Cowboy Hat Size Guide: How to Measure Your Head

Published by Wild Nord — Western fashion editorial team

Cowboy Hat Size Guide: How to Measure Your Head

A poorly fitted cowboy hat won’t stay put, squeezes your temples, or drops over your eyes at the first gust of wind. Luckily, measuring your head only takes a tape measure and three minutes. This guide gives you the exact method to find your size, decode labels, and adjust a hat that doesn’t fit you properly.

Check out our complete guide: Cowboy boots size guide: never get it wrong online.

How to measure your head

The measurement is simple, but it needs to be done correctly to be reliable.

What you need: a soft measuring tape (the kind from a sewing kit, not a rigid ruler). If you don’t have a soft tape, a shoelace or a piece of string will do, then you can measure the string with a ruler afterward.

The method:

1. Place the measuring tape about 2.5 cm above your ears.
2. Run it across your forehead, slightly above your eyebrows.
3. Go all the way around your head, keeping it level.
4. The tape should be firm but not tight. You should be able to slip a finger underneath.
5. Write down the measurement in centimetres.

Measure twice to double-check. If you’re between two measurements, note both. You’ll need them to choose between two sizes.

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Size conversion chart

Important: straw hats are generally less precise in sizing than felt hats. Straw styles often run slightly large. If you’re between two sizes for a straw hat, go with the smaller size.

Understanding labels: EU, US, and S/M/L

Western hats use three sizing systems depending on where they come from.

European sizing matches your head circumference in centimetres. A size 58 hat fits a 58 cm head. It’s the simplest and most reliable system.

American sizing uses fractions around 7. A 7 corresponds to about a 56 cm head circumference. The fractions are: 6⅞ (55 cm), 7 (56 cm), 7⅛ (57 cm), 7¼ (58 cm), and so on.

Generic S/M/L sizes are the least precise. They vary from brand to brand and from country to country. If you don’t have any other info, use the chart above as a reference, but always check the size guide for the specific style.

What to do if the hat is too big

A slightly oversized hat can be adjusted with a few simple tricks.

Adjusting strips: most quality hats have an inner leather or fabric sweatband you can tighten or adjust. Some styles come with removable adhesive strips you stick inside the crown.

Foam sizing tape: available in haberdashery or sewing stores, these self-adhesive strips go inside the hat and reduce the circumference by a few millimetres.

The hatband: a thicker hatband (leather or fabric) adds volume and can take up a bit of extra space between your head and the crown.

If the hat is a full size too big, none of these solutions will be truly satisfying. A size 60 can’t be brought down to a 57.

What to do if the hat is too small

A hat that’s too small is harder to adjust. Felt can be slightly stretched with steam by a professional hatter, but the stretch is limited (2 to 3 cm max around the circumference).

At home, some people use the pressure-cooker method: lightly steam the inside of the hat, then put it on and let it cool to your size. It can work on wool felt, but it can damage a quality hat. If you’re not comfortable doing this, it’s better to buy the right size.

Straw hats can’t be stretched.

Common measuring mistakes

Measuring too low: if you place the tape directly on your ears, the measurement will be too large. The hat should sit slightly above your ears, not on them.

Measuring too tight: measuring too tightly will give you a size that squeezes your temples. The tape should be snug but not pulled tight.

Forgetting your hairstyle: if you usually wear a hat with your hair down or with a lot of volume, measure with your usual hairstyle. A bun or thick braids can reduce the available size.

To go further than sizing when choosing a hat, crown shape, brim width, material, our complete guide to choosing your cowboy hat covers every factor.