What is a bucket hat?

You might already know what a bucket hat looks like, but what is it in layman's terms? Here’s how Alsulaiman describes them: “A soft hat with a narrow, downward-sloping brim that got its name from the fact that it looks like an upside-down bucket. It has become more popular in the last few years, especially with streetwear.”

How do I style a bucket hat?

The best part about fashion is that how you want to style a piece is up to you. “If you are dipping your toes into the trend, [one] way to go with bucket hats is a solid color or denim," Alsulaiman suggests. More adventurous folk can play with textures and materials as well.

How do I measure my head for a hat?

To figure out how to measure yourself for a hat, you need to determine your head's circumference. “Use a sewing measuring tape or a string and wrap it around your head [making sure it's] above your ears and across your eyebrows," Alsulaiman says. "Then, stick your finger under the tape so there is a little room." The number where the two sides meet is the head circumference.

The 13 Best Bucket Hats of 2023

With the rise of '90s fashion trends, the chances are high that your favorite influencer or celebrity has been spotted in a bucket hat recently. And you've probably landed on this page because you're interested in jumping on the bandwagon, too. Bucket hats are trending, yes, but they're not just a fluff piece; they're also a functional accessory, as they can shield us from the elements either by shading our face from the sun or keeping our head warm in low temps.

With that said, looking for the best bucket hat can be a challenge in a saturated market. To save you some time, we’ve sifted through the noise and made an organized list based on color, fabric, price, size range, and more.

Keep reading for the best bucket hats, plus some advice on how to wear them from stylist Leena Alsulaiman.

Meet the Expert

Leena Alsulaiman is a creative mentor, strategist, stylist, and style coach based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Girlfriend Collective 50/50 Bucket Hat at Girlfriend.com

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Best Faux Leather:

Stand Studio Vida Bucket Hat at Nordstrom

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Best Budget:

Top Band Reversible Bucket Hat at Amazon

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Best Sustainable:

Abacaxi x SVNR Puno Hat at Svnrshop.com

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Best Short-Brimmed:

Madewell Short-Brimmed Bucket Hat at Madewell.com

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Best for Sunblocking:

Lululemon Bucket Hat With Strap at Lululemon

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Best Designer:

Jacquemus Le Bob Frescu Bucket Hat at Mytheresa.com

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Best on Amazon:

Chok.Lids Cotton Style Bucket Hat at Amazon

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Best Size Range:

The North Face Cypress Bucket Hat at The North Face

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Best Faux Fur:

LITA By Ciara Faux Fur Bucket Hat at Thehouseoflrc.com

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Byrdie

Girlfriend Collective

View On Girlfriend.com

Embrace the trend while helping protect the environment with a simple bucket hat. With this design, Girlfriend Collective says it conserved over 100 gallons of water and reduced carbon emissions and energy. Plus, the cotton with which it was made was grown without chemical pesticides or insecticides, so it's safe for you and the environment all-around. And yet, what makes this hat deserving of the top spot on our list has just as much to do with its wide color selection, attainable price point, and size inclusivity (it's available in two sizes for the best odds of a comfortable fit).

Price at time of publish: $38

Material: 50% Texloop RCOT primo recycled cotton, 50% organic cotton | Size Range: XS/S, M/L | Colors: White, Agave, Black, Banana +more

Stand Studio Vida Patent Faux Leather Bucket Hat

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Fwrd.com View On Shopbop.com

Stand Studio's modern bucket hat is made from faux leather and offers a polished, high-fashion look in a pinch. For under $200, it’s less expensive than real leather, so you can get the same look without the heftier price tag.

Price at time of publish: $155

Material: 90% polyurethane, 10% TPU | Size Range: S, M | Colors: Bright Green, Black, Sand

Amazon

View On Amazon

High-quality bucket hats don’t have to be expensive. This style comes in many cool prints and materials, including a tie-dye pattern that's so cute for brunch with the besties or a last-minute trip to the beach. It's also reversible for added versatility and value.

Price at time of publish: $14

Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: One size | Colors: Tie Dye Pink, Tie Dye Orange, Corduroy Navy, Corduroy Khaki, Camo Black +more

SVNR

View On Svnrshop.com

Crochet is the new tie-dye, as it's appeared on everything from cropped tops to bikinis this summer. But what makes this style even more covetable is its sustainable factor. The collaboration item is hand-crocheted in Peru from a surplus 100-percent tangüis (native Peruvian) cotton, then hand-beaded in Brooklyn.

Price at time of publish: $250

Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: One size | Colors: Mango, Coral, Jamun

Madewell

View On Madewell.com View On Zappos

For a classic bucket hat, opt for this lightweight short-brimmed one, which you can wear with your favorite athleisure outfit or to the beach for an effortlessly playful look. Its neutral color will pair well with basically anything in your summer closet.

Price at time of publish: $30

Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: S/M, M/L | Colors: Vintage Parchment

Lululemon

View On Lululemon

Just like you use sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage, you can keep your head and hair protected with this wide-brimmed bucket hat. Its strap ensures it stays put on your head and the longer brim in the back is for extra protection from the sun's harsh rays. It even features an inner sweatband to absorb any moisture on those hot days ahead.

