This paper investigates the performance of a three designs of tubular linear permanent magnet motors (TLPMMs) with quasi-Halbach magnetized moving-magnet armature and slotted stator with a single-slot. The motors were developed for reciprocating compressor applications such as household refrigerators. The three designs have different magnet shape structures, and the stator core of all designs have employed a soft magnetic composite (SMC) material, Somaloy 700. Based on finite element analysis (FEA) an extensively analysis on the open-circuit magnetic field distribution, back-EMF, thrust force, flux-linkage, winding inductance and cogging force in the three designs have been established. The simulation results indicate the effectiveness of the designs to drive a linear reciprocating compressor in household refrigerators, and also the simulation results have shown the superiority of the two designs with T-shape and trapezoidal magnet configurations, over the TLPMM with conventional rectangular magnet. Moreover, the permanent magnets (PMs) array arrangement has significant effects on the motor performance. © 2013 IEEE.