There are many different types of hats, including baseball caps, fashion hats, hunting caps, and casquettes, among a wide range of other styles.

Even hats that look similar can create a drastically different impression when worn, depending on the shape of their crown and the length of their brim.

For anyone who doesn’t know the names of common hat styles, or wants to find hats that flatter their face shape, we explain popular hat types, their key features, and which face shapes each style best suits from the perspective of a professional hat manufacturer.

What is the difference between a cap and a hat?

Hats are broadly divided into two main categories: "caps" and "hats."

Generally, the term 'cap' refers to a hat that only has a brim on its front. Classic, widely recognized styles include baseball caps and work caps.

A hat is a head covering featuring a brim that wraps entirely around its crown. This category includes fedoras, bowler hats, bucket hats, and other similar styles.

That said, not all hat terms can be strictly distinguished from one another. Since names can vary by brand and country, it’s best to simply remember these as core differences in basic hat shapes.

List of Common Hat Types

• Baseball cap

• Work cap

• jet cap

• Bucket hat

• sailor hat

• fedora

• bowler hat

• Boater hat

• hunting

• casquette

• Knit Hat & Beanie

• Beret

Below, we will introduce each of their features in detail.

1. Baseball cap

Baseball caps are characterized by their rounded crowns and forward-attached brims.

Originally worn by baseball players, this cap is now used in daily life by people of all ages and genders.

Perfect for casual outfits, this piece also works wonderfully as an item that adds just the right relaxed touch to polished, put-together looks like those featuring blazers and dress shirts.

Recommended face shapes

This hat complements nearly all face shapes.

If you have a round face, you can easily create a lengthening vertical line by choosing a style with a slightly deep crown and a brim that isn’t overly wide horizontally.

If you have a long face, choosing a cap with a slightly wider brim makes it easy to soften the vertical visual emphasis of your face.

If you find standard caps feel too shallow, we also recommend our deeper-fitting caps that wrap snugly around your entire head.

☞[View ReqHatter's Caps]

2. Work Cap

A work cap is a hat that features a relatively flat crown and a short brim.

Rooted in workwear cap designs, this hat features a simple, understated aesthetic. Its sporty feel is far more subdued than that of a standard baseball cap, making it easy to coordinate with mature casual adult outfits.

Flattering for most face shapes

Its sleek, streamlined shape means it generally works very well for people with round or oval face shapes.

If you are concerned about the width of your face, you can more easily balance your proportions by avoiding overly shallow styles and selecting pieces with a suitably high crown.

3. Jet Cap

Jet caps feature a crown constructed from multiple joined panels and a relatively flat brim. They are sometimes referred to as "camp caps."

These items pair excellently with outdoor and street fashion, and many styles feature lightweight nylon material.

Compatible Face Shapes

This hat has a sharp silhouette, making it very flattering for people with round or oval face shapes.

If you have an oblong face shape, you will achieve a naturally cohesive, polished look by choosing hat styles with a crown that is not excessively tall, or hats that feature a moderately wide brim.

4. Bucket Hat

A bucket hat is a type of hat with a downward-facing brim that wraps fully around its crown.

Its name comes from its shape, which resembles an upside-down bucket. Most of these items fold compactly, making them versatile enough for a wide range of uses, from everyday wear to travel and outdoor activities.

The overall vibe of this piece changes entirely depending on its material: cotton lends it a casual feel, nylon gives it a sporty look, and wool creates a subdued, seasonally fitting atmosphere perfect for fall and winter.

Flatters most face shapes

This hat flatters nearly every face shape.

For those with round faces, we recommend hat styles with a brim that is not too short and a crown with a moderate, appropriately sized height.

If you have a long face, you can easily soften the prominent vertical appearance of your face by choosing styles with wide, outward-spreading brims or silhouettes that do not sit too low on your head.

☞[View ReqHatter's Bucket Hat]

5. Sailor hat

Sailor hats are characterized by their flat crown and a design featuring a short brim that wraps fully around the entire hat.

This style traces its roots to the caps worn by sailors, and is also known as a fisherman hat. Its crown has less rounding than a standard bucket hat, giving it a clean, polished silhouette.

This hat is never overly casual, and it’s easy to style with simple outfits.

Suits most face shapes

This shape is easy to style for those with oval or long face shapes.

