10 Best Embroidery Machines 2026 in the United States

The Brother NQ1700E Embroidery Machine is designed for both hobbyists and serious embroiderers, making it an appealing choice for various skill levels. Its 6" x 10" embroidery area is spacious enough for larger projects, such as jacket backs, allowing for creative freedom. The machine comes equipped with 800+ embroidery designs and 199 built-in fonts, which can cater to a wide range of occasions and personalization needs. The inclusion of the Brother BES BLUE Embroidery Software adds significant value, offering extensive features for design customization, such as on-screen typing and various font tools. Additionally, the machine’s wireless connectivity allows for easy access to additional designs, enhancing its versatility.

One of the standout features is its 4.85" full-color LCD touch screen, which simplifies navigation and design adjustments, enabling users to position, rotate, or reflect their designs with ease. The automatic thread trimming feature is another highlight, eliminating jump stitches effectively and enhancing the efficiency of the stitching process.

There are some drawbacks to consider. The machine's weight of 37.4 pounds may make it less portable for those who need to move it frequently. While the built-in designs are extensive, some users may find the selection limiting if they desire more unique or specialized patterns. The learning curve with the BES BLUE software might be a bit steep for beginners, even with the included instructional video.

The Janome Memory Craft 550E Limited Edition is a solid choice for embroidery enthusiasts who want a fairly large stitching area and plenty of creative options. Its embroidery space of 7.9 x 14.2 inches is among the bigger sizes available, letting you work on larger or more detailed projects without needing to rehoop often. With 180 built-in designs and 6 fonts for monogramming, it offers a good variety right out of the box, and the included USB loaded with 30 exclusive designs adds even more options. The machine features a clear color LCD touchscreen with on-screen editing, allowing you to customize designs easily before stitching.

It also offers helpful functions like jump thread trimming and adjustable speed, which can make your embroidery process smoother and more precise. The 1-needle setup is typical for home embroidery machines and is easy to manage, though it won't match the speed of multi-needle models if you're doing lots of color changes. Its built-in needle threader and top-loading bobbin simplify daily use, while the variety of included hoops—from smaller to extra-wide—adds flexibility for different project sizes. Some users might find the learning curve a bit steep at first, especially if you’re new to embroidery machines, but the machine’s interface is intuitive once you get familiar.

Weighing about 25 pounds, it’s fairly portable without being heavy. This model is suitable for hobbyists and small business users who want versatility and quality in a mid-range embroidery machine, rather than those needing industrial-level speed or multiple needles.

The Smartstitch S-1501 is a strong choice for those interested in starting an embroidery business or needing a versatile commercial embroidery machine. It offers a large embroidery area of 14"x20", which is excellent for big designs or multiple smaller ones at once. With 15 needles, it can handle many thread colors without frequent changes, speeding up your work. The machine includes a bright 12" touchscreen, making it easier to select and edit designs directly, which helps reduce the learning curve especially for beginners. Connectivity options like USB and WiFi allow easy transfer of embroidery files, supporting DST/DSB formats commonly used in the industry. This flexibility means you can work from your computer or wirelessly send designs to the machine.

It can handle a variety of materials including denim, leather, and 3D caps, which adds to its usefulness for different projects. The machine also features laser positioning and automatic color change, improving accuracy and efficiency. On the support side, Smartstitch provides manuals, video training, and a user community to help you get started, along with live demos and local technical help which is valuable when investing in a machine at this price point. The included starter pack with threads and stabilizers is a nice bonus for beginners.

On the downside, the machine is quite large and heavy, which might require a dedicated workspace. While the touchscreen and software are user-friendly, some may still find a commercial machine’s complexity a bit challenging at first, though support aims to mitigate this. It ranks well but is not among the very top best sellers, suggesting some competitors might offer different features or pricing. The Smartstitch S-1501 balances power, size, and ease of use effectively, making it suitable for small business owners or serious hobbyists wanting a professional-grade machine with solid support.