6 Best Embroidery Machines, Tested by a Sewing Expert
Whether you're a beginner or looking to start a business, these are the best models out there.
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Embroidering designs by hand on a T-shirt or tote bag can make for a cute personalized gift, but it can be a time-consuming process. That's where an embroidery machine can come in handy. Whether you've never even embroidered by hand or you're a seasoned sewer looking to customize pieces, there's an embroidery machine that'll match your skill level, interests, and budget.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Brother SE2000 Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine
- Best Value: Brother SE700 Sewing Machine
- Best for Beginners: Brother PE535 Embroidery Machine
- Best for Embroidery and Sewing: Bernette B79 Sewing and Embroidery Machine
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, I recently tested 13 sewing machines and embroidery machines. While trying each machine, I considered its ease of use, customization abilities, advanced features, size, and more. Ahead, find the top-performing embroidery machines that can kickstart your new hobby or serve as an upgrade to your old machine.
Best Deal
Pros
- Large 5" x 7" embroidery area
- Can upload designs wirelessly or via a USB port
- Touchscreen to adjust designs
- Comes with tons of accessories
- Easy-to-use controls
Cons
- Can be difficult to embroider on thicker fabrics with this machine
Both an embroidery and sewing machine, this pick from Brother is our top choice for a reason: It's easy to use, thanks to the clear features, like a big touchscreen, automatic thread cutting, speed controls, and needle up/down. Plus, it comes with all the accessories you need to get started. The large 5" x 7" embroidery area accommodates a wide range of design sizes, and you can easily upload designs wirelessly or via a USB port. It's a great machine to embroider small words in the corner of a shirt or a large picture on a tote bag (the possibilities are endless!).
I appreciate how intuitive Brother sewing machines are to operate, especially when it comes to the automatic needle threader and winding the bobbin. However, some online reviewers and people on Reddit reported issues sewing and embroidering on thicker fabrics with this machine. This is an upgraded model from the popular Brother SE1900, which is a bit less expensive but misses out on some built-in stitches and other advancements the SE2000 has.
| Weight | 38 lbs (with all included accessories) |
| Built-in designs | 193 designs and 13 fonts |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes, wirelessly or via USB port |
| Machine type | Single needle |
Pros
- Budget-friendly price point
- Easy-to-follow controls
- Variable speed settings
- Lightweight
Cons
- Smaller embroidery area
For under $600, this Brother sewing machine with embroidery options is an absolute steal. Not only does the large color LCD screen make it easy to preview and edit embroidery designs, but the drop-in bobbin, bright work area, free motion sewing capabilities, and variable speeds also make this a great pick for beginners who want to learn sewing and embroidery without breaking the bank. I also found the provided instructions for this machine easy to follow. While it's not the least expensive pick on this roundup, it's much more affordable than some higher-end models without sacrificing on some more advanced features. So, it's a machine that'll grow with you as you develop your skills.
While the 4" x 4" embroidery area is on the smaller side, it has 10 fonts and 135 built-in designs (55 more than the previous rendition of this machine!). If you're looking to embroider your own designs, this machine also has a USB port to upload custom images.
Features at a Glance
| Weight | 15.6 lbs |
| Built-in designs | 135 built-in designs and 10 fonts |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes |
| Machine type | Single needle |
Pros
- Affordable price point
- 4" x 4" embroidery field
- LCD touchscreen
Cons
- No sewing capabilities
Embroidery machines tend to be bulky and quite heavy, but this model from Brother is just an embroidery machine with no sewing capabilities, so it's much lighter, yet it still has a 4" x 4" embroidery field.
I love that it comes equipped with an LCD screen to see your designs in color and that it features a USB port to upload custom designs. When I tried this machine, it embroidered floral designs and text with ease. I found it easy to set up, thread the machine, and choose a design, making this a great option for beginners.
| Weight | 15 lbs |
| Built-in designs | 80 designs and 9 fonts |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes, via USB |
| Machine type | Single needle |
Pros
- Tie off and automatic thread cutting features
- Massive work table
- Huge 10" x 6.3" hoop size
Cons
- Takes time to master new features
I think that sewing and embroidering with this machine is a total game-changer. Innovative features like tie-off (no backstitching necessary) and thread cutting can be programmed to happen automatically. You can even customize stitches by drawing on the large touchscreen display.
The massive work table and the largest hoop size, at 10" x 6.3", accommodates oversize embroidery designs. The Bernette boasts an impressive 1,000 stitches per minute speed. After testing, this was one of my favorite machines (and other GH analysts who tried multiple machines agreed!). However, this pick took time to master all the features.
| Weight | 47 lbs (with all included accessories) |
| Built-in designs | 208 designs |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes, via USB port |
| Machine type | Single needle |
Pros
- Bluetooth capabilities with app
- Massive embroidery workspace
- Includes four different hoops
Cons
- Most expensive pick on this list
Boasting a massive 10.1-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth capabilities, this luxury embroidery and sewing machine from Baby Lock has everything you need to handle all types of sewing projects, including four different hoops. I was impressed with its IQ Intuition Positioning App to wirelessly upload custom designs to the machine with ease.