If you have a round face, you can achieve a perfectly balanced look by choosing a hat with a slight bit of height in its crown and a brim that does not sit too tightly around your face.

☞[View ReqHatter's sailor hats]

6. Fedora

This center-crease hat features a dent in the center of its crown, with a distinctive pinched shape on the front left and right sides.

Their name and overall impression change depending on the material they are made from: styles crafted from wool or felt are sold as 'felt hats', while those made from natural grasses or paper materials are often released and marketed as 'straw hats'.

This hat has a distinct, substantial presence that pairs perfectly with a wide range of outfits, spanning casual to classic styles.

Compatible face shapes

Thanks to its tall crown, this hat is especially well-suited for those with round faces. The added vertical lines create a clean, streamlined look around the face.

If you have a long face, you can easily balance your overall look by choosing hat styles with a crown that is not too tall, or a wider brim.

For those with square face shapes, we recommend a center-crease hat with soft, gentle lines that are not overly straight.

☞［View ReqHatter's Felt Hats］(https://reqhatter.com/collections/felt-hat)

7. Bowler Hat

The bowler hat features a rounded crown and a short, fully upturned brim. It is also sometimes called a 'derby hat'.

Its crown holds its shape perfectly, so it does not overly accentuate the shape of your head. Simply wearing this item adds a classic atmosphere to any outfit.

Another key feature is that if you select the proper depth and size, this item easily creates space above the crown of your head.

Suits a wide range of face shapes

Rounded shapes tend to soften the appearance of facial contours for people with square or inverted triangle face shapes.

If you have a round face, opt for a style with a moderately tall crown, and wear it tilted slightly to easily create a dimensional, defined silhouette.

8. Boater hat

The kankanbō, known in English as the boater hat, is a style of hat distinguished by its flat crown and a horizontally extending brim.

These hats were originally made using tightly woven natural grass, but today there are also lightweight, easy-to-wear styles crafted from materials like paper-based fabric.

This clean, beautiful straight-lined silhouette adds a refined, sophisticated touch to any spring and summer outfit.

Suitable face shapes

This hat is easy to style for those with long face shapes, as its flat crown and horizontal brim soften the elongated vertical appearance of the face.

If you have a round face, you can easily balance your facial proportions by choosing a hat with a moderately tall crown and a brim that is not overly wide.

☞［View ReqHatter's Boater Hats］(https://reqhatter.com/collections/boater-hat)

9. Hunting

The hunting cap is defined by its short front brim and a distinct silhouette where the crown is folded forward to connect to the brim.

This was originally used as a hunting cap. Today, it is widely incorporated into a huge range of outfits, from sleek, polished looks featuring shirts and jackets to everyday casual styles.

Suitable face shapes

This sharp, non-overly-wide shape tends to work well for people with round or oval face shapes.

If you have a long face, choose a style with moderate volume in the crown and avoid wearing the hat too low on your head for a naturally polished, cohesive look.

10. Casquette

Casquettes are distinguished by their rounded silhouette and more voluminous crown compared to hunting caps.

Most styles are crafted by sewing multiple panels together, giving them a soft, puffy three-dimensional shape. The material makes it easy to style these pieces for the right season: linen and cotton are perfect for spring and summer, while wool and leather are ideal for fall and winter.

Ideal face shapes for this item

This hat features a voluminous crown, making it easy to wear and flattering for anyone with a long or inverted triangle face shape.

If you have a round face, wearing your crown slightly angled or swept back will create movement around your face, making it easy to achieve a sleek, streamlined appearance.

☞[View ReqHatter's casquettes](https://reqhatter.com/collections/casquette)

11. Knit hats / Watch caps

Knit hats are the general term for brimless hats made from knit material. Within this category, simple styles with no folded cuff, or compact, close-fitting shapes that hug the head, are sometimes referred to as 'watch caps'.

In addition to our highly cold-resistant wool products, we also carry spring and summer items made from cotton and linen.

Best Suited Face Shapes

This item is easy to adjust for a great fit, and it suits a wide range of face shapes.

For those with round faces, we recommend wearing your hat to leave a little extra volume at the crown, creating vertical visual lines.

If you have a long face, you can achieve balanced facial proportions by wearing this pulled down low, without propping the top up too high.

☞ [View ReqHatter's Watches]

12. Beret

A beret is a brimless hat with a round, flat crown.