Material: 88% recycled nylon, 12% elastane; 82% nylon, 18% Lycra® elastane sweatband | Size Range: XS/S, M/L | Colors: White Opal, Black, Pastel Blue

Jacquemus Pink 'Le Bob Frescu' Bucket Hat

Net-A-Porter

View On Mytheresa.com View On Net-a-Porter

For those all about pink, this bright neon-hued bucket hat by Jacquemus is the way to go. Lean into the Barbiecore aesthetic and pair it with your favorite all-pink outfit or, if you're more of a minimalist, wear it with a solid black and white 'fit for a pop of color. For those who aren't into pink but love the design, it comes in two neutral colors as well.

Price at time of publish: $135

Material: 74% polyamide, 26% cotton | Size Range: 56, 58, 60 (centimeters) | Colors: Pink, Beige, Navy

Chok.Lids Everyday Cotton Style Bucket Hat

Amazon

View On Amazon

With over 9,000 positive ratings, this best-selling bucket hat is likely worth your while. It has UPF 50+ sun protection, comes in a plethora of color options, and will cost you less than $15.

Price at time of publish: $15

Material: 100% cotton | Size Range: One size | Colors: Apple Candy, Army Green, Black, Black Denim, Blue Jean, French Rose +more

FWRD

View On The North Face

Compared to other brands with a "one size fits most" approach to fit, The North Face has a wider range (S/M to L/XL). Plus, it's made with a built-in sweatband to keep you cool all day long.

Material: 97% polyester, 3% spandex | Size Range: S-XL | Colors: Goblin Blue, Gravel, TNF Black

Nordstrom

View On Thehouseoflrc.com

This retro-looking faux fur bucket hat from LITA By Ciara will add dimension and texture to your fall or winter looks. It's available in three neutral colors for easy outfit matching potential.

Price at time of publish: $98

Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: One size | Colors: English Rose, Milk, Black

Loeffler Randall Ivy Leopard-Print Nylon Bucket Hat

Saks

View On Shopbop.com

Show your wild side with this leopard print bucket hat that can add an element of playfulness to a monochrome outfit as well as it can complete a head-to-toe leopard print 'fit for the ultimate Y2K throwback.

Price at time of publish: $60

Material: 100% polyester | Size Range: One size | Colors: Leopard

Rebecca Taylor

View On Rebeccataylor.com

Crafted from a versatile, neutral striped cotton twill, this hat can be paired back to the matching pieces or mixed in with the other outfits in your closet.

Material: 99% cotton, 1% spandex | Size Range: One size | Colors: Yard Dye Stripe Ivory Combo

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Storm Bucket Hat

Zappos

View On Basspro.com View On Cabelas.com View On Macy's

On your next mountain adventure, opt for this waterproof, moisture-wicking, and sun-protecting bucket hat. It also features a chin strap to keep it securely on your head in the face of wind or more high-impact movement so you won't be fumbling around with it.

Price at time of publish: $52

Material: 78% nylon, 22% polyester | Size Range: L | Colors: Plum/Taupe, Shadow, Taupe

What to Look For in a Bucket Hat

Circumference

If you know you have a larger- or smaller-than-average head size, it's important to check the retailer's size chart and compare it to your own measurements. (We answer how to measure the circumference of your head in the FAQs section, below). Some hats come in multiple sizes, so look for these options versus bucket hats that are only offered in one size, which are made for an average-size head.

Brim

The brim width of a bucket hat not only determines the style but the amount of sun protection, too. If you burn easily, look for wider brims that will cover more of your face and neck than any shorter one will.

Material

"[One] perk of bucket hats is their flexible design, including the vintage, distressed look, which allows for various materials. This compatibility with many fabrics means that manufacturers can create bucket hats out of whatever textured materials are trending," says Alsulaiman, who points to crocheted and distressed materials as the current go-to's.

FAQ

What is a bucket hat?

You might already know what a bucket hat looks like, but what is it in layman's terms? Here’s how Alsulaiman describes them: “A soft hat with a narrow, downward-sloping brim that got its name from the fact that it looks like an upside-down bucket. It has become more popular in the last few years, especially with streetwear.”
How do I style a bucket hat?

The best part about fashion is that how you want to style a piece is up to you. “If you are dipping your toes into the trend, [one] way to go with bucket hats is a solid color or denim," Alsulaiman suggests. More adventurous folk can play with textures and materials as well.
How do I measure my head for a hat?

To figure out how to measure yourself for a hat, you need to determine your head's circumference. “Use a sewing measuring tape or a string and wrap it around your head [making sure it's] above your ears and across your eyebrows," Alsulaiman says. "Then, stick your finger under the tape so there is a little room." The number where the two sides meet is the head circumference.

Why Trust Byrdie

Casey Clark is a Byrdie contributor and has written about fashion for other publications like StyleCaster, Reviewed, and BuzzFeed. Staying up to date with the latest trends, she’s on the pulse of fashion for everyone and aims to make knowledge about the industry more digestible and easy to understand.

Erika Reals is the Associate Fashion Editor, Commerce at Byrdie. She has more than three years of experience in the commerce space and four in the fashion industry. A recent adopter of the bucket hat trend, she has already hoarded a small collection and wants to buy more from this list, come her next payday.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough Black-owned and/or Black-founded bucket hat brands to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Keep Your Face Protected With the 23 Best Sun Hats (They're Cute, Too)