A hat that fits sits level, stays put in a breeze and does not leave a red line across your forehead. Getting there starts with one measurement.
What you need
- A soft sewing tape measure. A piece of string and a ruler works too.
- A mirror, or someone to help keep the tape level.
How to measure
- Find the line where the hat sits. Wrap the tape around your head about an eighth of an inch above your eyebrows and ears, across the widest part of the back of your head.
- Keep it level and snug. The tape should be firm but not tight. If you wear your hair a certain way under a hat, measure it that way.
- Measure more than once. Take it two or three times and use the largest number.
Turning inches into a hat size
Western hat sizes are your head measurement in inches divided by 3.14, rounded to the nearest eighth. A head that measures 22⅝ inches works out to about a 7¼. Our hat size finder does the math for you as you slide the tape.
Many wearers go with the larger size and snug the fit with a thin sizing tape under the sweatband. If you are not sure, send us your measurement and we will help you sort it out.
Head shape matters too
Two people with the same measurement can fit hats differently. Heads run from round to long oval, and a hat shaped for one can press at the front and back or the sides of another. If a hat that is “your size” still pinches in one spot, shape is usually the reason.
Watch
Further reading
- How to Measure Your Head for the Perfect Cowboy Hat Size · Justin Boots
- How to Measure My Cowboy Hat Size? · Henri Henri
Videos and articles belong to their creators. We link to them because we think they are worth your time.