The head measuring game

I’m often being asked for an online reference for standard head sizes. There are a few websites that offer up what a S, M or L should be, but personally I don’t find the measurements all that accurate. Then there’s the lack of length given – most of the measurement charts concern themselves with circumference only, which is crucial to having a Hat fit properly, but the length is also key, too.

It’s been bugging me for a while, and so many people have enquired, so I’ve decided to start gathering more info to be able to work out some accurate results.

To get the best results, I need as many people as possible to take the following measurements. I also need age, too, as many people aren’t aware how the head changes with age, and that it really is much bigger than most think from a young age. Gender helps determine a ‘typical’ size, which is something many people enquire about.

I’ve tried to get some nice illustrations prepared to help demonstrate where you need to measure, so here we have some cleverly disguised images of Tom to help with our purpose. (doesn’t he Photoshop nicely?)

The first measurement needed is around the widest part of your head. From your forehead, over your hair, over that potruding part at the back and back round to your forehead again. The tape measure needs to be fairly snug. Sometimes it’s best to take the measurement a few times to check you’re got it in the right place. This is the standard head measurement given for head/Hat sizes, and will make up the first part of the data.

This image above shows how to measure the depth needed for Hat measurements. This needs to be from the crown of your head right down to the base of your ear, where your earlobe meets the side of your face. It’s a fairly straight line down, and follows the gentle curve of your head. This measurement is the one I get asked most about from people designing Hats!

So, here’s how you can help. Please post a comment with the following information:-

  1. Age – babies to 2yrs to the nearest 3mths, under 18’s to the nearest year, over 18 please state ‘adult’
  2. Head circumference in centimetres
  3. Head length in centimetres
  4. Sex

Please, please give measurements in metric, to the nearest 0.25cm if possible. I will provide imperial measurements when I publish the results, but they aren’t as accurate for calculating with I’m afraid!

Also, emails get lost so please leave a comment with the info – it will be much easier for me to sort everything out if it’s all in one place!

As an example, here’s my measurements: 1) adult 2) 61.25cm 3) 24.25cm 4) female 

And Tom’s measurements: 1) adult 2) 60cm 3) 21.5cm 4) male 

You can do this totally anonymously, that’s fine, you don’t need to have a blog or provide your email addy – just leave a comment below. All results will be used to calculate a more accurate average and will not be used for any other purpose. I’d also appreciate your help in spreading the word – the more people that help out, the more accurate the results! Measure yourself, your family, your neighbours and friends! (but not your dog)

Once it’s all done, I’ll add the chart to the sizing page on my website and provide the data in PDF format, too.

I’ll leave this open for a few weeks, as a few hundred different sets of numbers would be desirable – I’m not afraid of the maths 😉

Thanks in advance!

Woolly Wormhead

Woolly Wormhead is an internationally reknowned knit designer, specialising in Hats, technique and construction. Their patterns and techniques have been used by thousands of knitters worldwide. Join The Woolly Hat Society to be the first to learn of their latest projects and special offers!

102 Comments

  1. MiffyRabbit

    Here you go.

    1) adult 2)56cm 3)20cm 4)female
    1) adult 2)56cm 3)21cm 4)male
    1) 8yrs 2)54cm 3) 19cm 4)male
    1) 5yrs(but 3-4 clothes) 2)51cm 3)20cm 4)male
    1) 2yrs 2)49cm 3)18cm 4)male

    Hope they help and good luck with the maths!

    Reply
    • Annelaine

      Adult 82 yrs
      54.5 com
      21.5 cm
      Female

      Reply
  2. SianaBanana

    Thanks for this , I have been thinking about gathering this data for a little while now.

    1) Adult 2) 58.5cm 2) 19.5cm 4) Female

    Reply
  3. Rainghirl

    Just come over from Ravelry to post this:

    1) Adult 2) 55cm 3) 21cm 4) Female

    Goodluck with it.

    Reply
  4. Elly

    1) adult 2) 56 cm 3)21.25 4) female

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    1) Adult 2) 57cm 3) 22cm 4) Female

    Reply
  6. Emily

    1)adult 2) 57cm 3) 22.5cm 4) female

    1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 23cm 4) female

    Reply
  7. Sally in Wales

    1) adult 2) 62.5cm 3) 26cm 4) male1) adult 2) 59cm 3) 22cm 4) female

    Reply
  8. Anonymous

    1) adult 2) 57.5cm 3) 23cm 4) female

    Reply
  9. Jo F

    1) adult 2)57cm 3)22.5cm 4)female

    Reply
  10. brenda

    1) adult 2)57cm 3)19cm 4) female
    also
    1) adult 2)55cm 3)20cm 4) female

    Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Dawn

    1) adult
    2)61cm
    3)22.75cm
    4)male
    He has a large head!