The huge workspace accommodates hoops up to 9.5" x 14" for larger embroidery designs. The touchscreen is easy to navigate and customize any included designs. With excellent ease-of-use features, like automatic thread cutting and tie-off, this machine also works beautifully as a sewing machine.
| Weight | 47.6 lbs (with all included accessories) |
| Built-in designs | 534 designs and 30 fonts |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes, wirelessly or via USB port |
| Machine type | Single needle |
Pros
- Included accessories such as storage and an embroidery table
- Independent bobbin winder
- Bright LED lights
Cons
- No sewing capabilities
If you're capitalizing on the current embroidery trends and selling your designs on Etsy or other online sites, this multi-needle embroidery machine from Janome is worth the investment. You can thread the seven needle heads in advance for quicker embroidery speeds with multiple colors.
With a maximum embroidery size of 9.4" x 7.9", this machine accommodates a wide variety of design styles and has a USB port to upload designs and bright LED lights. This machine also has a large LCD screen, an independent bobbin winder (which allows you to wind bobbins while the machine is embroidering!), and a ton of free included accessories, such as storage and an embroidery table. Just note that it doesn't have sewing capabilities.
| Weight | 50 lbs |
| Built-in designs | 50 designs and 10 fonts |
| Ability to upload custom designs | Yes, via USB port |
| Machine type | Multi needle (7 needles) |
How we test embroidery machines
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has tested dozens of embroidery machines, sewing machines, and sergers over the years. I gathered machines from top brands on the market and tested each in the Lab to see which is worth buying, whether you're a novice sewer or an old pro. In the latest test, I tested 13 different machines, evaluating each machine based on the following criteria:
✔️ Features: Embroidery machines continue to innovate with new capabilities cropping up on higher-end models. When testing, I look for features such as the ability to upload custom designs, a variety of hoop sizes, automatic thread cutting/tie off, and included accessories. I also compare these features to the price and performance of the machine to see if they're actually worth paying for.
✔️ Ease of use: Especially for those new to embroidery, setting up an embroidery machine can be a difficult task. I evaluate the readability of each instruction manual and all included accessories. I also assess the difficulty of changing the hoop, choosing a design, threading the needle, and adjusting the tension and speed.
✔️ Performance: For this test, I set up multiple different embroidery designs, including florals and text, to determine how accurately the machine embroidered. I note any inaccuracies or difficulties with creating an embroidery design. I also upload a custom design when available. If the embroidery machine had sewing capabilities, I would also assess the machine's sewing performance.
What to look for when shopping for the best embroidery machine
✔️ Size: If you plan on taking your machine to sewing classes or groups, opt for a smaller machine. Although it won't have as many bells and whistles, larger embroidery machines can weigh over 50 pounds.
✔️ Sewing ability: While some embroidery machines have sewing capabilities, others are just for embroidering. However, most single-needle embroidery machines also act as sewing machines.
✔️ Hoop options: The design area will limit how big your embroidery designs can be. Most machines have a hoop length from 4 to 10 inches.
✔️ Designs: While embroidery machines will have a number of built-in designs, you're not limited to just the included ones since many also feature a USB port to upload custom designs. Some higher-end machines like the Baby Lock Altair 2 are even able to upload designs wirelessly via Bluetooth. Pro tip: Check out if the brand has an online site to view thousands more embroidery options.
What's the difference between a single-needle vs. multi-needle embroidery machine?
Embroidery machines are either single or multi-needle, meaning you can either only use one color at a time (single-needle) or the machine can hold multiple colors (multi-needle). Most embroidery and sewing machine combos are single-needle machines. On these machines, you can still make designs with multiple colors, but the machine will prompt you to change the thread each time.
Multi-needle machines will hold the different thread colors simultaneously, so you don't have to change them manually for faster embroidery speeds. Just note these models tend to be bigger and pricier because they're typically designed for home businesses.
How do I use a computerized embroidery machine?
Be sure that you have a few necessary tools on hand to achieve the best results: sharp scissors, embroidery threads, and sturdy fabric. Follow these basic instructions to get started on your embroidery journey:
- Create your design: Either pick a design that's included in the machine or upload one via the USB port. When first starting, we recommend choosing a built-in design with minimal colors because intricate, colorful designs are more challenging.
- Select machine inputs: Based on the design you choose, make sure the number of colors and the stitching order are accurate on the machine. On a multi-needle machine, check that the thread colors correspond correctly to the numbers on the needle heads.
- Frame the fabric: Lay the fabric in the hoop (make sure it's wrinkle-free first!) and check that all stabilizers are in place before inserting the inner ring of the hoop. Place the hoop in the machine and confirm that the needle is starting exactly where you want the design.
- Start: Press the start button and make sure to stop when you need to switch the color.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Emma Seymour is the associate director at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles, Paper, and Apparel Lab, where she's worked since 2018, overseeing in-Lab and consumer tests for sewing machines, embroidery machines, and sergers. With a degree in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience and sewing expertise. Beyond professional and academic expertise, Seymour has been sewing for more than 17 years.
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