Cyndi Byars created this amazing hat size chart with hat sizes ranging from preemie through adult. It’s a great resource for taking the guesswork out of sizing crochet and knitted hats. Whether you’re making a baby hat, preemie hat, child’s hat, or adult hat, you can use the measurements to customize your project to the size you need.
The 4-page printable includes a crochet hat size chart with average measurements for hats from preemie to adult. Even better, it includes templates for both the hat crown and height for each size. So instead of constantly measuring your work, you can simply compare it to the appropriate template as you crochet or knit.
Printable Hat Size Chart – Preemie Through Adult
If you’re looking for a hat sizing chart or a quick reference for crochet and knit hat sizes, this printable is a handy one to keep with your projects.
The chart includes average head circumference measurements by age, along with suggested hat circumference, crown diameter, and hat height. It covers everything from preemie and newborn sizes through adult sizes, making it useful for baby hats, children’s hats, and adult hats alike.
To download the free hat measurement guide, just click the image or the text below it.
Important: When printing the hat templates, be sure to select 100% or Actual Size in your print settings. Do not select “Fit to Page” or use scaling, or the templates may not print at the correct size.
(click here ->) Download the Hat Measurements Guide by Cyndi Byars
How to use the hat sizing Guide
Once you’ve downloaded and printed the guide, you’ll find a hat size chart by age along with a series of circular templates for determining the correct crown diameter and additional templates for hat height.
The measurements are based on average head circumferences for each age range. The chart then provides a suggested finished hat circumference, crown diameter, and hat height to help you choose the appropriate size.
| Size | Head Circumference | Hat Circumference | Crown Circle Diameter | Hat Height — Top of Crown to Bottom of Ear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preemie (1–2 pounds) | 9–10 in | 7.5–8 in | 1.75–2 in | 3–3.5 in |
| Preemie (2–3 pounds) | 10–11.25 in | 8.5–10 in | 2–2.25 in | 3.5 in |
| Preemie (4–5 pounds) | 11.5–12 in | 9–10 in | 2.5–3 in | 3.5–4 in |
| Preemie (5.5–6 pounds) | 12–13 in | 10–11 in | 3–3.5 in | 4–4.5 in |
| Newborn | 13 in | 12–12.5 in | 3.5–4 in | 4.5–5.5 in |
| 2 weeks–3 months | 14 in | 13–13.5 in | 4.25–4.75 in | 5.5–6 in |
| 3–6 months | 15 in | 14–14.5 in | 5 in | 6–6.25 in |
| 6–9 months | 16 in | 15 in | 5.25 in | 6.25–6.5 in |
| 9–12 months | 16.5 in | 15.5 in | 5.25–5.5 in | 6.5 in |
| 12–18 months | 17 in | 16 in | 5.5–5.75 in | 6.75 in |
| 18–24 months | 18 in | 17 in | 5.75–6 in | 7.25 in |
| 2–5 years | 18–19 in | 17–18 in | 6–6.25 in | 7.25–7.5 in |
| Child | 19–20 in | 18–19 in | 6.25–6.5 in | 7.75–8 in |
| Teen | 20–21 in | 19–20 in | 6.5–6.75 in | 8–8.5 in |
| Adult Woman | 22 in | 21 in | 7–7.5 in | 8.75–9 in |
| Adult Man | 23 in | 22 in | 7.5–8 in | 9.25–9.5 in |
Hat size measurements by age, including average head circumference, hat circumference, crown diameter, and hat height.
These measurements are a great starting point, but keep in mind that head sizes can vary quite a bit, especially for babies and children. If you’re able to measure the recipient’s head, that will usually give you the best fit.
For a quick reference, the chart can also help answer questions such as what hat size is appropriate for a 1-year-old, 2-year-old, or 5-year-old. Keep in mind, though, that children of the same age can have very different head sizes, so measuring the head whenever possible will give you the best fit.
How to Use the Crochet Hat Crown Size Templates
The circular templates make it especially easy to determine when you’ve increased your crochet or knitted hat crown to the right size.
Each circle represents the approximate crown diameter needed for a particular hat size. Simply work your increases until your flat circle reaches the diameter shown on the template.
For example, if you’re making a newborn hat, continue increasing until your flat circle measures approximately 3½–4 inches across or matches the newborn crown template.
This is particularly helpful when you’re adapting a pattern or creating your own hat. You don’t necessarily have to follow a specific number of rounds or stitches—just keep increasing until your crown reaches the correct diameter for the size you’re making.
