Bobbin Sizes

Most home and commercial embroidery machines take either size A, L, or M bobbins. These three sizes are an industry-wide standard and have been adopted by most embroidery machine makers.

Size A bobbins (also referred to as Style A, Class 15, SA156, or Size 11.5 bobbins) have a diameter of 13/16" and a height of approximately 7/16" (11.5mm).

Size L bobbins (also referred to as Style L, SA155, or Size 9.4 bobbins) have a diameter of 13/16" and a height of approximately 3/8" (9.4mm).

Size M bobbins (also referred to as Style M) have a diameter of 1" and a height of approximately 7/16" (11.5mm). Size M bobbins are typically reserved for use with larger, commercial machines.

For proper functionality, it is important to verify which size is needed for your specific machine. This information is best found by consulting your machines manual. You can also look at our known compatibility chart before purchasing to ensure proper fitment, but this is not an exhaustive list.

Plastic vs Cardboard Sided Bobbins

Plastic sided bobbins are the most common type of bobbin used with embroidery machines. They are strong and stable, and typically provide excellent results.

Cardboard sided bobbins are less common, and are typically only used with machines that use size L bobbins. Some users prefer cardboard sided bobbins over plastic-sided bobbins because the cardboard sides provide more friction than plastic and reduce the risk of backlash. However, these results may vary from machine to machine.

Our general recommendation is to use the type of bobbin that your machines manual recommends or the type of bobbin that came with your machine initially.

Color Options and Thread Type

CleverDelights prewound bobbins come in black and white options.

Our bobbins come with 70D/2 (60 Weight) filament polyester thread. This is a standard bobbin weight that is suitable for nearly all embroidery and sewing applications.