
- Max embroidery area
- 4 x 4 in
- Sews regular seams
- Yes
- Built-in designs
- 103
- Design transfer
- USB and Wi-Fi
#2 · Bigger designs on a budget · Mid-range
Brother PE800 Embroidery Machine
An embroidery-only machine with a 5 x 7 inch hoop, enough for most shirt fronts, tote bags and towels. It includes 138 built-in designs and 11 fonts for monograms, and it is a favorite of small Etsy shops.
What we like
- Larger 5 x 7 inch hoop
- Lots of built-in designs and fonts
- Great value for the hoop size
Keep in mind
- Embroidery only, no regular sewing
- Smaller screen than SE700
- Max embroidery area
- 5 x 7 in
- Sews regular seams
- No
- Built-in designs
- 138
- Design transfer
- USB
#3 · Large designs on a combo machine · Premium
Singer Legacy SE300 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
A combo machine with a large 10.25 x 6 inch hoop, built-in designs and a full set of sewing stitches. A good choice if you want big embroidery and a capable sewing machine without buying two.
What we like
- Large hoop for a combo machine
- Plenty of sewing stitches
- Automatic thread cutter
Keep in mind
- Heavier and larger
- Software is less polished than Brother
- Max embroidery area
- 10.25 x 6 in
- Sews regular seams
- Yes
- Built-in designs
- 200
- Design transfer
- USB
#4 · Serious hobbyists who want room to grow · Premium
Janome Memory Craft 500E
A sturdy, embroidery-only machine from Janome with a very large 7.9 x 11 inch embroidery area, ideal for jacket backs, quilt blocks and big multi-color designs. It is built for years of heavy use.
What we like
- Very large embroidery area
- Solid build quality
- Precise, smooth stitching
Keep in mind
- Expensive for a first machine
- Embroidery only
- Max embroidery area
- 7.9 x 11 in
- Sews regular seams
- No
- Built-in designs
- 160
- Design transfer
- USB
Hoop size is the most important spec
The hoop limits the biggest design you can stitch in one go. A 4 x 4 inch hoop is fine for patches, baby bibs and small logos. A 5 x 7 inch hoop handles most shirts, towels and bags. Anything larger lets you do jacket backs and big quilt blocks.
If you are not sure, go one size up. Most people outgrow a 4 x 4 hoop faster than they expect.
Combo or embroidery-only?
If you do not already own a sewing machine, a combo like the Brother SE700 or Singer SE300 saves space and money. If you already sew, an embroidery-only machine gives you a bigger hoop for the price.
What else you will need
Plan on buying stabilizer (tear-away and cut-away), embroidery thread in a few colors, embroidery needles and spare bobbins. Look for a starter thread kit on Amazon; they are much cheaper than buying spools one by one.
Our verdict
Most beginners should start with the Brother SE700 if they want one machine for everything, or the Brother PE800 if they only want to embroider and need a 5 x 7 hoop. Step up to the Singer SE300 or Janome 500E if you already know you want large designs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest embroidery machine for beginners?
Brother's SE and PE lines are the most beginner-friendly, thanks to clear touchscreens, automatic needle threaders and lots of built-in designs and tutorials online.
Can I use my own designs?
Yes. All four machines read embroidery design files from USB. Brother machines use the PES format, Janome uses JEF, and Singer reads XXX and other common formats.
Is 4 x 4 big enough for embroidery?
It is enough for small logos, monograms and patches, but most people who embroider shirts or bags prefer a 5 x 7 inch hoop.
Specs and features come from the manufacturers and can change between versions. Prices change often on Amazon, so check the current price and the exact model before you buy.