Embroidery Hoop Sizes Explained for Home Machines

On this page (10 sections)

1. What do embroidery hoop sizes mean?
2. Which embroidery hoop sizes do home machines use?
3. Why does the field size matter more than the hoop?
4. Which Sew Tech hoops fit a Brother model?
5. Which magnetic hoops fit the SE700 and PE545?
6. What is the 6 x 10 magnetic hoop for?
7. How does a Snap Hoop Monster work?
8. How does hoop size affect stabilizer?
9. Do caps and hats need a separate hoop?
10. How to choose the right embroidery hoop size

A 4 x 4 hoop is a 4 inch square, a 5 x 7 hoop is a 5 by 7 inch rectangle, and your machine's embroidery field sets which sizes you can use. This guide explains what embroidery hoop sizes mean, which field sizes home machines use, and which hoops fit which Brother models.

Our beginner machine guide covers how to pick a machine, and the hoop is the next thing to check. A hoop that doesn't fit your machine is money wasted.

What do embroidery hoop sizes mean?

Hoop sizes are written as width by height in inches, such as 4 x 4 or 5 x 7. The numbers describe the area of fabric the hoop holds for stitching.

The Brother SE700 has a 4 x 4 inch embroidery field, and the PE900 has a 5 x 7 inch field. Those numbers set the largest design each machine can stitch.

Reading an embroidery hoop size before you buy

Find the field size first, since the hoop has to match it. Then check the hoop's own model list before you order.

Some hoops give their size in both inches and millimeters. The Sew Tech 6 x 10 inch hoop, for example, also measures 160 x 260 mm.

Which embroidery hoop sizes do home machines use?

Beginner machines mostly use 4 x 4, 5 x 7 and 4 x 9.25 inch fields, and larger machines go to 6 x 10 inches and beyond. Check your model first, because the size you need depends on the machine you own.

A 4 x 4 field suits small motifs and monograms. The Brother SE700 vs PE900 comparison shows how that field differs from the PE900's larger 5 x 7 inch field.

The Poolin EOC05's 4 x 9.25 inch field gives longer designs room in one hoop. Our best beginner embroidery machines roundup groups machines like these, so you can check the field before you look at any hoop.

Why does the field size matter more than the hoop?

A hoop can't give you a bigger stitching area than your machine's field allows. A hoop only helps if its size fits inside that field.

The Sew Tech 4-piece set includes a 5 x 12 inch frame. That frame is longer than the PE900's 5 x 7 inch field, so check the field before you count on every frame in a set.

Larger frames in a set are worth buying only if your machine's field can use them.

Which Sew Tech hoops fit a Brother model?

The Sew Tech 4-piece set names the Brother PE900, PE800 and SE2000, but not the SE700 or PE545. It also names the PE700, PE750, PE770, PE780D and SE1900, among others.

The set covers 1 x 2.5, 4 x 4, 5 x 7 and 5 x 12 inch frames, with four grids and a blue buckle for hanging and storage. Sew Tech asks you to contact it before ordering for any model it doesn't name.

Which magnetic hoops fit the SE700 and PE545?

The MagnaHoop 3-in-1 set names both the SE700 and the PE545. It also names the SE600, PE535 and SE725, along with several more.

MagnaHoop says the set holds fabric with a strong magnetic grip and leaves no hoop marks. You can lift the magnet, straighten the fabric and reattach it without taking the whole frame off.

MagnaHoop doesn't state the frame sizes in the set, so check them against your machine's manual before you order.

What is the 6 x 10 magnetic hoop for?

The Sew Tech 6 x 10 inch magnetic hoop is for machines with a field that large, such as the Brother NQ3550W. Sew Tech names the NQ3550W among its compatible models.

The hoop measures 6 x 10 inches, or 160 x 260 mm, and comes with a grid template and eight strong magnets. Sew Tech says you can lift and move only the magnets you need, so you don't have to unhoop the whole fabric.

The compatibility list covers Brother NQ and Innov-is models, along with Luminaire and Baby Lock machines. It does not name the SE700, PE545 or PE900, and a 6 x 10 hoop is larger than their fields.

How does a Snap Hoop Monster work?

The Snap Hoop Monster is a 5 x 7 inch magnetic frame that holds fabric with magnets, for machines that use a clamp-down hoop. It names the PE800, PE900 and SE2000 among the Brother models it fits.

SnapHoop says the frame lets you adjust hooped fabric right in the hoop and stops hoop burn. You can stitch closer to the fabric edge with it, which helps with allover designs.

The frame is made for the clamp-down connection, and SnapHoop names model LM6 for that type of machine. Check your machine's hoop type before you buy.

SnapHoop gives a lifetime warranty on the bottom frame and attachment, and 2 years on the top frame.

How does hoop size affect stabilizer?

Cut your stabilizer a little larger than the hoop, so it covers the whole area the frame holds. A bigger hoop needs a bigger piece, which is one reason to match the hoop to your design before you cut.

Our guide on whether you need stabilizer for embroidery explains which type suits which fabric. Hoop size also changes how much fabric you work with at once, so check that it stays flat and smooth before you stitch.

The MagnaHoop set and the Sew Tech 6 x 10 hoop hold fabric with magnets rather than a screw clamp. Test the hold on a scrap piece first, since the grip differs from a standard hoop.

Do caps and hats need a separate hoop?

Yes, cap embroidery needs its own cap frame or hoop. Home single-needle machines are flat-bed, so a cap frame is sold separately.

Read our hat hoops and cap frames guide to compare the cap options. If you are not sure what your machine can do with hats, can a home embroidery machine stitch hats walks through the answer.

How to choose the right embroidery hoop size

Choose the hoop that matches your machine's field, then confirm your exact model on the hoop's compatibility list. A hoop that names a similar model is not enough, so match the exact name on your machine.

1. Find your machine's field size in its manual, or match the model name to the table above.
2. Confirm your exact model on the hoop's compatibility list before you order.
3. Pick the largest hoop that fits your field, then size your design to fit inside it.
4. Choose a magnetic or clamp-down hoop based on the attachment your machine uses.

Keep your fingers clear of the needle and the frame while the machine runs, and unplug it before you change a needle. For official field sizes, check your manual or Brother's US site before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What do the numbers in an embroidery hoop size mean?

The first number is the width and the second is the height, both in inches, so 4 x 4 is a 4 inch square and 5 x 7 is a 5 by 7 inch rectangle. Your machine's field sets the largest design it can stitch, so match the hoop to that field first.

Does a Sew Tech hoop fit the Brother SE700?

Not the 4-piece set, which names the PE900, PE800 and SE2000 but not the SE700 or PE545. Sew Tech asks you to contact it before ordering for any model it doesn't name, and the MagnaHoop set does name both machines.

Are magnetic hoops better than regular hoops?

It depends on your fabric and your machine. MagnaHoop says its magnets hold fabric without leaving hoop marks, and Sew Tech says its 6 x 10 hoop uses less clamping pressure, so confirm that any magnetic hoop names your model before you buy.

Which hoop size should a beginner start with?

Start with the hoop that matches your machine's field, usually 4 x 4 for the SE700 or PE545. A 5 x 7 hoop suits the PE900 and PE800, and our beginner machine guide shows which field fits the designs you want to stitch.