Cotton
The everyday all-rounder. Best in warm, dry conditions and the safest starting point if you're buying your first.
What is a bucket hat?
One core thing makes a bucket hat. The brim, it needs to run the full way round and slope gently downwards. That single feature alone is what separates it from every cap in our range.
Everything else is secondary. The crown is normally soft and unstructured, with no buckram lining holding a fixed shape, so the hat packs flat and sits close. And rather than an adjustable closure at the back, bucket hats normally come in set sizes or a single one-size fit.
What are the features of a bucket hat?
-
All-round brim
-
Soft crown
-
Two-size fit
-
Breathable lining
Bucket hat materials and when to wear them
Choosing the right fabric really depends on where and when you plan to wear it.
Fleece and heavier fabrics
For colder months, where the hat is insulating as well as finishing an outfit. Wool styles do the same job.
Nylon and technical fabrics
Built for rain, wind and active use. They pack down small and dry quickly, which makes them the sensible choice for travel and hiking. Our mesh and technical styles sit here.
Mesh and ventilated
Peak summer and sport. Airflow over coverage, for days when a solid crown would be too much.
Where did the bucket hat come from?
The bucket hat started as a piece of working headwear, meant for outdoor and fishing use. Specifically designed to handle the weather rather than being focused on looks, with a brim that shed rain away from the face and shoulders.
It was picked up by 1960s mod culture, then by hip hop in the 80s, then by Britpop and football terrace culture through the 90s, and most recently by streetwear. The majority of these scenes had almost nothing in common with each other. This isn't a hat that came out of fashion and found its way into real life. It came out of real life, and fashion has adopted it again and again.
Are bucket hats still in style?
The bucket hat stopped being a trend years ago and has settled into being a staple piece that is almost always in fashion. An all-round brim does something a cap physically cannot, and that usefulness has outlasted every cycle it's been through.
Bucket hat vs baseball cap: what's the difference?
A cap gives you a structured crown, a peak at the front only, and an adjustable closure at the back. That means a sharper shape, a fit you can dial in, and shade where you're looking rather than all-round.
A bucket hat gives you the opposite set of trade-offs. All-round coverage, soft construction that packs flat, and a fixed or two-size fit with nothing to adjust. Neither is better. If you want sun coverage and something you can fold into a bag, take the bucket hat. If you want a structured shape and an adjustable fit, look at our fitted and adjustable caps instead.
How to wear a bucket hat
A bucket hat works across more looks than most people give it credit for. Everyday streetwear is the most obvious one, with relaxed denim or cargos and an oversized tee.
During the Summer and on holidays is where it earns its place properly, paired with lighter layers, because that all-round brim is doing real work. And then there's sport and outdoors, the hat's original job and still one it does well.
Two things worth knowing before you buy. Brim width changes the look far more than colour does, so that's the decision to make first. And if this is your first bucket hat, a black or neutral tone is the easiest starting point.
Which bucket hat suits you?
New Era Essential Black Bucket Hat
THE CLASSIC.
The original silhouette, even brim, soft crown.
FC Porto Core Blue Tapered Bucket Hat
TAPERED.
A narrower brim for a closer, less oversized profile.
Chelsea FC Retro Goal Keeper Navy Reversible Bucket Hat
REVERSIBLE.
Two colourways or patterns in one hat.
NFL Pro Bowl 2025 NFC Logo Grey Stretch Bucket Hat
MESH / VENTED.
Built for warm weather and active wear.
The thing that actually changes how a bucket hat looks on you isn't face shape, it's proportion. Brim width against the width of your face, and crown depth against the size of your head. A wider brim balances a fuller face. A shallower crown stops the hat swamping a smaller frame. Bucket hats suit most people, and where one doesn't work it's usually because the scale is wrong rather than anything to do with the wearer.
What size bucket hat do I need?
A bucket hat should sit comfortably around the crown without pressure, with the brim resting roughly mid-forehead, just above your eyebrows. It shouldn't need holding in place, and it shouldn't leave a mark when you take it off.
To find your size, take a flexible tape measure and start just above your ear. Wrap it evenly around your head until it meets the starting point, keeping it comfortable rather than tight. Measure two or three times to be sure.
| Fit type | Range | Sizes available |
|---|---|---|
| Men's and women's | Approx. 54.9cm to 63.5cm | XS/S-M, S, M/M-L, L, XL/L-XL, XXL |
| One size (OSFM) | Approx. 53.9cm to 56.8cm | One size fits most |
| Kids | Approx. 48cm to 54cm | Infant, Toddler, Child, Youth |
For the exact circumference-to-size mapping, and a short video showing the measuring method, see our bucket hat size guide.
Sport-specific designs
Our bucket hats carry officially licensed designs across the leagues and teams we work with. The silhouette suits outdoor sport particularly well, since the all-round brim handles sun from any angle, which is why you'll see it on golf courses and at cricket grounds more than you'll see a cap.
Shop by sport: Football, MLB, Cricket, Golf and Motorsports.
Or browse men's and women's bucket hats.
FAQs
What is a bucket hat?
A bucket hat is a soft, unstructured hat with a brim that runs the full way round and slopes downwards. It has no adjustable closure, coming instead in set sizes or one size. Browse the full range in our bucket hats collection.
How should a bucket hat fit?
It should sit comfortably around the crown without pressure, with the brim roughly mid-forehead just above the eyebrows. It shouldn't need holding in place or leave a mark. Check our bucket hat size guide before ordering.
Are bucket hats good for sun protection?
Yes, and better than a cap for it. The brim runs the full way round, so it shades your ears and the back of your neck as well as your face. A wider brim gives more coverage, and lighter colours reflect more heat.
Bucket hat or baseball cap, which should I choose?
Choose a bucket hat for all-round sun coverage and something that packs flat. Choose a cap for a structured shape and an adjustable fit. They solve different problems rather than one being better.
What size bucket hat should I get?
Measure around your head just above the ears with a flexible tape. Adult sizing runs roughly 54.9cm to 63.5cm, with one-size styles covering a narrower band. Our bucket hat size guide has the full table and a how-to-measure video.
Can you wear a bucket hat in winter or in the rain?
Yes to both, with the right material. Wool and fleece styles work through colder months, and nylon or technical fabrics handle rain and shed water rather than soaking it up.
How do you wash a bucket hat?
Hand wash in cool water and reshape while damp rather than machine washing or tumble drying. Care varies between cotton, technical and knitted fabrics. See our cap care guide and cap care range for more.
Do bucket hats suit everyone?
Broadly yes. The variable is proportion rather than face shape. Brim width against the width of your face and crown depth against head size are what change how it reads, so it's worth picking the silhouette that matches your frame.
What is a reversible bucket hat?
A reversible bucket hat is finished on both sides, so it can be worn either way out for two different colourways or patterns in one hat. Useful if you want range without buying twice.