Hat Sizing Guide
Hat Sizing
Between sizes? Go up.
A hat should sit snug enough that a gust won’t lift it, and loose enough that you forget it’s on. If your measurement lands between two sizes, take the larger one — a strip of sizing tape behind the sweatband closes a gap, but nothing fixes a hat that’s too small.
How to measure
Run a tape measure — or a piece of string you can lay against a ruler afterwards — around your head where the hat actually sits: across the middle of your forehead and just above your ears. Firm, but not pulled tight. Measure twice.
Size conversion
| Hat Size | Inches | Metric | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 3/8 | 20 1/4″ | 51 | X-Small |
| 6 1/2 | 20 5/8″ | 52 | X-Small |
| 6 5/8 | 21″ | 53 | X-Small |
| 6 3/4 | 21 1/2″ | 54 | Small |
| 6 7/8 | 21 7/8″ | 55 | Small |
| 7 | 22 1/4″ | 56 | Medium |
| 7 1/8 | 22 5/8″ | 57 | Medium |
| 7 1/4 | 23″ | 58 | Large |
| 7 3/8 | 23 3/8″ | 59 | Large |
| 7 1/2 | 23 3/4″ | 60 | X-Large |
| 7 5/8 | 24″ | 61 | X-Large |
| 7 3/4 | 24 1/2″ | 62 | 2XL |
| 7 7/8 | 25″ | 63 | 2XL |
| 8 | 25 1/2″ | 64 | 3XL |
Conversion figures as published by Stetson.
Two things worth knowing
Makers don’t agree on where to measure. Stetson says to measure about an eighth of an inch above the ear; Resistol says three quarters of an inch above it — and the two are owned by the same company. That difference is worth roughly a size. Measure both ways and take the larger number if you’re ordering without trying one on.
Letter sizes drift between brands. A Medium from one hatter can run half a size off a Medium from another. Where a hat is sold in S/M/L rather than a fitted number, use the table above as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Fitted hats
Warbonnet and most quality felt hats are sold in fitted numeric sizes rather than letters. Those are the numbers in the left column — a 7 1/8 is a 7 1/8 regardless of who made it. Warbonnet does not publish its own conversion chart; the figures above are the industry standard the trade works from, and Warbonnet will fit and shape a hat in person or by arrangement.
Come get measured
We keep a proper conformateur behind the counter and we’ll steam and shape a hat to your head while you wait. It takes ten minutes and it’s the difference between a hat you wear and a hat that sits on a shelf.
Need help finding the right fit? Reach out — we’ve been fitting folks since 1973.