Embroidery file formats at a glance
| Format | Machine brand | Used for | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| .DST | Tajima | Commercial and multi-head machines. The most widely accepted commercial format. | Stitch file |
| .PES | Brother, Baby Lock | Home, hobby and small-business machines. | Stitch file |
| .EXP | Melco, Bernina | Melco commercial machines and many Bernina models. | Stitch file |
| .JEF | Janome | Janome home and semi-pro machines. | Stitch file |
| .VP3 | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | The current format for both brands. Ask for this first if your machine reads it. | Stitch file |
| .XXX | Singer | Singer embroidery machines. | Stitch file |
| .EMB | Wilcom | Editable working file, opened in Wilcom software. Export a stitch file from it to sew. | Master / editable |
| .HUS | Husqvarna Viking (older) | Older Viking machines such as the Designer and Rose series. Many newer Viking models still read it. | Stitch file |
| .VIP | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | Format from the 4D/5D software era. Mostly needed when a machine or program doesn't open VP3. | Stitch file |
| .PCS | Pfaff (older) | Older Pfaff creative machines from before VP3. | Stitch file |
| .PEC | Brother, Baby Lock | The stitch-only data inside a PES file. Needed by some older Brother models and card systems. | Stitch file |
| .SEW | Janome, Elna (older) | Older Janome and Janome-built Elna and Kenmore models. Newer Janome machines use JEF. | Stitch file |
| .CSD | Singer (older), Poem | Older Singer, Poem and Huskygram machines. Most current Singer models use XXX. | Stitch file |
| .ART | Bernina | Bernina embroidery software design file. Bernina machines usually stitch EXP exported from it. | Software / design |
Which format for my machine? Find it by brand
Pick your machine brand to see the format to ask for. If you run more than one machine, ask for one file per format. A good digitizer exports them all from the same master file at no extra effort.
Your format will show here.
| Ask for | Machine brand | Older models / notes |
|---|---|---|
| PES | Brother | PEC on some older models |
| PES | Baby Lock | PEC on some older models |
| JEF | Janome | SEW on older models |
| JEF | Elna | SEW on older models |
| VP3 | Husqvarna Viking | HUS or VIP on older models |
| VP3 | Pfaff | PCS or VIP on older models |
| XXX | Singer | CSD on some older models |
| EXP | Bernina | ART if you edit in Bernina software |
| DST or EXP | Melco / Bravo | Ask which your software prefers |
| DST | Tajima | DST is the standard here |
| DST | Barudan, SWF, Happy, Ricoma, ZSK | Nearly all commercial machines read DST |
Still unsure? Look at the file extension of a design that already sews on your machine, or check the USB stick that came with it. Whatever ends in .pes, .jef, .vp3 and so on is the format your machine reads.
Older formats: HUS, VIP, PCS, SEW, PEC and CSD
These formats come from machines that are ten or twenty years old, but plenty of those machines are still sewing every day in home studios and small shops. If a design won't show up on the screen or the USB stick looks empty, the machine is usually looking for one of these older types.
- HUS and VIP: older Husqvarna Viking (and some Pfaff) machines. Many newer Viking models read both, but VP3 is the safer choice when the machine supports it.
- PCS: older Pfaff creative machines from before VP3 became standard.
- PEC: the plain stitch data that sits inside every PES file. Some older Brother models and card-based systems need it on its own.
- SEW: older Janome, Elna and Kenmore models. If your Janome won't read a JEF, try SEW.
- CSD: older Singer, Poem and Huskygram machines. Current Singer models use XXX.
Older formats can also limit the hoop size and number of colours a file can hold, so tell your digitizer the exact machine model. That way the design is built to fit the hoop rather than squeezed in afterwards.
Searching for "PES, DST, HUS, VIP, VP3, JEF" all at once?
That usually means the design will sew on more than one machine, or you're not sure which format yours needs. You don't have to guess. Order the design once, list every machine it will run on, and you get a matching stitch file for each one from the same master file, so every version sews the same way. Keep the EMB too: it's the file that lets the design be resized or edited later without starting over.
Already have a design in the wrong format? See file conversion & fixes. Starting from a logo picture? Read how to convert a logo to an embroidery file.
Stitch files vs. working files
Most formats in the table above are stitch files. They're a list of needle positions, jumps, trims and colour changes that tell the machine exactly where to stitch. The machine reads them directly, but they don't remember how the design was built.
An EMB file is different. It's the working file from Wilcom, where every letter, fill and satin column is still an editable object. If you want to change the text, the size or the stitch density later, the digitizer opens the EMB, makes the change and exports a fresh stitch file. That's why it's worth asking for the EMB as well as your machine format.
Why you shouldn't resize a DST much
When you scale a stitch file on the machine, the stitches get stretched or squeezed, but the number of stitches doesn't change. Enlarge it too much and fills look thin and gappy. Shrink it too much and stitches pile up, break threads and turn small text into a blob. As a rule of thumb, stay within about 10–20% of the original size. For anything bigger, get it re-digitized at the new size, or resized properly from the EMB.
Does a DST file keep thread colours?
Not really. A DST file stores where the colour changes happen, but not the actual thread colours. That's why it usually comes with a colour sheet or preview that shows which thread goes where. PES and some other formats do store colour information, but machines and brands vary, so the colour sheet is still the safest reference.
How to find out which format you need
- Check your machine brand and match it to the table above
- Look in the machine's manual or on its USB stick
- Using an embroidery shop? Ask them. Most commercial shops want DST
- Not sure? Ask for DST + your home format + EMB
Only have your logo as a picture? Here's how to create a DST file from a JPG or logo, including free and paid options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common embroidery file format?
DST (Tajima) is the most widely accepted format for commercial and multi-head embroidery machines. PES is the most common for Brother and Baby Lock home machines.
Can I convert a DST file to PES?
Yes, stitch files can be converted between machine formats with embroidery software, but converting doesn't improve the design. If a design sews badly, it needs to be re-digitized. See file conversion & fixes.
What is an EMB file?
EMB is Wilcom's editable working file. It keeps the design as editable objects, so text, size and stitch settings can be changed and a new stitch file exported.
Can I stitch directly from an EMB file?
Usually not. Machines read stitch files like DST, PES or EXP. The EMB is used to make changes and export those stitch files.
What is a HUS file?
HUS is the older Husqvarna Viking embroidery format, used by machines such as the Designer and Rose series. Newer Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff machines use VP3, and many of them can still read HUS.
What is a VIP file?
VIP is a Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff format from the 4D/5D software era. If your machine reads VP3, ask for VP3 first; VIP is mainly needed for older machines and software that don't open VP3.
What is the difference between PES and PEC?
PEC is the stitch data that Brother machines actually sew. A PES file contains a PEC block plus extra design information. Most Brother and Baby Lock machines read PES; PEC is mainly for some older models and card-based systems.
What format does an older Janome machine use?
Newer Janome machines read JEF. Some older Janome, Elna and Kenmore models use the SEW format instead. Check the manual or the format of designs already on your machine.
Can you send one design in several formats?
Yes. Tell me every machine the design will run on and I'll export the stitch file for each one, plus the editable EMB. See embroidery digitizing. For older formats like HUS, VIP, SEW, PCS or CSD, send your machine model so I can confirm the export before you order.
Get your logo digitized in any format, from $10.
Send your artwork and tell me your machine brand. You get the right stitch file, plus the editable EMB, usually within 12–24 hours.