How Do You Figure Out Your Hat Size?

How Do You Figure Out Your Hat Size?

You’ve just found the perfect hat to go with that new outfit you just bought, but now you’re stuck.  Your hat retailer is asking what size you need, and you have no idea!

Here’s what you need to know if you’re buying a woman’s hat:

First, you’ll need either a tape measure or a piece of string.  No matter which one you use, hold it up against the middle of your forehead (this is the fullest part of your head, and it’s also where a hat will sit), and wrap it around your head.  Make sure to hold it firmly, but not too tightly.  After all, you want a hat that fits snuggly — not one that’s uncomfortable!

Round your measurement to the nearest 1/8″, and once you’ve got a number, you can figure out if you’re a small, medium, or large.  Small hats (listed as size 6 3/4 – 6 7/8) are for heads that measure 21 1/8″ – 21 1/2″ (54 – 55 cm).  Medium hats (listed as size 7 – 7 1/8) are for heads that measure 21 7/8″ – 22 1/4″ (56 – 57 cm).  Large hats (listed as size 7 1/4 – 7 3/8) are for heads that measure 22 5/8″ – 23″ (58 – 59 cm).  

What if your measurement is bigger than all of these?

There are X-large women’s hats (listed as size 7 1/2 – 7 5/8) for heads that measure 23 1/2″ – 23 7/8″ (60 – 61 cm).  And, there are XX-large women’s hats (listed as size 7 3/4 – 7 7/8) for heads that measure 24 1/4″ – 24 5/8″ (62 – 63 cm).

What if your measurement falls in between two sizes?

Go with the bigger one.

But what if you see a hat that’s listed as “One Size Fits Most”?  Does that mean you can skip all of this measuring?

Not necessarily!  The word “Most” is very important here.  Typically, women’s hats that are listed as “One Size Fits Most” only fit heads that measure 21 1/2″ – 22 1/4″.

One last tip — don’t forget about your hair.  If you’ve got very thick hair on the top of your head or a particular style that may interfere with the way the hat sits on your head, be sure to take it into consideration.  You may need to go up a size.

Men, we didn’t forget about you!  Here’s how to figure out your hat size:

Measure your head the same way.  The same measurements for Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large apply.  The main difference is that many men’s hats are offered in “One Size Fits All”, which can be a bit tricky.  Similar to the women’s “One Size Fits Most”, if your head is very large or very small, it may not fit perfectly.