Skip to content

How to measure your hat size

One measurement is all you need. Here is exactly where to put the tape, what to do without one, and how to turn the number into a size.

Hat size calculator

Your hat size
–
Your head circumference
–

Enter your head measurement to see your size in every system.

No tape measure? Use string

Wrap a piece of string, a shoelace or a phone charging cable around your head at the same line, pinch where it overlaps, then lay it flat against a ruler. You can also print the paper tape below at 100% scale. Cut the strips, tape them end to end and you have a 60 cm tape.

Common measuring mistakes

  • Tape too low, resting on the ears. Hats sit above the ears; measure there.
  • Tape tilted. It should be level from front to back, not dipping at the back.
  • Pulling tight. The tape should be snug like a hat, not compressing your hair.
  • Measuring once. Take three readings and use the largest.
  • Measuring under thick hair you will wear the hat over.

Turning the number into a size

Once you have your circumference, use the calculator at the top of this page or the chart below. The fitted size is your circumference in inches divided by 3.14. The EU size is your circumference in centimetres. Letter sizes depend on the brand, which is why the calculator shows brands side by side.

Turning the number into a size
cmInchesUSUKLetter
46 18 ⅛ 5 ¾ 5 ⅝ –
47 18 ½ 5 ⅞ 5 ¾ –
48 18 ⅞ 6 5 ⅞ –
49 19 ¼ 6 ⅛ 6 –
50 19 ⅝ 6 ¼ 6 ⅛ –
51 20 ⅛ 6 ⅜ 6 ¼ –
52 20 ½ 6 ½ 6 ⅜ XS
53 20 ⅞ 6 ⅝ 6 ½ XS
54 21 ¼ 6 ¾ 6 ⅝ S
55 21 ⅝ 6 ⅞ 6 ¾ S
56 22 7 6 ⅞ M
57 22 ½ 7 ⅛ 7 M
58 22 ⅞ 7 ¼ 7 ⅛ L
59 23 ¼ 7 ⅜ 7 ¼ L
60 23 ⅝ 7 ½ 7 ⅜ XL
61 24 7 ⅝ 7 ½ XL
62 24 ⅜ 7 ¾ 7 ⅝ XXL
63 24 ¾ 7 ⅞ 7 ¾ XXL
64 25 ¼ 8 7 ⅞ 3XL
65 25 ⅝ 8 ⅛ 8 3XL
66 26 8 ¼ 8 ⅛ 3XL

Printable tape measure

Print this page at 100% scale (no “fit to page”), cut out the three strips, and tape them end to end to make a 60 cm tape. Check the first strip against a ruler before you trust it.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

How to measure your head

  1. 1 Use a soft tape measure, or a string and a ruler.
  2. 2 Wrap it around your head where the hat will sit: about 1 cm (⅜ in) above your ears and across the middle of your forehead.
  3. 3 Keep the tape level and snug, not tight. Do not pull it in.
  4. 4 Read the number where the tape overlaps. Measure two or three times and use the largest value.
  5. 5 Type the number into the calculator, or find it in the chart.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you measure for a hat?

About 1 cm (⅜ in) above the tops of your ears, across the middle of your forehead, and around the widest part of the back of your head. Keep the tape level.

Should a hat measurement be tight or loose?

Snug, like a hat you would wear all day. Not tight enough to compress your hair or leave a mark.

How do I measure a child’s head?

The same way. Have the child sit still and look straight ahead, and measure over the hair they usually wear. Take the measurement twice.

Can I measure my hat instead of my head?

Yes. Measure the inside of the sweatband of a hat that fits well. That number, in cm or inches, is your hat size measurement.

Related charts

All charts