Crochet Hat Sizes: A Chart from Baby to Adult

An average adult woman's head is about 21.5 in around, so the hat should be about 20.5 in around and 8.5 in tall, with a crown 6.5 in across. Our hat size chart and calculator gives the numbers for every age, or for a head you've measured.

Why the hat is smaller than the head

Crochet stretches. A hat made to the exact head size slides down, so it's made 1–2 in smaller (negative ease). Choose snug for a beanie, regular for most hats and slouchy for a relaxed hat that's a little taller.

Top-down hats: when to stop increasing

Most top-down hats start as a flat circle. When the circle is as wide as the crown size (the hat's circumference divided by 3.14), stop increasing and work even rounds down the sides. The calculator links to the flat circle calculator with your crown size filled in, so every round is written out.

Measuring a head

Measure round the forehead, just above the ears and eyebrows. For a gift, the age chart is a good guide: heads vary, so stretchy stitches forgive a little.