Hat Size Guide
Two minutes with a tape measure saves you a return. Here is how to find your number and read it against our sizes.
How to measure your head
Grab a soft cloth tape measure. If you only have a metal tape or a ruler, use a piece of string or a phone charger cable instead, then lay it flat against a ruler afterward.
- Wrap the tape around your head where the hat will actually sit: across the middle of your forehead, about a finger's width above your eyebrows, just over the tops of your ears, and around the fullest part of the back of your head.
- Keep it snug but not tight. You should be able to slide one finger under the tape without forcing it.
- Read the number where the tape overlaps. If you used string, pinch that spot, then measure the string.
- Measure twice. If the two readings differ, use the larger one.
Do this with your hair styled the way you usually wear it. A thick braid, a low bun or freshly blown-out hair can add a size, so measure for the look you plan to wear under the hat.
Size chart
Find your head circumference in the left columns, then read across. If your number lands exactly on a line, that is your size.
| Inches | Centimeters | Fitted size | Letter size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 3/8 | 52 | 6 1/2 | XS |
| 20 3/4 | 53 | 6 5/8 | XS |
| 21 1/8 | 54 | 6 3/4 | S |
| 21 1/2 | 55 | 6 7/8 | S |
| 21 7/8 | 56 | 7 | M |
| 22 1/4 | 57 | 7 1/8 | M |
| 22 5/8 | 58 | 7 1/4 | M |
| 23 | 59 | 7 3/8 | L |
| 23 1/2 | 60 | 7 1/2 | L |
| 23 7/8 | 61 | 7 5/8 | XL |
| 24 1/4 | 62 | 7 3/4 | XL |
| 24 5/8 | 63 | 7 7/8 | XL+ |
| 25 | 64 | 8 | XL+ |
Letter sizes are a rough guide. Makers group fitted sizes a little differently, so always check the size options listed on the product page before you order.
Oval and round heads
Most heads are longer front to back than side to side, and most fitted western hats are shaped as a regular oval to match. If a hat in your measured size presses on your forehead and the back of your head but feels loose at the temples, you likely have a long oval head. If it pinches at the sides instead, your head is rounder. A good hat shop can reshape felt slightly with steam, though straw has much less give. When the pressure is only at the sides, going up one size usually helps more than anything else.
Between sizes
If you fall between two sizes, pick the larger one. A slightly roomy hat can be snugged up with a strip of foam or felt sizing tape tucked behind the sweatband. A hat that is too small will give you a headache by lunchtime and will not stretch much on its own. On a windy day, a fit that is a touch firm stays put better, so if you are almost exactly on a line, stay with that line.
The disco range: one size M
Our disco cowboy hats, the Plush Party Faux-Fur and the Dancehall Retro, come in one size only: M, which fits a head of about 56 to 58 cm, or roughly US 7 to 7 1/4. That covers a lot of adults. If you measure under 56 cm, sizing tape will take up the slack. If you measure over 58 cm, the hat may sit high on your head, so consider one of our fitted western styles instead. The Mirror Ball is sized separately, so message us for its current sizing before you order.
Youth sizes
Some of the western hats we carry come in youth sizes, which run below the adult range on the chart. Measure a child the same way you would measure yourself, and round up, since kids grow fast and a little extra room buys you another season. Youth options, where offered, appear in the size list on that product's page.
Still not sure
Send your measurement in inches or centimeters to [email protected] along with the hat you are eyeing, and we will tell you which size we would pick. If the fit is off when it arrives, unworn hats with tags can come back within 30 days. Picking the right size the first time just means you get to wear your new cowboy hat sooner.