Hat Sizing Info

How to Find Your Perfect Fit: The Ultimate Head Measuring Guide

We’ve all been there: you find the perfect Fedora or a classic Bakerboy cap, only for it to arrive and either pinch your forehead or fly off with the first gust of British wind.

At The Hat Company, we want your hat to feel like it was made just for you. Before you click "add to basket," grab a tape measure and follow these simple steps to find your size.

1. What You’ll Need

You don't need a professional tailor’s kit to get this right. Just find:

• A flexible measuring tape (cloth or plastic).

• A mirror (to make sure you’re level).

• A piece of string and a ruler (if you don’t have a flexible tape measure).

2. The Technique

For the most comfortable fit, you want to measure exactly where the hat will sit on your head.

1. Position the tape: Place the tape measure in the centre of your forehead, about 2cm (roughly 1 inch) above your eyebrows and just above your ears.

2. Wrap it around: Pass the tape around the widest part of the back of your head.

3. Check the tension: Hold the tape snugly, but don’t pull it too tight. You want it to feel exactly how you’d want a hat to feel - secure but breathable.

4. Read the result: Take the measurement in centimetres. This is the standard for most UK and European millinery.

Pro Tip: If you are between sizes, we usually recommend sizing up. It is much easier to add a small hat insert (sizer) to a slightly large hat than it is to stretch a small one!

3. International Size Conversion

Most UK hats will show the size in centimetres, but you might have a hat which has a size in inches or S/M/L. Use this handy table to double-check: 

IMPORTANT: The table below is a general sizing guide. Where possible we try to put specific sizing information about a hat in either the product description or the sizing options available.  

 

4. Consider Your "Hat Style"

How do you like to wear your hats?

• The Classic Tilt: If you like wearing your hats at an angle (common with Fedoras or Trilbies), measure at that specific angle.

• The "Halo" Style: If you prefer wearing your hat further back on the head (common with porkpie hats, ensure your measurement accounts for that lower position at the back.

Ready to find your new favourite look?