generally speaking, the larger the hoop that can be used on a machine the higher the price - it means a larger computer to handle the more detailed designs as well as some extra throat space for the arm to move the hoop around in. If you're going for your first machine, I'd consider the features you want before you determine the price....frequently, the cheapest machines are ones you have to have hooked to a compute the whole time you are doing embroidery - they're cheap because the machine doesn't contain the computer necessary to do the work - it depends on the computer to do the wok and to download it continuously. For lots of people this is an almost impossible situation since they don't have space near their compute for this to happen. Other machines allow you to load designs onto a thumb drive, or dongle, which is then plugged into the machine to do the work. Other, older machines, require you to insert special computer cards into the machine. You may be able to get an older machine that will allow larger hoops and give you more beginning flexibility than the "cheap" ones...just try several out and see what you want before you buy.