    1)adult
    2)56cm
    3) 20.25cm
    4)female

    Interesting to see the differences.

    Reply
  12. Kimothyjones

    1. adult
    2.54.5 cm
    3.20.25 cm
    4. female

    Aw… I have a small head. XD

    Reply
  13. Silke

    – adult
    – 56.5 cm
    – 22 cm
    – female

    Reply
  14. littlelixie

    1. adult
    2. 56.5
    3. 22cm
    4. female
    Hey, who’s silke? We have identical heads!
    PS: What you’re calling head width is actually circumference. But doesn’t seem to have worried anyone other than me!

    Reply
  15. Cheryl

    1) adult 2) 55.5 3)20.5 4)female

    Reply
  16. Woolly Wormhead

    There always has to be one pedantic one, eh Lixie…? 😉

    I’ll go edit the post and use the correct terminology.

    Reply
  17. AnnieBee

    1) adult
    2) 58.25 cm
    3) 23 cm
    4) female

    Reply
  18. Y

    1)wriggly 2.5 year old 2)51cm 3)18cm 4)M
    1)jumpy almost 5 year old 2)52cm 3)19.5cm 4)M
    1)adult 2)58cm 3)22cm 4)F
    1)adult 2)59cm 3)21.25cm 4)M

    Reply
  19. Jen

    1) adult 2) 61.25 3)22.25 4)female

    Reply
  20. Anonymous

    1) adult
    2)55.5cm
    3) 21.5cm
    4)female

    Reply
  21. Maggie

    1) adult 2) 58.5cm 3) 24.0cm 4) female (and apparently I have a smaller head than I thought, despite being 6’0″ tall!)

    Reply
  22. Anonymous

    1) adult 2) 59 cm 3) 23 cm 4) female
    yes, I’m large boned

    Reply
  23. Angeluna

    1) adult 2) 59.5 cm 3) 22.25 cm 4) female

    Love your designs. And yes, I have a large head it seems.

    Reply
  24. Marnie

    * 1) adult 2) 53cm 3) 20.5cm 4) female
    * 1) 9yo 2) 55cm 3) 20cm 4) female
    * 1) 6yo 2) 51cm 3) 18cm 4) female
    * 1) adult 3) 60cm 3) 21cm 4) male

    Reply
  25. Woolly Wormhead

    And Aran’s measurements:-

    1)9mths 2)44.5cm 3)15.75cm 4)male

    We could use some measurements for little people, if anyone has one at hand!

    Thanks for everyone’s input so far – it’s very much appreciated 🙂

    Reply
  26. Rav Id Knittynora1984

    Hellooo,

    Female
    Adult
    Head Circ – 58.5cm
    Length – 17cm

    Reply
  27. Anonymous

    1) Adult 2) 58.25cm 3) 20.5cm 4) Female

    Reply
  28. annri

    1) adult
    2) 56cm
    3) 24cm
    4) female

    cheers!

    Reply
  29. Anonymous

    1)adult 2)58.5 cm 3)22.25 cm 4)female

    Reply
  30. Schrapknits

    1) adult
    2) 55.75 cm
    3) 21 cm
    4) female

    Reply
  31. offmyhook

    1) adult 2) 56 cm 3) 22.25 cm 4) female

    Reply
  32. Paula

    1)adult 2)58 cm 3)23 cm 4)female

    Reply
  33. Zabet

    1)adult 2)57cm 3)19cm 4)female

    Reply
  34. Kath

    1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 19 cm 4) female

    Will try to send a few more hat knitters over, do you mind if I do it with a blog post?

    Reply
  35. Kristin

    1) 2 1/2 years old 2) 50cm 3) 15cm 4) male

    Reply
  36. Penny Elverd

    Hi Ruth
    1) Adult 2) 58.75cms 3)23.25cms 4) Female
    Great idea!! but your welcome to all the math. Thanks .

    Reply
  37. Ariadne

    1) adult 2) 60 3) 21 4) female
    1) adult 2) 57.2 3) 21.5 4) male

    Reply
  38. Megan

    adult
    circumference- 61
    head length- 21
    male

    adult
    57
    22
    female

    3 months
    40
    14
    female

    Reply
  39. knitbysue

    1. Adult, 2. 54.6 cm, 3. 20.5 cm, 4. Female

    Maybe it is too late to suggest this but it might be more accurate to measure from base of ear to base of ear (over the top of the head) and then divide by 2 to get the measurement you want.

    Reply
  40. Woolly Wormhead

    Sure, that’s one way to do it!

