How Tightly Should Your Hat Fit?

Whether you're a fan of baseball caps, and can't get enough of them, or just plop one on your head every now and then, one thing is very important: It needs to fit right. Your fit matters for a handful of reasons, but here are just a couple. You don't want your hat to give you a headache. You certainly don't want it blowing off the first sign of a stiff breeze. So, what do you do? How do you know if your hat fits correctly? Just exactly how tight should it be?

So you don't make a mistake when deciding how tightly your hat should fit, we’re going to give you some considerations that end up being pretty crucial.

Hat Fit

Why is it so important that your hat fits correctly? Have you ever worn shoes that don't fit? Not much fun, is it? The same goes for your hat. It doesn't feel good to wear a hat that doesn't fit right. Additionally, you can look ridiculous if your hat fits badly. Nobody wants that.

Keep in mind that all hats won't fit properly in the same size. As with other articles of clothing, some manufacturers vary their sizes just slightly. One type of hat in a size 7 may not fit exactly as another type of hat in a size 7. That is just one example, of course. It applies to all sizes.

What to Consider

Hat fitting has several basics. No matter what hat you're talking about, keep these things in mind:

• Proportions – The hat should not look silly or disproportionate to your head, face, or body.
• Hat size chart – Though some hat manufacturers provide size charts for their products, here's a standard size chart:

Size 8 to 8 1/8 = 25 inches to 25 1/2 inches = XXX large

Size 7 3/4 to 7 7/8 = 24 1/4 inches to 24 5/8 inches = XX large

Size 7 1/2 to 7 5/8 = 23 1/2 to 23 7/8 inches = X large

Size 7 1/4 to 7 3/8 = 22 5/8 inches to 23 inches = large

Size 6 3/4 to 6 7/8 = 21 1/8 inches to 21 1/2 inches = small

• Fabric – Different behavior can be expected from different materials or fabrics. For example, you can't stretch extremely static hats like straw hats or leather hats. At least, not much. Chances are, they'll be damaged in the process. If you try to stretch other hats like cotton or wool, you may have more luck. Be careful when washing them, however, because they can shrink.

How Tight Should My Hat Be?

Here is your basic rule(s) of thumb when it comes to how tightly your cap should fit:

• If the wind blows, it should not come off your head. (We’re talking a stiff breeze here, not an all-out tornado!)
• It should feel reasonably snug.
• It should never be a distraction or cause discomfort.
• It should be proportionate to the size of your head and face.

Is Your Head Hard to Fit?

At Hat Heaven, we have hats of all sizes. We also have adjustable hats for those hard to fit heads. With lots of colors to choose from, a wide array of team logos, and other variations and styles, we've got something for everyone. That includes kids’ caps! Best of all – our inventory is extensive!