DST vs PES vs EXP: Which Embroidery File Format Do You Need?
Updated October 15, 2026 · 5 min read
An embroidery file is a list of stitches, and every machine brand reads its own formats. Pick the wrong one and your machine will not open the file. Here are the three formats ThreadType delivers, what each one is for, and how to choose.
The three formats at a glance
| Format | Where it comes from | Commonly read by |
|---|---|---|
| DST | Tajima | Commercial and industrial machines, and many home machines and software programs. The most widely supported format. |
| PES | Brother | Brother and Baby Lock machines, and a lot of home-embroidery software. |
| EXP | Melco | Melco machines, and some other machines and software such as Bernina. |
Other brands have their own formats too, for example JEF for Janome. If your machine does not list DST, PES or EXP, check the manual or convert the file with your embroidery software.
What a format does and does not store
- Stitch positions are stored in all three. That is the part that makes the design.
- Color changes are stored as stop points. A DST file does not carry thread colors, only that the machine should stop and change, so a three-stage appliqué file will stop after each stage.
- Thread colors and names are better preserved in PES, which is why a PES file often opens with the colors you chose.
- Size is fixed in the file. Resizing embroidery by a large amount in software changes stitch density, so it is best to generate the design at the size you want.
How to choose
- Brother or Baby Lock home machine: use PES.
- Commercial multi-head machine (Tajima, Barudan, Ricoma and similar): use DST.
- Melco machine: use EXP.
- Not sure: try DST first, since it is the most widely read, or open the file in your machine’s software and see which formats it accepts.
A note on file transfer
Many machines read files from a USB stick, and some are fussy about the file name and the folder. Use short names without special characters, put files in the top folder of the stick, and keep the stick formatted the way your machine’s manual asks.
Check the file before you stitch
Whatever the format, preview the file in your machine or software before sewing, and test on scrap fabric. See how to check an embroidery file before you stitch.
Keep reading
Files and machines
Check an Embroidery File Before Stitching
A short checklist for checking a DST, PES or EXP file before sewing: size, color stops, stray stitches and a test stitch-out, and what common problems mean.
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Files and machines
Using an Appliqué Cut File (SVG) with Cricut, Silhouette or ScanNCut
How an appliqué cut file works, how to import the SVG into a Cricut, Silhouette or ScanNCut, and how to place the cut fabric on the placement line.
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Using the tools
How to Use the Appliqué Generator
A walkthrough of the ThreadType appliqué generator: text, font, size, satin, tack-down, fabric, layout and corner settings, then preview and download.
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See all embroidery and appliqué guides.