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Saturday, 3 October 2026Fashion, style and modelingLTEN
Clothing guide

Types of hats: caps, beanies and brimmed hats

Three things tell headwear apart: whether it has a peak (caps), a brim all the way round (hats) or neither (beanies, berets). Then the crown shape, the brim width and the material: felt, straw, knit or cotton.

Below are the types of hats and caps drawn on a head from the side, so you can see how deep they sit and how far the brim reaches. Each page covers how to recognise them, where they come from, who and when they suit, what to pair them with.

Baseball capA baseball cap is a soft six-panel cap with a curved peak at the front and an adjustable strap at the back.Fitted capA fitted cap is a structured cap with a flat peak and a closed back with no adjustable strap, so it is bought by head size.Snapback hatA snapback is a structured cap with a flat peak, adjusted at the back by a plastic snap strap.Trucker hatA trucker hat has a stiff foam front panel, a mesh back for ventilation and a curved peak.BeanieA beanie is a close-fitting knitted hat with no peak or brim, often with a folded ribbed cuff.BalaclavaA balaclava is a knitted or jersey hood that covers the whole head, the neck and part of the face, leaving only the face or eyes open.UshankaAn ushanka is a warm fur or faux-fur hat with ear flaps that can be tied up on top or under the chin.Bucket hatA bucket hat is a soft hat with a low round crown and a narrow brim that slopes down all the way round.Panama hatA Panama hat is a light, pale hat woven from fine toquilla straw with a dented crown and a narrow or medium brim.FedoraA fedora is a hat with a dented crown, a pinch at the front and a medium brim turned down at the front and up at the back.Trilby hatA trilby is like a fedora but lower, with a narrow brim turned up at the back and down at the front.BeretA beret is a soft, round, flat hat without a brim, usually in wool felt, worn tilted to one side.Cowboy hatA cowboy hat is a tall hat with a creased crown and a wide brim curled up at the sides.Boater hatA boater is a stiff straw hat with a flat top, a straight flat brim and a ribbon band.Cloche hatA cloche is a close-fitting bell-shaped hat that covers the head down to the brows, with a narrow downturned brim.Wide-brim sun hatA wide-brim sun hat is a light summer hat with a very wide, soft, wavy brim that shades the face and shoulders.Bowler hatA bowler is a hard felt hat with a round, domed crown and a narrow brim curled up at the edges.Top hatA top hat is a tall, flat-topped, straight-sided hat with a narrow brim curled at the edges, part of formal dress.Newsboy capA newsboy cap is a soft round cap made of eight panels with a button on top and a short peak at the front.Flat capA flat cap is a firm, flat cap that looks like a wedge from the side, with a short peak sewn to the crown.

How to choose

  • Every day and for sport: baseball cap, fitted, snapback.
  • Summer sun: bucket, Panama, sun hat, trucker.
  • Winter: beanie, ushanka, balaclava.
  • For an elegant look: fedora, beret, cloche, boater; formal: top hat.

By brim

TypeHats
Peakedbaseball, fitted, snapback, trucker, newsboy, flat cap
Brimlessbeanie, balaclava, beret, ushanka
Narrow brimtrilby, bowler, top hat, cloche, bucket
Wide brimfedora, Panama, boater, cowboy, sun hat

Related guides

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

01What are the types of hats?

Baseball cap, fitted, snapback, trucker, beanie, balaclava, ushanka, bucket, Panama, fedora, trilby, beret, cowboy, boater, cloche, sun hat, bowler, top hat, newsboy and flat cap.

02What is the difference between a cap and a hat?

A hat has a firm crown and a brim all round; a cap is soft, brimless or peaked.

03How do you measure your head for a hat?

Measure with a tape around the head above the brows and ears; the centimetres are the size.

04How does a fitted cap differ from a snapback?

A fitted cap is closed and sized; a snapback adjusts with a plastic strap.

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