The importance of measuring your hat size
Hats aren’t one-size-fits-all accessories. A well-made tweed cap is an important asset for any gentleman’s wardrobe — and ensuring it fits your head properly is essential to a clean, polished look. A correct fit not only makes the hat comfortable and stay in place, but is far more flattering than one that isn’t made to your dimensions.
Before buying a hat online, it’s important to know your hat size. Here, we guide you through the process of correctly measuring your head to ensure your perfect hat has a perfect fit.
How to measure your hat size
To measure your hat size, you’ll need two things: a flexible measuring tape — one made of cloth is ideal — and a mirror. Having a friend to help you out will make life a bit easier, too!
- In front of the mirror, identify the widest part of your head. This is where the hat will sit comfortably, and is usually about a finger width above your ears and eyebrows.
- Grab your measuring tape and place it around your head, ensuring it is snug but not too tight. It also needs to be level the whole way around. This is why having someone else to spot the back of your head can be handy.
- Write down the measurement of your head circumference. Then, take a look at our hat size chart below and determine which size would best suit you.
Hat size chart
Hat sizes are typically measured using the circumference of the head and then compared to a hat size chart for conversion. Some brands measure in centimeters and some in inches. Also, note that the EU, UK, and US use different size scales, just like shoes and clothes.
Keep your head circumference measurement handy for all future hat purchases! Now you can confidently choose hats that are the perfect fit.
Alt text: Hat size chart for EU, US, and UK in centimeters and inches.
As you can see, the smallest size hats suit heads with a circumference of 21 inches, while the largest hats go all the way up to a 25-inch circumference.
Additional tips to measure hat size
First of all, remember that different hats will fit your head differently. Newsboy caps and flat caps fit true to size. But if you’re measuring for a Bakerboy cap, you want to measure just below that widest point of your head, because it typically sits deeper than other caps.
Some other considerations to keep in mind:
- Between sizes? Opt for the larger size. It’s easier to pad your hat or add inserts than it is to make a small hat bigger.
- What material hat are you planning to buy? Remember that some materials are more stretchy or flexible than others, which should be factored into your decision. Tweed caps, for example, are strong yet pliable.
- Buying for someone else and can’t measure their head? The average men's or unisex head size is around 23 and ¼ inches, which corresponds to a size large.
How to stretch or shrink your hat
Bought a hat but it’s slightly the wrong size? Or do you measure between sizes and need to make some adjustments?
To stretch a cap:
- A hat stretcher can gently and gradually expand the size of your hat. Simply insert it into your cap, adjust it to your desired size, and leave it in place for a day or two.
- Need a quick fix? Hold the cap over steam (from a kettle or pot of boiling water) to loosen the fibers. When it’s slightly damp, put the cap on and wear it until it dries to shape it to your head.
To shrink a cap:
- Soak the cap in hot water for a few minutes, then wring it dry to remove excess water. Place it in the sun to dry (or use a hair dryer). Check on it often to make sure it’s not shrinking too much.
- If shrinking doesn’t work, use hat inserts or sizing tape inside the hatband to reduce the size.
Always measure before you buy
To avoid investing in a cap that doesn’t fit — or worse, is unflattering on your head — it’s important to measure your head and check the size chart before ordering from Tweedtopper. If you have any questions, reach out to our team who will be more than glad to help out.