The PE800 earned its reputation by being the cheapest way into a 5×7-inch embroidery field that didn't feel like a toy. A 4×4 hoop — the size on entry machines like the PE535 — caps you at palm-sized designs: a left-chest logo, a small monogram, a name. The moment you want a back-of-shirt design, a decent applique, or a hoop-and-repeat, you need 5×7. For a long time the PE800 was the only machine offering it under about $800.
That's why its discontinuation matters more than a typical model retirement. The demand didn't go anywhere — "brother embroidery machine" is still searched roughly 60,000 times a month — but the supply is now used units and clearance stock. This review is written for that reality: whether a second-hand PE800 is a smart buy, and what to get new if you'd rather not gamble on someone else's machine.
How it compares
The honest framing: the PE800 sits between the 4×4 PE535 below it and its own wireless successor, the PE900, above it. Here's the ladder, scored on the same scale.
| Machine | Field | Built-ins | Price (axis $300–1,100) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother PE800 best used value · single needle | 5×7 in | 138 | $700–780 | 8.6/10 |
| Brother PE535 single-needle | 4×4 in | 80 | $299–399 | 7.4/10 |
| Brother PE900 single-needle | 5×7 in | 193 | $899–1,000 | 8.4/10 |
| Brother SE2000 combo | 5×7 in | 193 | $1,099–1,299 | 8.0/10 |
Prices are current street/used ranges, checked 3 Jul 2026. PE800 shown at used-market price; others new.
The field, drawn to scale
Field size is the first spec that matters and the one buyers most often under-estimate. The jump from 4×4 to 5×7 isn't 75% more area on paper — it's the difference between "names and small logos" and "most of what you'll actually want to make". It's also why 4×4 machines get resold within a year: owners outgrow them, not wear them out.
Drawn to scale · 1 in = 24 pxCan it run a small embroidery business?
Plenty of monogram and gift businesses run on a PE800, and at a used price near $700 it is the cheapest credible way to test whether embroidery income is real for you. Be honest about the two constraints. It is single-needle, so every colour change is a manual re-thread, which caps your throughput at small-batch volume. And there is no cap frame, so hats, the most requested item in some markets, are off the menu entirely.
The working rule from owners: the PE800 class is right while embroidery is a side income measured in items per week. Once you are quoting jobs measured in items per day, a multi-needle machine stops being a luxury. Our small business machine guide covers that crossover point, the startup cost breakdown itemises everything beyond the machine, and the pricing calculator will tell you what to charge per garment before you accept your first order.
Where it wins, where it loses
What owners report
We read the threads so you don't have to. Each card summarises what owners in that community actually say — follow the link to read the discussion yourself.
Buyers weighing used PE800s under $1,000 worry about the discontinued status — owners in the thread reassure that parts, hoops and bobbins are still widely available and the machine keeps running for years.
Read the thread →The recurring verdict: the PE900 only really adds wireless transfer and more built-in designs. Owners who already transfer via USB see little reason to pay the premium — the stitch quality is the same.
Read the thread →A million stitches barely registers for these machines — owners routinely report high stitch counts with no issues, and treat a clean used PE800 near $700 as a fair deal rather than a risk.
Read the thread →Common questions
Is the Brother PE800 enough to start a small embroidery business?
For small-batch work, yes. Owners run monogram and gift businesses on single-needle machines like the PE800 every day. The constraints are speed (one colour at a time, manual re-threading) and no cap frame, so hats are out. Run the numbers with our startup cost calculator before you decide, and see our small business guide for when a multi-needle starts paying for itself.
Is the Brother PE800 still worth buying in 2026?
Yes — as a used buy. It’s discontinued, so new-old-stock listings are inflated, but a clean, low-hour unit near $700 is still the most machine you can get at a 5×7 field. Owners routinely report high stitch counts with no issues, and hoops, bobbins and parts remain widely available.
Brother PE800 vs PE900 — which should I buy?
Same field, same stitch quality. The PE900 adds wireless transfer (via the Artspira app) and more built-in designs, and it’s current production with warranty support. Buy the PE900 new at $899–$1,000; buy the PE800 used near $700 if you’re happy transferring designs by USB stick.
Why was the Brother PE800 discontinued?
Brother replaced it with the PE900 as part of a line refresh adding wireless connectivity. Nothing was wrong with the PE800 — which is exactly why it holds its value on the used market.
Does the Brother PE800 also sew?
No — it’s embroidery-only. If you want one machine that sews and embroiders, look at Brother’s SE-series combos (SE700 at 4×4, SE2000 at 5×7) instead.