Everyday calculator

Free hat size calculator

Find your hat size in two seconds. Enter your head circumference in centimetres or inches and the hat size calculator returns your US, UK, and European (metric) sizes plus the S/M/L letter size — with a full hat size chart and how to measure your head, updated live, as you type.

InputsLive
Units
Head circumference
cm
How the size is calculated
Your fitted hat size comes from the head’s circumference:US size = circumference (in) ÷ π, rounded to nearest 1/8
  • UK size = US size − 1/8 (UK hats run one eighth smaller).
  • EU / metric size = the circumference in centimetres.
  • Letter size = an XS–XXXL band of that circumference.
Check our examples
55 cm — average women's58 cm — Large, US 7¼22 in — US 760 cm — XL
Result
Your US hat size
58.0 cm head (22.8 in) · UK 7⅛ · EU 58 · L
US fitted size
UK fitted size7⅛
EU size (cm)58
Letter sizeL
Hat size chart
cmUSUKLetter
526⅜XS
536⅝XS
546⅝S
556⅞S
5676⅞M
577⅛7M
587⅛L
597⅜L
607⅜XL
617⅝XL
627⅝XXL
637⅞XXL
6487⅞XXXL

A starting size from the standard fitted-hat formula, not a brand fit. If between sizes, size up

Results are estimates. Consult a professional.

Definition

What is a hat size?

Your hat size is a number that describes how big around your head is — and therefore which hat will sit comfortably on it. Every system starts from the same measurement: the circumference of your head, the distance all the way around it just above your ears and eyebrows. This hat size calculator takes that one measurement and returns your size in all four common systems at once: US, UK, European (metric), and the simple S/M/L/XL letter sizing.

The reason a calculator helps is that the systems do not look alike. A single 58 cm head is a European size 58, a US 7¼, a UK 7⅛, and a Large — four different-looking labels for exactly the same hat. Knowing all four means you can buy with confidence whether the tag is metric, fractional, or just a letter.

The distance around the widest part of your head, measured about one finger-width above the ears and eyebrows. This is the number every hat size is derived from.
A number in eighths of an inch (6¾, 7, 7⅛, 7¼ …) equal to the head's diameter — circumference ÷ π. UK sizes run one eighth smaller than US.
The head circumference in centimetres, used as the size directly: a 58 cm head is a size 58 hat.
Simplified sizing — XS, S, M, L, XL — where each letter covers a band of head circumferences, used mainly for caps and casual hats.
Method

How the hat size calculator works

Fitted hat sizes are not arbitrary — they are geometric. A hat opening is roughly a circle, so a head of a given circumference needs an opening of a matching diameter. Because circumference = π × diameter, you get the US (and UK) fitted size by dividing the head circumference in inches by π (about 3.14159):

US fitted size = head circumference (inches) ÷ π, rounded to the nearest 1/8
UK fitted size = US size 1/8
EU / metric size = head circumference in cm, rounded
letter size = S / M / L / XL band of the cm circumference

A quick worked figure: a 22-inch head gives 22 ÷ π = 7.00, which rounds to a US size 7. The UK equivalent is one eighth smaller (6⅞), and in centimetres 22 inches is about 56 cm, so the European size is 56. The calculator runs this on every value you type and shows all four systems side by side.

First step

How to measure your head for a hat

The whole result depends on one accurate measurement, and it takes about ten seconds with a soft tape measure. Measure around the largest part of your head — not at an angle, and not too tight.

  1. Wrap a soft tape measure around your head about one finger-width (roughly 1 cm / ½ inch) above your ears and eyebrows — the fullest part of your head.
  2. Keep the tape level all the way around, horizontal front to back, snug against your head but not squeezing.
  3. Read the circumference where the tape meets, in centimetres or inches. Take the measurement two or three times and use the largest reading.
  4. No tape measure? Wrap a piece of string or a strip of paper around your head, mark where it overlaps, then lay it flat against a ruler.
Measure your own head rather than an old hat you own. Hats stretch, shrink, and were made to different size charts, so an existing hat is an unreliable guide to your true head circumference.
Worked example

A worked example using the hat size calculator

Example: a 58 cm head

Daniel measures his head and gets 58 cm (about 22.8 inches). He wants to know his size before buying a hat online that lists US, UK, and European labels. Here is exactly how the calculator gets there.

