Wide Brim Summer Hats: How to Choose and Wear One
- Words by
- Julio Arco
- Published
- Reading
- 5 min
The best wide brim summer hat has a brim of about 3 inches or more all the way around, a breathable weave like straw, and a fit that stays put in wind. Add a UPF 50 rating if sun protection is the main goal.
Below: how wide the brim should be, which materials keep you coolest, what the styles are called, and how to wear them.
Why does a wide brim protect better than a cap?
A brim shades the parts of you a cap leaves out. Dermatologist Anna L. Chien, MD, of Johns Hopkins, told the Skin Cancer Foundation: "A hat with a 3-inch brim protects the top of your scalp, ears and face." A baseball cap shades the face but usually leaves ears and the back of the neck exposed.
Hats are one layer, not the whole plan. Sunscreen on the exposed skin and shade still matter, and your dermatologist can advise on the rest.
How wide should the brim be?
For everyday summer wear, a brim of 3-4 inches covers the face and ears and still looks balanced. Go to 4-6 inches for beach days, gardens and long outdoor lunches, when you want shade on the neck and shoulders too.
Extra wide brim summer hats look dramatic and shade the most, but they catch wind, block side vision and can overwhelm a small frame. Try one on in front of a mirror and turn your head: if the brim bumps your shoulders, it is too big for daily use.
Which material is the best hat to keep cool in hot weather?
Straw, raffia and other open weaves let heat escape from the crown, so they feel coolest. Light cotton and linen are good packable alternatives. Felt and wool are warmer and better kept for spring and fall.
Through the lens of evidence-based design, I'd also look at color. A pale natural straw reads as cool and light to the eye, while a black hat looks heavier and usually feels it in direct sun.
Straw has gaps, though, and light can pass through a loose weave. Hold the hat up to a window: the tighter the weave, the more shade you get. For a deeper look at straw, see wide brim straw hats for shade on hot days.
Is a wide brim sun hat UPF 50 worth looking for?
If you will be outside for long stretches, yes. The Skin Cancer Foundation says a UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ offers excellent protection. A UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays and lets only 2 percent through.
A rating is printed on the label, so check for it. Untreated straw usually has none, which does not make it useless, but it is a different promise.
What are wide brimmed hats called?
There is no single name. These are the ones you will see most often:
- Floppy hat: a soft, flexible brim that droops. Easy to pack, very relaxed.
- Sun hat: the general term, often with a flat, wide straw brim and a low crown.
- Wide-brim fedora: a pinched, dented crown with a firm brim. It is the sharpest of the group.
- Boater: a flat crown and flat brim, usually in stiff straw.
- Panama hat: woven straw, often with a fedora shape, and worn for its lightness.
- Cartwheel hat: an extra wide, flat brim, more about drama than daily use.
Choosing a hat: women's and men's fits
Fit matters more than the label on the tag. Wide brim summer hats for women often come with softer shapes and trims, while men's versions lean toward fedoras, boaters and structured crowns, but most styles cross over. Pick by head size and brim width, not by department.
- The hat should sit snug above your ears and eyebrows without leaving a mark.
- Look for an inner sweatband or adjustable cord if you deal with wind.
- For travel, choose cotton or a flexible weave that survives a bag.
- Keep the crown height in proportion: a tall crown suits longer faces, a low one suits rounder faces.
How to style a wide brim hat
A big brim is the loudest thing in the outfit, so let the rest be simpler. Here are formulas that work.
- Beach: floppy straw hat, a loose cover-up, flat sandals and a woven tote.
- Brunch: ribbon-trimmed hat, a midi wrap dress, ballet flats.
- Casual day: cream cotton hat, denim shorts, a linen shirt with the sleeves rolled, white sneakers.
- City: a black felt brim with high-waisted jeans and a cropped jacket, for cooler days.
As an architect trained in evidence-based design, I'd treat the brim as a frame for the face: the eye reads it first, so match its color to something you wear, like a bag or a sandal, and the look feels intentional.
On proportion, pair a large brim with a streamlined or flowing outfit rather than a very baggy one, so the silhouette does not feel top-heavy. For more ideas, see summer hat trends and how to style wide-brim hats and wide-brim hats for summer vacation.
What to wear with it
Oversized or cat-eye sunglasses suit the shape. Hoop earrings show under a brim, while long necklaces work with open necklines. If your brim is very wide, skip big dangling earrings that fight it.
On breezy days, our guide to wide-brim hats for sunny and breezy days covers chin straps and secure fits. If you prefer a smaller shape, bucket hats are the lighter option.
Store your hat in a cool, dry place and brush off dust with a soft brush or a damp cloth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hat to wear in a hot summer?
A wide brim straw or raffia hat with a tight weave is usually the coolest choice, since the open weave lets heat out. A light color helps, and a UPF 50 label adds sun protection.
What are those wide brimmed hats called?
Common names are floppy hat, sun hat, wide-brim fedora, boater, Panama hat and cartwheel hat. The names differ by crown shape and how stiff the brim is.
What is the best hat to keep cool in hot weather?
Pick breathable straw, raffia, or lightweight cotton in a pale shade. A brim of 3 inches or more keeps the sun off your face and ears.
Do wide brim hats stay on in wind?
They can, if the hat has a snug fit, an inner band or an adjustable chin cord. Very wide, floppy brims catch the most wind.
Filed under Wardrobe Basics