Its standout feature is that you can change up its look depending on the angle you wear it at. Tilt it to either side, or sweep it back, to adjust it to perfectly suit your face shape.

Suits a wide range of face shapes

This hat can be worn in multiple different ways, making it easy to match with virtually any face shape.

If you have a round face, tilt the hat at an angle to create a vertical line, which makes it easy to achieve a balanced look. If you have a long face, wear the hat spread slightly wider across the top, placed shallowly on your forehead, to easily maintain a well-proportioned balance.

How to Choose Hats That Flatter Your Face Shape

A hat’s appearance changes not only based on its style, but also the height of its crown, the width of its brim, and the angle you wear it at.

Here, we will introduce the basic selection guidelines for each face shape.

For those with round faces

People with round faces generally find that hats with a tall crown that creates a vertical line are the easiest to style to flatter their face shape.

• Deep-crown baseball cap

• Fedora

• tall bowler hat

• Knit hat with a little extra room at the top

Choosing a structured, dimensional hat shape instead of a shallow, flat style will help the area around your face look clean and streamlined.

for those with long face shapes

For those with long face shapes, we recommend hats with a wide brim that softens the vertical, elongated appearance of your face.

• wide-brimmed cap

• bucket hat

• Boater hat

• casquette

• Fedora with a crown that isn’t too tall

If you adjust your hat so it doesn’t sit too low on your head, leaving just a small portion of your eyebrows visible, you’ll easily balance the proportions around your face.

For those with square face shapes

People with square faces tend to find that hats with rounded, soft lines suit their features well.

• bowler hat

• casquette

• Beret

• Center-creased fedora with a curved brim

Choosing a hat with a rounded silhouette, rather than a straight, angular style, creates a perfectly balanced look that complements your facial contours.

For those with an inverted triangle body shape

For those with an inverted triangle face shape, we recommend hats with a rounded crown and a brim that is not overly wide.

• casquette

• Beret

• bowler hat

• Compact Hunting Cap

By adding just the right amount of volume to the hat, you can easily balance your facial profile from forehead to jawline.

the egg-shaped one

Those with an oval face shape have a facial structure that works relatively well with nearly any type of hat.

Instead of focusing only on the type of hat, try choosing one that balances well with your everyday outfits, height, and shoulder width.

Key Points to Check When Choosing a Hat

To find a hat that fits you perfectly, don’t just look at the style and design—be sure to check the following key points as well.

Head circumference size

Hats that are too small for your head circumference can cause tightness and lead to headaches. Conversely, hats that are too large will easily slip out of place due to wind or movement.

Check the size labeling for each product, and choose the size that fits your head circumference.

Crown depth

Even with the same head circumference, how comfortable the hat is to wear changes depending on the depth of its crown.

If regular hats feel too shallow for you, or your hats always look like they’re floating on top of your head, we recommend hats designed with a deeper crown.

☞ [What Makes Deep-Fit Caps So Appealing? We Break Down How to Choose One and Who They Suit]

Brim length and width

Wide-brimmed hats have a bold, eye-catching presence and easily create a clean, streamlined look around the face, though they can feel overly large for petite wearers.

Be sure to check not just your face shape, but also how this balances with your height, shoulder width, and everyday clothing.

Ingredients and Seasons

A hat’s ideal season of use and the impression it conveys vary depending on its material.

• Spring/Summer: Linen, Cotton, Paper, Nylon

• Fall/Winter: Wool, Felt, Leather, Boa

• All seasons: Cotton, Nylon

By choosing seasonally appropriate materials, you can enhance not just the appearance, but also the comfort of your item.

Summary | Learn About All Hat Types and Features to Pick the Perfect Shape for You

Hats come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from casual, easy-to-wear caps to classic fedoras and rounded casquette caps.

When choosing a hat that suits you, it is important not to base your decision solely on your face shape, but to comprehensively review the following points.

• Size that fits your head circumference

• Crown height and depth

• Brim length and width

• Balance with your face shape

• Everyday wear

• Suitable seasons and materials

The guidelines for selecting a hat based on your face shape are only a general reference. Even small adjustments to the angle or depth you wear your hat at can completely change the impression it creates.

Try out a range of different styles to find a hat that you can wear comfortably and that blends naturally with your everyday outfits.