Step 1 — Enter the head circumference

He sets the unit to centimetres and enters 58. The European (metric) size is read off directly — in the EU system the size simply is the circumference in centimetres, so 58 cm is a European size 58.

Step 2 — Convert to the US fitted size

58 cm is 22.83 inches. Divide by π: 22.83 ÷ 3.14159 = 7.27, which rounds to the nearest eighth as . That is Daniel's US fitted hat size.

Step 3 — Read the UK size and letter size

The UK size is one eighth smaller than the US size, so 7¼ becomes 7⅛. A 58 cm head also falls in the Large band of S/M/L/XL sizing. The calculator shows all four at once.

SystemDaniel's size
Head circumference58 cm (22.8 in)
US fitted size
UK fitted size7⅛
EU / metric size58
Letter sizeL (Large)

One 58 cm head, shown in all four sizing systems — exactly what the calculator returns.

US 7¼ · UK 7⅛ · EU 58 · Large
A 58 cm head is a US 7¼, a UK 7⅛, a European size 58, and a Large — four labels for the same hat.
Reference

Hat size chart: cm to US, UK, EU and letter sizes

This chart converts head circumference (in centimetres and inches) to a US fitted size, a UK fitted size, the European metric size, and the S/M/L/XL letter size. It covers the everyday adult range, 52 to 64 cm. Find your measured circumference in the first column and read across.

Head (cm)Head (in)US sizeUK sizeEU sizeLetter
5220.56⅜52XS
5320.96⅝53XS
5421.36⅝54S
5521.76⅞55S
5622.076⅞56M
5722.47⅛757M
5822.87⅛58L
5923.27⅜59L
6023.67⅜60XL
6124.07⅝61XL
6224.47⅝62XXL
6324.87⅞63XXL
6425.287⅞64XXXL

US size = circumference ÷ π rounded to the nearest 1/8; UK = US − 1/8; EU = circumference in cm. Every row is computed by the same engine as the calculator above.

If your measurement falls between two rows, size up. A slightly large hat can be taken in with sizing tape or an inner drawstring; a hat that is too small cannot be made bigger.
Benchmarks

What is the average hat size?

Most adult heads fall in a fairly narrow band. The average men's hat size is about 7⅛ to 7⅜ in the US system — a 57 to 59 cm head, usually a Medium to Large. The average women's hat size is roughly 6⅞ to 7⅛, a 55 to 57 cm head, usually a Small to Medium.

GroupTypical circumferenceUS sizeLetter
Average woman55–57 cm6⅞ – 7⅛S–M
Average man57–59 cm7⅛ – 7⅜M–L
Child (over ~5 yrs)51–53 cm6⅜ – 6⅝XS

Typical adult and older-child ranges. Individual heads vary widely — always measure rather than assume.

Hat types

Fitted hats vs adjustable hats

How precisely you need to know your size depends on the hat. Fitted hats — structured caps, felt hats, Panama hats, and most quality headwear — come in specific sizes (7, 7⅛, 7¼ …) and only fit one head size, so the calculator's exact number matters. Adjustable hats use a strap, snapback, or elastic and stretch across a range of sizes, so the letter size or even "one size fits most" is usually enough.

  • Fitted — buy your exact US/UK/EU size; if between sizes, go up and use sizing tape.
  • Snapback / strapback — adjustable at the back; one size covers roughly 55–62 cm.
  • Flexfit / stretch-fit — sold in S/M and L/XL letter bands that flex around a couple of sizes.
  • One size fits most — typically fits about 56–60 cm; check the stated range if your head is small or large.
The difference

US vs UK hat sizing (the one-eighth difference)

US and UK fitted hats use the same-looking fractional scale, which causes confusion — but they are not identical. For the same head, a UK size runs one eighth of an inch smaller than the US size. So a head that is a US 7¼ is a UK 7⅛; a US 7 is a UK 6⅞.