Getting the Proper Hat Height
Once your crown reaches the appropriate size, stop increasing and continue working evenly until the hat reaches the recommended height.
The printable includes hat height templates for each size. For the newborn example above, you would continue working evenly until the hat reaches approximately 4½–5½ inches in height.
Using both the crown diameter and finished height together helps you create a hat with a better fit, whether you’re crocheting or knitting.
A Note About Preemie and Baby Hat Sizes
Baby and preemie hat sizing can be a little tricky because babies grow quickly and head sizes can vary. If you’re looking for a preemie hat size chart, the measurements above provide a helpful starting point for preemie and newborn sizes.
For a preterm baby, measuring the actual head circumference is the best way to determine the appropriate hat size whenever possible. If you’re making preemie hats to donate, however, the average measurements in the chart can help you choose a starting size.
The same is true for baby hats. A baby hat size chart can help you choose a starting size, but measuring the baby’s head will give you the most accurate fit.
Reader Tip!
Here’s a helpful tip from our readers: several have mentioned that they printed out and laminated the templates and then used a key ring to keep them together and handy in their project bags.
So smart!
Crochet and Knitted Hat Patterns to Try
Now that you have a hat sizing chart to help you determine the correct measurements, try it out with one of these free hat patterns. You can use the chart and templates to customize many hat patterns to fit a different age or size.
- Easy Crochet Hat Pattern … Great for Beginners!
- Easy Knit Hat Pattern for Beginners!
- Baby Hat Crochet Patterns … Newborn through 12 Months
- Mod Cluster Stitch Crochet Hat Pattern
- Little Sweetheart Child Hat Pattern
- O’Hara Hat Crochet Pattern
Whether you’re making a crochet hat, knitted hat, baby hat, or preemie hat, these measurements can help you adjust the pattern to the size you need.
Find Community
I would love to see your finished projects; share them with me on Instagram, Facebook, or the Petals to Picots Community.
A huge thank you to Cyndi Byars for sharing her Hat Size Chart with the Petals to Picots community!
What is meant by “crown circle diameter?”
is there a similar print out for beanies crocheted from the rim up? i use this guide almost every time i make a basic top-down beanie and would love to be able to have one for the bottom-up style too! thanks!
Hello, why can’t I print out the pages. This would be very useful if I could get them in full size.
Click where it says “click here” Hat measurements by Cindy, that will let you print it out.
Why cant I print this out? This will be very usefull.
Is there a video somewhere on how to use these charts?
Is there any chance that you could advise me as to how I could easily alter the pattern to make a hat for a 3 year old and for a 1 year old? I’m an experienced crocheter, but I have always worked from a pattern for a given size. The Hat guide is not as helpful for me.
Hi Mary 🙂 For the hat for the 1 year old you can try this pattern … https://www.petalstopicots.com/baby-hat-crochet-patterns-sizes-newborn-through-12-months/ You will see that the first Rounds are increasing rounds that follow a certain sequence. To make a larger hat, like for a 3 year old, continue that increasing sequence until the flat circle reaches the diameter noted in the charts in the post above. Then work evenly, that is, 1 stitch in each stitch around until you reach the proper length, also noted in the charts in the post above. Make sense?
OK, now to ask a crazy question: what exactly is meant by “CROWN CIRCLE Diameter”? Is that a few rounds down from the top circle? And then the “HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE” is what….the measurement around the forehead level?
Sorry, but I’ve never had any of that explained to me before. The only hats I’ve made were the exact size of the pattern matched my own head. But now I’m needing to learn to make some for other people with larger heads than mine, and I realized that I don’t understand the terminology of the charts & how that correlates to placements on someone’s head.
Hi Nancy 🙂 You are correct … the head circumference is the measurement around your head at forehead level. The crown circle diameter is the measurement across of the flat circle you are crocheting. For example, when you are crocheting the increasing rounds you create a flat circle; when the flat circle diameter measures the size on the chart, you stop increasing and then work the pattern evenly (that is, no more increasing). Hope that helps!
please disregard comment as i figured it out. Thank you
Glad you were able to download it!
I’m not able to get the hat charts. Nothing happens when I click on the link. I’m using my phone, would that matter?
If you click on click here nothing happens but if you click beside it on hat measurements it works.
I appreciate your hat chart so much you just made things so much easier for all of us!