ILLUSTRATED GLOSSARY · HATS
Types of hats.
Twelve hats in the same warm camel tones, so the crown and brim are easy to compare.
Updated · By the Delve to Life editors · Editorial standards
THE QUICK ANSWER
The main types of hats are the baseball cap, beanie, bucket hat, beret, fedora, trilby, panama, cloche, boater, floppy sun hat, newsboy cap and cowboy hat. Most are named by the shape of the crown (the top) and the brim: no brim (beanie, beret), a front peak (baseball, newsboy) or a brim all round (fedora, bucket, sun hat).
How hats are named
A hat has two parts: the crown, which covers the head, and the brim, which sticks out. Names describe their shape (cloche, bucket), how they're made (knit beanie, straw boater) or where they come from (panama, cowboy).
Which one should you choose?
Start with what you want the hats to do, then jump to the styles that do it.
| If you want to… | Try | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun protection | Floppy sun hat, Panama hat, Bucket hat, Boater | A brim all the way round. |
| Warmth | Beanie, Beret, Newsboy cap, Cloche hat | Close-fitting wool and knit. |
| Smart casual | Fedora, Trilby, Beret | Structured felt shapes. |
| Casual and sporty | Baseball cap, Bucket hat, Beanie | Soft and easy. |
| A statement | Cowboy hat, Floppy sun hat, Cloche hat | Distinctive shapes people notice. |
All 12 hat styles, with pictures
Baseball cap
A soft cap with a rounded crown and a stiff front brim.
Also called: Cap, dad hat (unstructured)
How to spot it. Six-panel crown, a button on top and an adjustable strap at the back.
How to wear it. Weekends, sport and travel; the most casual hat.
Beanie
A close-fitting knitted hat, often with a folded cuff.
Also called: Knit hat, toque (Canada), woolly hat (UK)
How to spot it. Stretchy rib knit with no brim.
How to wear it. Cold weather with coats and puffers.
Bucket hat
A soft hat with a short brim that slopes down all round.
Also called: Fisherman hat
How to spot it. Flat-topped crown and a downward brim, usually in cotton or nylon.
How to wear it. Summer, festivals and streetwear.
Beret
A soft, round, flat hat with no brim.
Also called: Basque beret
How to spot it. A flat circle of wool or felt worn tilted to one side.
How to wear it. Autumn and winter with coats and knits.
Fedora
A felt hat with an indented crown, pinched front and medium brim.
Also called: Trilby (when shorter-brimmed)
How to spot it. A crease down the top, two pinches at the front and a ribbon band.
How to wear it. Smart casual with coats; also a classic in straw for summer.
Trilby
A narrow-brimmed hat with a short brim turned up at the back.
Also called: Short-brim fedora
How to spot it. Like a fedora, but the brim is shorter and angled down at the front.
How to wear it. Smart casual and festival looks.
Panama hat
A light, woven straw hat with a flat brim and a ribbon band.
Also called: Straw fedora
How to spot it. Fine natural straw, a creased crown like a fedora and a dark band.
How to wear it. Summer and travel with linen.
Cloche hat
A close-fitting, bell-shaped hat with a small downturned brim.
Also called: Bell hat
How to spot it. A rounded crown that sits low on the forehead.
How to wear it. 1920s looks and winter coats.
Boater
A stiff straw hat with a flat top and a flat brim.
Also called: Straw boater, skimmer
How to spot it. A flat crown, a straight round brim and a ribbon band.
How to wear it. Summer events, regattas and garden parties.
Floppy sun hat
A wide-brimmed sun hat with a soft, wavy brim.
Also called: Wide-brim hat, sun hat
How to spot it. A brim far wider than the crown that droops and moves.
How to wear it. Beach, holidays and summer shade.
Newsboy cap
A round, paneled cap with a full crown and a short brim.
Also called: Baker boy cap, flat cap (flatter)
How to spot it. A puffy crown made of panels, a button on top and a small peak.
How to wear it. Autumn and winter with tweeds and knits.
Cowboy hat
A tall-crowned hat with a wide brim curled up at the sides.
Also called: Western hat, Stetson
How to spot it. A creased crown and a brim that rolls up on both sides.
How to wear it. Western looks, concerts and festivals.
Easily confused
| Pair | The difference |
|---|---|
| Fedora vs trilby | A fedora's brim is wider and flatter; a trilby's is short and angled down at the front. |
| Bucket vs boonie | Both have a brim all round. A bucket hat's brim slopes down; a boonie is wider and often has a chin strap. |
| Newsboy vs flat cap | A newsboy cap has a fuller, paneled crown with a button; a flat cap is slimmer and lies flat. |
Questions people ask
What are the different types of hats?
The most common are baseball caps, beanies, bucket hats, berets, fedoras, trilbies, panama hats, cloches, boaters, wide-brim sun hats, newsboy caps and cowboy hats.
What is the difference between a fedora and a trilby?
A fedora has a wider, flatter brim; a trilby has a short brim turned down at the front and up at the back.
What is a Panama hat?
A light straw hat with a fedora-like crown, handwoven in Ecuador from toquilla straw. The name stuck because many were shipped through Panama.
What hat is best for a round face?
Hats with height and some angle, like a fedora or a trilby worn slightly tilted, lengthen a round face more than round, close-fitting shapes.
What is a hat with no brim called?
Beanies, berets and skull caps have no brim.
Still not sure what yours is called? Tap through the pictures, or add a screenshot, and we'll name it and find real ones.
Describe it with picturesThe illustrations and outfit photos on this page are AI-generated so each style can be shown clearly. They are not products.
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