# Brother SE700 vs SE1900: is the bigger hoop worth it

Source: https://threadandfeed.com/blog/brother-se700-vs-se1900
Published: 2026-10-09
Publisher: Thread & Feed

**Short answer:** The Brother SE1900 is worth it if you want to stitch designs larger than 4 x 4 inches, such as jacket backs, tote fronts, larger quilt blocks or full-size names. Its 5 x 7 inch field and 240 sewing stitches cover more ground. The SE700 is the better buy if most of your embroidery is small monograms, patches and kids' clothes, and you value its wireless design transfer and larger 3.7 inch screen.

The SE700 and SE1900 are two of Brother's best-known sewing and embroidery combo machines, and buyers often stall between them. This page is for beginners and hobby sewists who want one machine that sews and embroiders and need to know if the jump to the SE1900 pays off. It compares the two listings line by line: embroidery field, built-in designs and fonts, sewing stitches, screen and connectivity. Then it walks through the projects that need a 5 x 7 hoop and the ones that never will, so you can match the machine to what you plan to make.

## Spec comparison from the listings

Both machines share the same basic layout: a sewing bed with a removable embroidery arm that slides on for hooped work. The differences are in the size of that embroidery field, the number of built-in designs and stitches, and how designs get into the machine. The table below uses only what each Amazon listing states. Where a listing is silent, the cell says Not stated.

| Feature | Brother SE700 | Brother SE1900 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maximum embroidery field | 4 x 4 in | 5 x 7 in |
| Built-in embroidery designs | 135 | 138 |
| Embroidery fonts | 10 | 11 |
| Built-in sewing stitches | 103 | 240 |
| Auto-size buttonhole styles | 10 | 10 |
| Touchscreen | 3.7 in color LCD | 3.2 in color LCD |
| Wireless LAN | Yes | Not stated |
| USB port | Yes | Not stated |
| Artspira app support | Yes | Not stated |
| Sewing feet included | 8 | 8 |
| Needle threader and drop-in bobbin | Not stated | Yes, advanced threader and drop-in top bobbin |

Brother SE700 vs SE1900, listing facts

## 4x4 versus 5x7: what the hoop size really changes

The embroidery field is the area the needle can reach inside the hoop, and it caps the size of any single design. A 4 x 4 field is about 100 x 100 mm. A 5 x 7 field is about 130 x 180 mm, which is more than twice the stitching area. That is the single biggest reason to pick the SE1900.

On a 4 x 4 machine you can still stitch larger work by splitting a design and re-hooping, but each re-hoop adds alignment work and a chance of a visible seam in the design. On the 5 x 7 machine most adult shirt chest designs, mid-size florals and longer names fit in one hooping. Use our [embroidery hoop size guide](https://threadandfeed.com/tools/embroidery-hoop-size-guide) to check whether the designs you already own fit each field, and see the [hoop size chart](https://threadandfeed.com/blog/embroidery-machine-hoop-size-chart) for every common hoop.

Note: Always compare a design to the stitch field, not the outer size of the hoop frame. The frame is larger than the area the needle can reach.

## Designs, fonts and editing

On built-in content the two are close. The SE700 listing states 135 designs and 10 lettering fonts; the SE1900 listing states 138 designs and 11 fonts. Neither number should decide the purchase, because most owners quickly start buying or downloading designs in Brother's PES format. Our page on the [Brother embroidery file format](https://threadandfeed.com/blog/brother-embroidery-machine-file-format) explains what files these machines read.

The SE700 listing highlights on-screen editing and preview on its 3.7 inch touchscreen. The SE1900 listing says you can preview designs and browse editing options on its 3.2 inch screen. Both let you do basic edits at the machine, but the SE700 screen is the larger of the two.

## Wi-Fi and getting designs into the machine

The SE700 listing states wireless LAN. You can send designs from a computer with Brother's free Design Database Transfer software, or from a phone through the Artspira app, and it also has a USB port. That saves walking a USB stick between the computer and the machine, which matters if you embroider often.

The SE1900 listing makes no wireless claim, so plan on moving designs by cable or USB stick. If you want the 5 x 7 field and wireless transfer together, read our [SE1900 vs SE2000 comparison](https://threadandfeed.com/blog/brother-se1900-vs-se2000), since the SE2000 listing states both.

## Sewing side: 103 versus 240 stitches

When the embroidery arm is off, both are computerized sewing machines. The SE1900 lists 240 built-in sewing stitches against 103 on the SE700, and both list 10 styles of one-step auto-size buttonholes. Most garment and home decor sewing uses a small set of utility stitches: straight, zigzag, stretch, blind hem and buttonholes. Both machines cover those.

The extra stitches on the SE1900 are mostly decorative and heirloom options. They are useful if you like decorative borders on quilts or kids' clothes, but they are not a reason on their own to spend more. If sewing is your main use and embroidery is occasional, also look at the dedicated machines in our [best computerized sewing machines](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-computerized-sewing-machine) guide.

## Which projects need the larger hoop

Think about the largest single design you expect to stitch in the next year. If it fits in 4 x 4 inches, the SE700 will do the job with less outlay. If you regularly reach past that, the SE1900 removes a constant limit.

- Fine on 4x4 (SE700): monograms on towels, left-chest logos on small shirts, patches, baby bibs, small appliques, ornaments and freestanding lace pieces.
- Better on 5x7 (SE1900): adult left-chest and full-front designs, tote bag fronts, larger quilt blocks, pillow centers, sweatshirt designs and multi-line names.
- Needs more than either: jacket backs and large quilt panels usually call for a 6 x 10 or larger field. See our [large hoop embroidery machine guide](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-large-hoop-embroidery-machine).

## Who should buy which

Pick the **SE700** if you are new to embroidery, mostly stitch small personal projects and like the idea of sending designs from your phone or computer without cables. It is the lower-cost way to learn hooping, stabilizer and thread changes.

Pick the **SE1900** if you already know you want bigger designs, plan to make gifts or items to sell, or want more decorative sewing stitches on the same machine. The larger field is the feature you will notice every time you hoop. For more options in both classes, see our [best sewing and embroidery machine combos](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-sewing-and-embroidery-machine) and [best embroidery machines for beginners](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-embroidery-machine-for-beginners).

[Compare sewing and embroidery combos](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-sewing-and-embroidery-machine)

## Frequently asked questions

**Can the SE700 stitch a 5x7 design?** Not in one hooping. Its listing states a 4 x 4 inch field. You can split a larger design into parts and re-hoop for each part, but that takes careful alignment.

**Does the SE1900 have Wi-Fi?** Its listing does not mention wireless transfer. The SE700 and SE2000 listings both state wireless LAN, so check the SE2000 if you want 5 x 7 and Wi-Fi together.

**Are the SE700 and SE1900 good for beginners?** Both are aimed at home users and both appear in our [beginner embroidery machine guide](https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-embroidery-machine-for-beginners). The SE700 is the gentler entry point on cost; the SE1900 gives more room to grow.

**Do they use the same embroidery files?** Both are Brother home machines that read Brother's PES embroidery format. Check your manual for the exact file types and size limits your machine accepts.

## Machine guides for this topic

- https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-sewing-and-embroidery-machine
- https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-embroidery-machine-for-beginners
- https://threadandfeed.com/best/best-brother-embroidery-machines