The European (metric) system sidesteps the issue entirely by labelling hats with the head circumference in centimetres, so there is nothing to convert — a 58 cm head is a size 58 hat. When you buy across regions, match on the metric size if it is given, or apply the one-eighth shift between US and UK.

Always check whether a fractional size is labelled US or UK before buying. The one-eighth difference is small but enough to make a fitted hat sit too tight or too loose.
Getting the fit right

Tips for a hat that fits

  1. Measure, don't guess. Heads vary far more than people expect; a ten-second tape measurement beats assuming you are an average size.
  2. When between sizes, size up. A larger hat is easily made to fit with foam sizing tape or an inner band; a small one cannot be stretched comfortably.
  3. Account for hair. If you usually wear your hair up or have thick hair, measure as you will wear the hat, or add a few millimetres.
  4. Check the brand's own chart. There is no universal standard, so confirm the size against the specific maker's chart, especially for felt and straw hats.
  5. A good fit is snug, not tight. The hat should rest on your head without leaving a red mark or sliding off when you look down.

For other sizing conversions, pair this with the shoe size calculator or the bra size calculator.

Methodology

How this calculator works and sources

This hat size calculator applies the standard fitted-hat geometry: the US size equals the head circumference in inches divided by π, rounded to the nearest eighth; the UK size is one eighth smaller; the European size is the circumference in centimetres; and the letter size is a band of that circumference. The maths runs entirely in your browser — your measurement is never sent anywhere. The conversions and how-to-measure guidance follow the sizing charts published by established hatters.

Lock & Co. Hatters — Hat Size Chart & How to Measure Your Hat Size.Tilley — Hat Sizing Guide.
Questions

Frequently asked questions about the free hat size calculator

A hat size calculator is a free online tool that helps you convert head circumference to US, UK, EU, and S/M/L hat sizes, with a full hat size chart and how to measure your head. US fitted size = head circumference (inches) ÷ π, rounded to the nearest 1/8; UK = US − 1/8; EU = circumference in cm. It runs entirely in your browser with instant results and no sign-up.
A 23-inch head circumference is a Large, or 7⅜ in the US system and 7¼ in the UK system — all the same hat. In the European (metric) system it is a size 58.
Choose the larger size, since it can be modified to produce a better fit. A slightly large hat is easily taken in with foam sizing tape or an inner drawstring, whereas a hat that is too small cannot be made bigger.
The average men's hat size is about 7¼ to 7⅜ (a 57–59 cm head, usually a Large), and the average women's hat size is about 6⅞ to 7⅛ (a 55–57 cm head, usually a Medium). Individual heads vary, so always measure.
Wrap a soft tape measure around the fullest part of your head, about a finger-width above your ears and eyebrows, keeping it level and snug but not tight. Read the circumference in centimetres or inches. If you don't have a tape measure, use a string or strip of paper and lay it against a ruler.
No. The scales look identical but a UK fitted size runs one eighth of an inch smaller than the US size for the same head. So a US 7¼ is a UK 7⅛, and a US 7 is a UK 6⅞. Always check whether a fractional size is labelled US or UK before buying.
In the European (metric) system, your hat size is simply your head circumference in centimetres, rounded. A 58 cm head is a size 58 hat, a 60 cm head is a size 60, and so on — there is nothing to convert.
About

About this hat size calculator

This hat size calculator runs entirely in your browser. The head circumference you enter never leaves your device — nothing is sent to a server, logged, or shared. It applies the standard fitted-hat formula (US size = circumference in inches ÷ π, rounded to the nearest eighth; UK = US − 1/8; EU = circumference in cm) and updates instantly on every change.

Calculators Cloud offers 400+ free tools with no sign-up. The whole Everyday calculators shelf includes the shoe size, ring size, and glove size calculators alongside this one. Or browse the full calculator directory.

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