Wide Brim Summer Hats: How to Pick and Style One

For sunny summer walks, pick a hat with a brim of about 3 inches or more, a breathable material such as straw, linen or light cotton, and a tag that says UPF 50+ if sun protection is the goal. A bucket hat with a slightly extended brim works for short walks. A true wide brim shades more of your face and neck.

Here is how to choose the width, the fabric and the shape, and how to wear it.

Section 01

Why a wide brim protects better

A brim throws a shadow over the parts of you that burn first: face, ears, nose and the back of the neck. Dermatologist Anna L. Chien, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told the Skin Cancer Foundation: "A hat with a 3-inch brim protects the top of your scalp, ears and face."

That makes 3 inches a sensible minimum. Anything narrower is more of a style choice than a sun tool, which is fine for a quick errand but not for a long walk at midday.

Section 02

How wide should the brim be?

Start at 3 inches and go up depending on how long you will be outside. A brim of 4 inches or more also covers your neck and shoulders when the sun is behind you.

Extra wide brim summer hats look dramatic and give the most shade, but they catch wind and can feel unwieldy in a crowd or on a bike. If you walk on breezy days, look for an adjustable chin cord or a snug crown. Packable styles that fold flat are easier to carry and usually keep their shape if you store them flat.

Section 03

What does UPF 50+ mean on a hat?

UPF measures how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric lets through. The Skin Cancer Foundation says a UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ offers excellent protection. Its Seal of Recommendation requires a minimum of UPF 50, which blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays and allows only 2 percent through.

A wide brim sun hat with UPF 50 covers both the fabric and the shade. Tightly woven material helps, and a hat without a rating can still be useful, but the label is the only way to know what the fabric does. Clouds do not cancel the need: dermatologist Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, notes that UVA rays "penetrate through windows and clouds year-round."

Section 04

What is the best hat to keep cool in hot weather?

The best hat to keep cool in hot weather is light, airy and light in color. Straw, raffia and paper braid let air move through the weave, though an open weave lets some sun through too, so check for a rating or a dense braid. Linen and thin cotton are cooler than canvas or polyester and dry quickly if you sweat.

Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd choose a pale hat for midday. Light colors read as cooler on the eye, and a pale underside is easy to pair with most outfits. A dark underbrim can cut glare, though, so it is worth trying both if you are sensitive to bright light.

Section 05

What are wide brimmed hats called?

The names overlap, and shops use them loosely. These are the common ones:

• Floppy hat: a soft, flexible brim that droops. Easy to pack, relaxed in look.
• Sun hat: a general term for any hat made for shade, usually with a wide brim.
• Boater: a flat crown and a flat, stiff brim, traditionally straw.
• Fedora or panama: a pinched crown with a medium to wide brim. Panamas are woven straw.
• Wide brim bucket hat: a bucket shape with a brim stretched past the usual size, a casual middle ground.

Section 06

Women's and men's wide brim hats

Wide brim summer hats women's styles often lean toward floppy and boater shapes, while wide brim summer hats men's collections tend to favor panama, fedora and structured canvas. The shapes are not tied to gender, though. What matters is head size and crown depth, so measure around your head just above the eyebrows and compare it to the size chart.

The idea that a hat must match a face shape is more of a guideline than a rule. A good starting point: if your face is angular, a rounded crown softens it, and if your face is round, a bit more structure adds definition. Try a few in front of a mirror and trust what you see.

Section 07

How to style a wide brim hat

Let the hat be the loudest piece, then keep the rest simple.

• With a linen shirt dress or a white sundress, choose a natural straw tone and flat sandals.
• With shorts and a tee, pick a canvas or cotton bucket hat in a neutral such as khaki or navy.
• With a bold print, match the hat to one of its quieter colors so the two do not compete.
• With a polished outfit, a structured brim in straw looks intentional.

Sunglasses fit best if the brim is wide enough that the frames do not push the hat up. For more ideas, see wide-brim hats for sunny and breezy days.

Section 08

Bucket hats as a lighter option

If a big brim feels like too much, a bucket hat is easier to wear and pack. Look for a brim closer to 3 inches than the thin ones, and a fabric with a UPF label. Our other guides cover bucket hats for sun protection and why the shape came back.

Pastels, stripes and corduroy are popular for bucket styles, but a plain cotton one in beige, white or navy goes with nearly everything.

Section 09

Care and packing tips

• Check the care label before washing. Many cotton hats can be washed by hand, while straw should be wiped with a damp cloth.
• Air-dry away from direct heat so the brim keeps its shape.
• Store straw and structured hats flat or on a shelf, not under a heavy bag.
• Fold soft hats gently for travel and reshape the crown by hand.

Pair the hat with a lightweight scarf or sunglasses and you have a complete sun kit for a long walk.

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Frequently asked questions

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