What size cowboy hat do I need? The chart
| Size | Head (inches) | Head (cm) | Fitted size |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 20 to 20 7/8 | 52 to 53 | 6 1/2 |
| SM | 21 to 21 7/8 | 54 to 55 | 6 7/8 |
| MD | 22 to 22 3/4 | 56 to 57 | 7 1/8 |
| LG | 22 7/8 to 23 1/2 | 58 to 59 | 7 3/8 |
| XL | 23 5/8 to 24 1/4 | 60 to 61 | 7 5/8 |
| 2X (XX) | 24 3/8 to 24 7/8 | 62 to 63 | 7 7/8 |
| 3X | 25 to 25 5/8 | 64 to 65 | 8 1/8 |
Source: American Hat Makers’ size guide, checked November 6, 2026. Some product listings show 2X as XX. One-size (OS) hats are listed by the store as one size fits most. Some caps use S/M (22 1/8 to 22 3/4 inches) and L/XL (22 7/8 to 23 5/8 inches).
How do you measure your head for a hat?
- Grab a soft tape measure. A piece of string works too if you lay it against a ruler afterward.
- Wrap it around your head where a hat sits: a quarter to half an inch above your ears and three quarters of an inch to an inch above your eyebrows.
- Keep it level all the way around and snug, not tight. A tight tape gives you a tight hat.
- Pinch the spot where the tape overlaps and read it. Centimeters are easier to read precisely.
- Do it again. When you get the same number twice, that’s your number.
How do you read the size chart?
Find your measurement in the inches or centimeters column. If it lands inside a range, that’s your size. If it falls right on the edge, or between two sizes, go up one and use an insert. The fitted size column (7 1/8 and so on) is useful when you compare against other brands’ charts.
How do you check the fit when the hat arrives?
Put it on level. It should sit about a finger above your eyebrows and clear the tops of your ears. Turn your head fast; it should stay put. Wear it for half an hour indoors. No red line on your forehead and no headache means you nailed it. A loose hat gets an insert. A tight felt hat may ease a little as the sweatband shapes to you; a tight straw hat won’t.
How do you find your hat size without a tape measure?
Use a piece of string, a phone charging cable or a strip of paper. Wrap it around your head in the same spot a hat sits, pinch or mark where it overlaps, then lay it flat against a ruler or a tape from the toolbox. American Hat Makers’ guide suggests the string method too. No ruler handy? A US dollar bill is 6.14 inches long, so three and a half bills laid end to end is about 21 1/2 inches, close enough to tell a small from a large. Or put on a hat that already fits well and check its size tag. Then use our size tool to convert the number.
What hat is best for a big head?
One that’s sold in your actual size. American Hat Makers’ chart runs up to 3X, for heads of 25 to 25 5/8 inches, and its sun hats, top hats, outbacks and some cowboy hats and fedoras are stocked in 3X. One-size hats rarely stretch that far, so skip them. Style-wise, a bigger head carries a wider brim and a taller crown well; a tiny brim on a big head looks like a hat that belongs to someone else. Use the size filter on any hub to see only hats in your size.
