US dealer prices checked 2 November 2026; UK figures from Melco’s UK distributor’s published price list dated February 2024; promotions as advertised by Melco
Melco’s UK distributor publishes something most embroidery dealers keep private: a price for each additional head. One EMT16X head costs £11,950 with stand, frames, installation and training. Two cost £19,950, three £28,950 and four £36,950. By the fourth head, each one costs £9,237.50, about 23 percent less than buying a single machine. That ladder explains the whole Melco pitch: the EMT16X is designed to be bought one head at a time and networked, and the price rewards you for growing into it.
US prices, model by model
| Model | Who sells it, and how | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bravo | Melco direct promotion; earlier promotion included a cap frame and shipping | $8,995 (earlier $9,595; MSRP $13,995) |
| Bravo with DesignShop Lite | Dealer bundle with cart and four hoops | $9,844 |
| Bravo X with DesignShop Editor | Dealer bundle | $10,995 |
| EMT16X | Dealer, modular and networkable | $18,995 (regular $21,995) |
| Summit | Dealer, touchscreen, laser positioning, two days of on-site training | $19,745 |
The Bravo’s history shows how much the sticker moves. Melco has listed it against a $13,995 MSRP, run it at $9,595 with a cap frame and free shipping, and advertised $8,995 as its “best price ever”. Buying outside a promotion window can cost a few thousand dollars more for the same machine. The Summit has moved the other way: distributor listings of $16,995 to $17,885 in 2025 have become $19,745 at a major US dealer.
Buy the software with the machine
The UK price list also shows what Melco’s DesignShop software costs with and without a machine. Editor is £595 with a machine and £895 alone; Vector £1,195 against £1,695; Professional, which includes full digitizing, £1,750 against £2,250. In the US, a Melco EMT16X promotion bundled a cap frame valued at $1,585 and DesignShop Vector valued at $1,990. Whichever country you buy in, settle the software tier before signing, because adding it later costs £300 to £500 more.
What owners talk about
Read Melco’s own customer pages and the theme is service rather than stitching: on-site technicians, white-glove delivery and help after the sale. One shop reports running about 80 percent hats on an EMT16 Plus for two years. These are testimonials Melco chose to publish, so treat them as the company’s case, not independent reviews. The commitment people make is real, though; one member of a UK classic-van forum notes in his signature that his 1991 Microbus was “rehomed to pay for a Melco EMT16X”.
Buying used, and keeping an old one running
Used Melcos sell on eBay at very different prices: an older 6-needle EMC unit at $900, a refurbished 2015 EMT 16 Plus at $5,000 and a barely used EMT16X at $13,000. The cheap end comes with a catch. Parts are not cheap: a tested, refurbished Melco circuit board assembly sells for about $600 on eBay, two-thirds of what that $900 machine costs. Common wear parts are cheaper; a presser foot assembly that fits the Bravo, Summit and EMT16X is about £40 in the UK.
Before buying used, ask for the machine’s stitch count, a sew-out on a cap and a flat garment, the hook and needle-bar condition, and whether it runs current Melco software.
The full cost of a Melco setup
Melco machines are usually sold as packages, so compare complete setups rather than headline prices. The UK distributor’s per-head prices already include a stand, frames, installation and training. In the US, dealer bundles add DesignShop software, a cart and hoops. Beyond the package, plan for thread, backing and needles, extra hoops and cap frames, and any professional digitizing software you need beyond the bundled edition. For comparison, a US reseller lists Wilcom’s EmbroideryStudio Decorating 2026 at $790 a year.
If budget is the main constraint, our guide to BAi embroidery machine prices shows lower-cost 15-needle alternatives, though with a smaller dealer and service network than Melco.
Buyer checklist for a Melco machine
- Which model fits your growth plan: a single Bravo, or an EMT16X you can add heads to later?
- Does the price include DesignShop, and which level?
- Are installation, training and shipping included?
- Which hoops and cap frames come with it?
- Who is your nearest Melco dealer for service?
- For used machines: what software version runs it, and is it still supported?
FAQs
How much is a Melco embroidery machine? In the US, the Bravo sells from about $8,995 on Melco promotions and $9,844 to $10,995 as dealer bundles; the EMT16X is about $18,995 and the Summit about $19,745.
Is adding Melco heads cheaper than buying one? Yes. On the UK distributor’s list, the fourth EMT16X head works out about 23% cheaper per head than buying a single machine.
Can I buy a used Melco? Yes, but check software compatibility and parts support for older models before you buy.
Where Alibaba fits
It does not, directly. Melco sells through its own channels and authorised dealers, not through Alibaba. Chinese 15-needle single heads on supplier sites cost a fraction of a Melco, and our embroidery machine price comparison sets them side by side with branded machines.
Melco prices tracked daily
The tracker reads four Melco listings from two US dealers every day; the orange marker is the Summit’s 2025 distributor price.
| Tracked listing | Configuration | Latest price | Previous price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melco Bravo (DesignShop Lite) | 16 needles, single head, entry software | $9,844 | Unchanged since Nov 2, 2026 |
| Melco Bravo X (DesignShop Editor) | 16 needles, single head, Editor software | $10,995 | Unchanged since Nov 2, 2026 |
| Melco EMT16X | 16 needles, modular, networks up to 30 heads | $18,995 | Unchanged since Nov 2, 2026 |
| Melco Summit | 16 needles, 10.1-inch touchscreen, up to 1,500 spm | $19,745 | Unchanged since Nov 2, 2026 |
Starting a garment business alongside embroidery? Our tailoring machine guide covers the sewing side.
Sources: Amaya UK Melco price list (February 2024), Melco Bravo pricing and Melco EMT16X promotion, plus SewingMachinesPlus, GPI Supplies, eBay listings and Melco’s published testimonials.
Updated November 2026 with full setup costs, a buyer checklist and FAQs. Additional source: Swing Design, Wilcom EmbroideryStudio Decorating 2026 subscription.
