EXP to PES Converter — Free Online, No Sign-Up

Convert your EXP file to PES format online, no sign-up required. Drop your design and download the converted file in seconds.

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Convert to PES

2 free conversions every 24 h, no sign-up required.

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Maximum file size :: 10 MB
Supported formats :: PES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3 (input and output)
Sign-up :: None for free use
File storage :: None: deleted immediately after conversion

How it works

1. Drop your file
Drag and drop your EXP file or select it from your computer.
2. The conversion starts
Your design is automatically converted to the PES format, keeping all embroidery stitches.
3. Download the result
Instantly get your PES file, ready to use on your embroidery machine.

What changes in the EXP to PES conversion

Since EXP carries neither colors nor metadata, converting to PES rebuilds a default palette and makes the design readable by every Brother and Babylock machine.

Default colors are assigned following the EXP stops — adjust them in software or on the machine.
The PES rebuilds a design name and dimensions, absent from the original EXP.
Geometry (stitches, jumps, trims) is carried over as-is.
The file becomes editable in PE-Design, Embrilliance Essentials or Ink/Stitch.

EXP or PES: what are the differences?

	EXP .exp	PES .pes
Typical use	Home (Bernina) and industrial (Melco)	Home embroidery
Machines concerned	Bernina, Melco	Brother, Babylock, Bernina Deco
Colors	No palette: thread-change stops only	Includes a color palette (with thread references depending on the version)
Metadata	No rich metadata (stitch sequence only)	Design name, dimensions, thread palette
How to open it	With the free Bernina ArtLink or Melco software	With Brother PE-Design, Embrilliance Essentials or the free Ink/Stitch

Understanding the EXP and PES formats

Format EXP .exp

EXP is an embroidery (and cutting) format used by Bernina machines and Melco industrial machines. It is a deliberately minimal « flat » format: it describes the stitch, jump and trim sequence plus stops for thread changes, but it carries no color palette and no rich metadata — no design name or dimensions in a header. It is a robust choice for sending a design to the machine with no ambiguity about geometry; in exchange, colors must be assigned afterwards, on the machine or in software. When converting, stitches and the color order are carried over as-is; only the palette (if the source format has one) is lost. To open an EXP file: Bernina ArtLink (free) or Melco software.

Bernina, Melco

Format PES .pes

PES is the native format of Brother and Babylock home embroidery machines (and Bernina Deco). It is one of the most widely distributed formats: most design shops offer it by default. A PES file stores stitches (positions, jumps, trims), a color section and metadata — design name, dimensions in millimeters and, depending on the version, a thread palette. When converting, these elements are read and re-encoded into the target format: the stitch count and design dimensions stay identical, while the color palette is only kept if the destination format can store one. To open a PES file outside a Brother machine: PE-Design, Embrilliance Essentials, Ink/Stitch (free) or Wilcom TrueSizer (free).

Brother, Babylock, Bernina Deco

Machine compatibility and dimensions

The conversion changes neither the stitch count nor the design dimensions: a 90 × 90 mm design remains a 90 × 90 mm design. The maximum embroiderable area depends on your machine and hoop, not on the file: simply check that the converted design dimensions fit inside your hoop. All formats supported here (PES, DST, JEF, EXP, VP3) express stitch positions in the same base unit, which allows conversion without any rescaling.

Other conversions from the EXP format

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert a EXP file to PES?

Drop your .exp file in the conversion area above: the conversion to PES is automatic. All that is left is to download the converted file.

EXP to PES: where did the colors go?

They were never in the EXP file: that format stores no colors. The converted PES contains a default palette, in thread-change order; pick your threads following that order to get the intended look.

How do I open a EXP file?

EXP files can be opened with the free Bernina ArtLink or Melco software. You can also convert them online for free with StitchConverter.

Is the EXP to PES conversion free?

Yes. StitchConverter offers 2 free conversions every 24 h, with no sign-up. For unlimited use, go Premium (€1 per 24 h or €5 per month).

Do I need an account to convert a file?

No, no sign-up is required for free use. A Premium account is created automatically when you purchase, and you are identified by e-mail.