How to Measure for a Top Hat

At Lock & Co., the perfect fit begins with precision. Whether you're selecting a traditional felt top hat or an antique silk piece, accurate sizing is essential for comfort, balance, and elegance.

Here's how to measure your head correctly, and why it matters.

Our Guide to Measuring

We recommend using a flexible dressmaker’s tape to measure your head.

Step-by-Step
  1. Position the tape just above the eyebrows and ears, the tape should sit where the base of the hat will rest.
  2. Wrap around the widest part of your head, ensuring the tape remains level all the way around.
  3. Measure in centimetres or inches for the most accurate sizing for our blocks.
  4. Note the measurement to the nearest millimetre or fraction of an inch for the best results.
  5. For a bespoke fit, visit us in-store where we use the conformateur to ensure a precise and personalised block shape.

Not sure how it should feel? Read our guide: How Should a Top Hat Fit →

Explore a few of our Top Hats:

With several hats in each size, Lock & Co. will help you find the best top hat for you. Buy a luxury top hat that blends timeless elegance with expert craftsmanship – perfect for formal occasions and distinguished style.

How to Measure Head Size for a Top Hat at Home

Measure your head twice

Take the larger measurement if there's a discrepency.

Don't pull the tape too tightly

The hat should feel secure but never restrictive.

Measure at the end of the day

This is when your head is likely to be at its largest due to natural swelling.


If you’re between sizes, our team can advise on discreet padding options or arrange for a bespoke adjustment using a conformateur for a precision fit. Visit our hat sizing page below for  help finding the right fit and size.

Complete Hat Sizing Guide

How to Measure Top Hat Size in Store

Visiting our shop offers a more tailored experience. During a fitting:

We use a conformateur, a traditional French head-shaping device, to map the precise shape of your head.

This allows us to reshape or reblock top hats, especially vintage silk models, to your unique measurements.

You'll also receive advice on proportion, balance, and which crown height and brim width suit your face and stature.

How to Measure a Top Hat using a Conformateur

Why Top Hat Sizing is Different

  • Unlike many modern hats, top hats are traditionally made to fit different head shapes, not just head circumference.
  • Most people have an oval-shaped head rather than a perfectly round one, so the correct oval profile is just as important as the size measurement.
  • A top hat that matches both your head size and shape will sit comfortably, remain secure, leave no marks and maintain its proper appearance.
  • This is why two people with the same head measurement may require different top hat fittings.

Is a Top Hat Comfortable to Wear?

When sized and shaped correctly, a top hat should feel secure but light, balanced, and unobtrusive.

Top hats should never:

  • Leave marks or indentations on your forehead.
  • Feel loose enough to tilt or wobble.
  • Require constant adjustment

Our clients often remark how effortlessly wearable a properly fitted top hat can be - especially those custom-shaped in our shop.

Learn more about Top Hats and How to Measure your Hat Size:

How to Measure your Hat size.

What is a Top Hat?

How to Care for and Clean a Top Hat?

How Should a Top Hat Fit?

How to Wear and Style a Top Hat?

How to Find the Perfect Top Hat for Royal Ascot, Weddings & Formal Events?

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