A hat that is too big ends up in the lake the first time someone opens the throttle. A hat that is too small leaves a red ring on your forehead and a headache by lunch. Neither one is the vibe.
Good news: getting an accurate measurement for the right hat size takes less than two minutes, and you already own everything you need. This guide covers how to measure hat size for yourself, your kids, and anyone you are shopping for. And if you are buying ladies hats and funny hats for men from Mad Hatter, it gets even easier. Every stylish hat is one size fits most, so your number is a quick confidence check, not a high-stakes decision.
Key Takeaways
- A flexible measuring tape is the most accurate way to determine your hat size. No tape? Use a piece of string and a ruler
- Measure over your hair, styled the way you normally wear it under a hat
- Every Mad Hatter hat is an adjustable snapback that fits most heads, so you can skip the fractions of an inch
How to Measure Hat Size At Home
Method 1: Flexible Tailor’s Measuring Tape (Recommended)
This is the most accurate method, and it uses the soft tape that is probably buried in a sewing kit somewhere in your house.
- Wrap the tape horizontally around the widest part of your head, about ⅛ inch (1 cm) above your ears and eyebrows. That is where your hat will sit, sweatband and all.
- Keep it snug but comfortable. If it digs in, loosen it. If you can slide two fingers under it, pull it tighter.
- Read the number where the tape overlaps and write it down in both inches and centimeters, since brands size in one or the other.
Method 2: Household String or Ribbon Technique
No measuring tape? Grab a piece of non-stretchy string, ribbon, or even dental floss. Skip yarn and elastic. Anything with stretch will give you a number that is too small.
- Wrap the string around your head in the same spot as Method 1, about ⅛ inch above your ears and eyebrows.
- Mark the point where the end overlaps with a marker, or pinch it tight with your fingers.
- Lay the string flat against a rigid ruler or a hard tape measure and read the length.
Pro tips:
- Measure twice. If the two numbers do not match, measure a third time and go with the number that shows up most.
- Ask a friend to help. It is hard to keep the tape level around the back of your own head.
- If you land between two measurements, round up to the larger size. A slightly big hat can be adjusted or taken in, which is how to make a hat smaller without buying a new one. A tight hat just hurts.
Do You Even Need to Measure for a Snapback?
Honest answer: not really. A snapback has a plastic adjuster strap in the back with a row of snaps, so the hat flexes across a wide range of head sizes. Your head measurement tells you whether you are inside that range, and almost everyone is. It does not decide which hat you buy.
Every Mad Hatter hat is an adjustable snapback, one size fits most. That means you get to pick a hat for the joke on the front instead of the number on the tag. Measured on the small side? Snap the strap a notch tighter. On the bigger side? Open it up. That is the whole process. If you want the full rundown on how the closure works, our guide on what a snapback is and how to wear one covers it.
How to Measure Hat Size for a Gift
Measuring someone’s head without them noticing is basically a heist. Here are three ways to pull it off:
- Measure a hat they already own and love. Lay it flat, measure the inside band from seam to seam, and double that number.
- Borrow one of their ball caps and check the tag. A fitted size or an S/M/L label tells you most of what you need.
- Skip the whole thing. An adjustable snapback means you do not have to guess.
If you are going with option three, a few crowd favorites make easy gifts: the My Dog Said You’re a Hoe Hat for the friend with no filter, the Unc Snapback Hat for the guy who has earned the title, and the Bait Bandit Snapback Hat for anyone who lives for lake days.
How to Measure Hat Size FAQs
What is the average hat size for men and women?
Most adult men’s heads measure somewhere around 22 to 23½ inches, which works out to a fitted size of about 7 to 7½. Most adult women measure a little smaller, around 21½ to 22½ inches. Plenty of people fall outside those ranges, which is one reason adjustable hats are so popular.
Should I measure over my hair?
Yes. Measure your head with your hair styled the way you usually wear it under a hat. A bun, braids, or a fresh haircut can each change your number by a fraction of an inch.
Is head circumference the same as hat size?
Not exactly. Head circumference is the raw measurement around your head. Hat size is how a brand turns that number into a label, like a fitted 7⅜ or a size Large. To estimate a fitted size, divide your measurement in inches by 3.14 and round to the nearest eighth. Different hat styles also fit differently, so check each brand’s size chart before you buy.
How do I know if a hat is too tight?
A hat that is too tight leaves a red line on your forehead, gives you a headache, or rides up off your head as you move. If any of that sounds familiar, loosen the strap or size up.
Do hats stretch out over time?
A little. Cotton and wool sweatbands relax with wear, especially in the first few weeks. Synthetic blends stretch less. With a snapback it barely matters, since you can tighten the strap a notch whenever it loosens up.
You Measured. Now Pick the Punchline.
You have your number, and with a one size fits most snapback you will barely need it. That is the best part of shopping for adjustable hats online: no returns because the size was off, only the tough call of which joke goes on your head.
Start with our cool trucker hats, check out the flatbill hat lineup, or dig through all of our funny hats until one fits your personality as well as it fits your head.