Hat Sizes: How to Measure Hat Size
How to measure hat sizes, hat sizing chart, adjusting, and more.
Finding the Perfect Fitting Hat
There's something about a stylish, perfectly fitting hat that speaks volumes about a person's style and confidence.
However, most high-quality hats come in specific sizes, and it can be challenging to know which size is best for your head.
We put together this guide to teach you how to measure your head correctly and other tips to help you find the perfect style and size hat for your head
Why Measuring Your Head is Important
A large part of finding the perfect hat is finding a hat that fits your head just right. A hat that fits properly can enhance the features of your face and compliment your outfit.
However, an ill-fitting hat might only make it out of your closet once a year simply because it’s not comfortable or you don’t like the way it looks.
The best-looking hat in the world can't be worn and enjoyed if it doesn't fit you properly and it slides all over your face.
Steps for Measuring Your Hat Size
First you'll need to grab a soft measuring tape or a piece of string and a measuring device like a ruler or firm tape measure.
Then wrap the soft tape or loose string around your head where you want your hat to sit.
- We recommend about 1/4 to 1/2 inches above your ear and 3/4 to 1 inches above your brow line. *(see Figure A below)
- DON'T WRAP TOO TIGHTLY
- If you pull your tape or string too tightly you'll have a overly tight fitting hat, so leave a little breathing room
With your finger, pinch and hold where the end of the soft measuring tape or string intersects with itself to mark your measurement.
Now record your measurement!
- PRO TIP: Use centimeters because it is often more accurate than inches
- If you're using a string, run it along the length of your ruler as many times as necessary to get a complete measurement
Measure again!
Always measure at multiple times until you get the same measurement twice
- Find your size in the hat size chart for the perfect fit
figure a.
American Hat Makers Hat Sizing Chart
Centimeters
Inches
| Our Size | Your Head Measurement (InchesCentimeters) |
Standard Hat Size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 20 - 20 7⁄8 | 52 - 53 | 6 1⁄2 |
| SM | 21 - 21 7⁄8 | 54 - 55 | 6 7⁄8 |
| MD | 22 - 22 3⁄4 | 56 - 57 | 7 1/8 |
| LG | 22 7⁄8 - 23 1⁄2 | 58 - 59 | 7 3⁄8 |
| XL | 23 5⁄8 - 24 1⁄4 | 60 - 61 | 7 5⁄8 |
| 2X | 24 3⁄8 - 24 7⁄8 | 62 - 63 | 7 7⁄8 |
| 3X | 25 - 25 5⁄8 | 64 - 65 | 8 1⁄8 |
Hat Sizes FAQ
If you end up between sizes or just aren't sure which size to go with then we recommend sizing up. Why? Because every American Hat Makers hat comes with some form of adjustability!
We understand head shapes and sizes vary person to person so we've created a series of sweeatband liners, foam inserts, adjustable stringsk, and hook and loop straps to fit your head needs.
Expect differences in sizes from manufacturer to manufacturer. While there is an industry standard for the size of hats, every manufacturer makes every hat in their own way, which can lead to slight variations in sizes.
These variations are why it's critical to get an accurate measurement of your head and then match it to the correct size on their specific hat size chart.
Find the right hat style for the shape of your face.
While it's essential to find the hat that fits your head, it's also important to look for one that accentuates the shape of your face.
Here are some recommendations for finding the right hat style for the shape of your face.
- If you have a diamond-shaped face, look for hat styles that sit on the back of the head
- If you have a round face, look for hats with angled elements that reveal your face.
- If you have a long face, look for wide-brim hats and brims that bisect the forehead.
- Look for hats with a broader crown if you have a heart-shaped face.
- Straight brims and floppy hats can be flattering if you have a square-shaped face.
However, these are only suggestions, not rules, so what's important is finding the hat that looks and feels like it was made specifically for you.
The American Hat Makers Perfect Fit Sizing System
Your head ain’t the same shape as your brother, your mother, your neighbos, or your dog - and we get that.
We’ve been making hats for over 50 years and along the way we learned a thing or two about achieving that perfect fit for every hat. In doing so we have developed a system to ensure a perfect fit no matter what using one of a few methods.
Sewn-in Sweatbands
Many of our hats have a sewn-in sweatband that helps you achieve that comfortable and snug fit you’re looking for. If your hat has a fabric headband that’s sewn-in then more than likely there will be either a ribbon, velcro tab, or string hidden behind it.
You can use that to tighten up the hat a bit to meet your needs. Some hats have an elastic sweatband that ensure a snug fit for an active lifestyle while keeping the sweat out of your face.
Velcro Tab Sweatbands
We’ve created a genius system to make some of our hats even more comfortable than before by adding in a removable sweatband that attaches to sewn-in Velcro tabs! If your hat has this feature then you have the option to replace the standard sweat liner with a half- or full-size reducer sweatband! Both of which we’ll include with your new hat for free.
Adhesive Inserts
Our most common form of size adjuster is the self adhesive foam insert and they come with nearly every hat we ship for free. What these allow you to do is decrease the size of ANY hat up to one full size by simply placing these inserts behind the sweatband to create a snug fit all around your head.
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