Where it sits
A fedora sits at the same head line as any brimmed hat, just above the ears and crossing the forehead — measure there, with the hairstyle you intend to wear, and repeat the measurement twice, keeping the largest reading.
Fedoras & felt
Fedora size guide
Fedoras use the standard fitted hat scale — measure head circumference just above the ears, then read the fraction (or the letter) from the chart. The felt is not elastic, so between two sizes, take the larger and let a hatter or a sizing strip close the gap.
| US | UK | Head (cm) | Head (inches) | EU | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 5/8 hat size | 6 1/2 | 53.0 | 20 7/8 | 53 | S |
| 6 3/4 hat size | 6 5/8 | 53.9 | 21 1/4 | 54 | S |
| 6 7/8 hat size | 6 3/4 | 54.9 | 21 5/8 | 55 | S |
| 7 hat size | 6 7/8 | 55.8 | 22 | 56 | M |
| 7 1/8 hat size | 7 | 56.8 | 22 3/8 | 57 | M |
| 7 1/4 hat size | 7 1/8 | 57.7 | 22 3/4 | 58 | L |
| 7 3/8 hat size | 7 1/4 | 58.7 | 23 1/8 | 59 | L |
| 7 1/2 hat size | 7 3/8 | 59.6 | 23 1/2 | 60 | XL |
| 7 5/8 hat size | 7 1/2 | 60.6 | 23 7/8 | 61 | XL |
| 7 3/4 hat size | 7 5/8 | 61.5 | 24 1/4 | 62 | XXL |
| 7 7/8 hat size | 7 3/4 | 62.5 | 24 5/8 | 63 | XXL |
| 8 hat size | 7 7/8 | 63.5 | 25 | 64 | XXL |
| 8 1/8 hat size | 8 | 64.5 | 25 3/8 | 65 | XXL |
| 8 1/4 hat size | 8 1/8 | 65.4 | 25 3/4 | 65 | XXL |
Sizing a fedora properly
Buying online
Modern makers publish their own letter-to-cm maps, and they do not agree with each other — a current brand's L can start at 58 cm while another starts at 57. The fraction (7 1/4, 7 3/8) is the only internationally stable label; prefer it wherever a seller offers both.
Vintage sourcing
For vintage fedoras, check whether the size is printed on the sweatband, the lining or the brim edge — and expect old bands to have shrunk towards a smaller size. Measuring the band's inner circumference beats trusting the printed number alone.
Fedora size FAQs
What size fedora should I buy?
a fedora is bought to head circumference: find your cm in the chart above and read the fitted fraction, or match the letter size if the maker uses S–XXL. For a modern wool or fur-felt fedora, between two sizes take the larger.
Does the brim width or crown style change the size?
No. Brim width and crown shapes (teardrop, centerdent, pork-pie-adjacent) are style features and do not alter the internal band circumference. A wide-brim fedora in your usual size fits like a short-brim one.
How do vintage fedoras fit compared with new ones?
Vintage crowns often run slightly smaller for the printed size, and old sweatbands have stiffened or shrunk — a 'new old stock' hat marked 7 1/8 can wear like a 7. Treat vintage sizes as the starting point for a trial, not a guarantee.
What if my fedora feels tight at the front but loose at the back?
That is a head-shape mismatch: most fedoras are cut on a regular oval, and long-oval heads pinch at the front-to-back plane instead. It can be corrected: a hatter can re-oval the crown, and some makers sell the same size in a long-oval block.
Are fedora sizes the same as cap sizes?
The fractions are identical — a US 7 1/4 fedora and a US 7 1/4 fitted cap both suit a 57.7 cm head. The fit feeling differs because felt is stiffer: a cap stretches a little, a structured fedora does not.