    Although if people don’t take the measurement over the top of the head via the crown, they won’t get the right measurement, make sense? The top of the middle of your head to ear is much shorter than crown to ear, and it’s the crown to ear base that we want 🙂

    Reply
  41. Katrin

    adult
    62 cm
    25 cm
    female

    Reply
  42. Crafty 'n' Clothy

    1) 18 months 2) 44cm 3) 17cm 4) female
    1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 20cm 4) female
    1) adult 2) 57cm 3) 21cm 4) male

    Reply
  43. tea

    1)adult 2)58 3)21 4)female
    1)adult 2)58 3)23 4)female
    1)16 2)60 3)23 4)male
    1)15 2)60 3)24,5 4)male
    1)7,5 2)60 3)23 4)female
    my husband is away on business, so I’ll add him later…and if you make it all the way to the heel of Italy do contact me! There’s always room for a few more at our dinner table (three teens and one child!!!!) =) Tea ie teacosy on Rav

    Reply
  44. fran

    1)adult 2)56cm 3)22cm 4)female

    Posted on my blog too :o)

    Reply
  45. Megan

    6 yr
    51cm
    19.5cm
    girl

    3 yr
    50cm
    19.5cm
    boy

    Reply
  46. hespra

    60 yr
    57 cm
    23.7 cm
    female

    Reply
  47. Judith

    adult, 57 cm, 23.5cm, female.

    Reply
  48. Anonymous

    1) adult 2) 55,5cm 3)23.0cm 4) Female

    1)adult 2)59,9cm 4)23.0 cm 4) Male

    Reply
  49. Kare

    1. adult
    2. 54.50 cm
    3. 20.25 cm
    4. female

    Reply
  50. Deborah

    1) adult
    2) 56 cm
    3) 21.5 cm
    4) female

    Reply
  51. PrairiePoppins

    1)adult 2) 57 cm 3) 21.5 4)male
    1)adult 2)56.25 3)22cm 4)female
    1)9yo 2)54 3)21 4)male
    1)11yo 2)56.25 3)20 4)female

    Reply
  52. harris

    1 adult
    2 56cm
    3 22cm
    4 female

    Reply
  53. Deborah

    Pinned down the rest of my family and measured their heads too. Here’s the info:

    1. Adult, 59 cm, 22 cm, male
    2. Adult, 56 cm, 22 cm, male
    3. adult, 55 cm, 20.5 cm, female

    Reply
  54. Eve

    Adult, 61 cm, 22.5 cm, female
    Adult, 57 cm, 23.5 cm, male

    Reply
  55. Anonymous

    I thought I had a large head, but I’m looking rather average so far.
    1)adult
    2)56.5 cm
    3)21 cm
    4)female

    Reply
  56. BabyLongLegs

    1) adult 2) 55.8cm 3) 23.7 cm 4) female

    1) adult 2) 56.5cm 3) 23.7 cm 4)male

    1) 9 years 2) 52 cm 3) 19 cm 4) male

    1) 5 years 2) 18.7 cm 3) 19 cm 4) male

    Reply
  57. Anonymous

    1) Baby – 6 months 2) 46cm 3) 15cm 4) Male

    1) Adult 2) 56cm 3) 23cm 4) Female

    Reply
  58. dontcareravelry

    1. 2 years of age
    2. 53.5 cm circumference
    3. 18 cm depth
    4. male

    Reply
  59. Andey Layne

    1)adult 2)59 cm 3)24 cm 4)male

    Reply
  60. Anonymous

    HI ,

    1) 3 yrs. 2} 53.2 3) 15.1 Boy

    1) Adult 2) 57.3 3) 20 female

    Reply
  61. Mareth

    1)Adult 2)61cm 3)22cm 4)Female
    1)12mth 2)48cm 3)19cm 4) Male

    (Wow he has a big head! LOL)

    Reply
  62. Anonymous

    1)Adult
    2)58cm
    3)22cm
    4)Female

    1)2yr old child
    2)51.5cm
    3)19.5cm
    4)Male

    Reply
  63. Anonymous

    1) 3 years
    2) 52cm
    3) 35.5cm
    4) Male

    Reply
  64. Anonymous

    1) 3 months 2)40cm 3)14cm 4)female

    2) 2 years 2)50cm 3)20cm 4)male

    3) adult 2)57cm 3)23cm 4)female

    Reply
  65. lottie

    1) Adult 2, 55.5cm, 3, 22cm, Female (honest)

    2) 11 yrs, 50.5cm, 18cm, Female

    3) 8 yrs, 51.5cm, 17cm, female

    4) 7 yrs 51cm, 18cm, female

    5) 7 yrs, 52.5cm, 18cm, female

    Reply
  66. Chubacheroo

    1) adult 2) 54.5cm 3) 19cm 4) female
    1) 15 months 2)47cm 3) 13.5cm 4) female

    Reply
  67. Anonymous

    1. Adult, 57.5 cm, 22 cm, female

    Reply
  68. feikje

    1) adult; 57.5 cm; 20.5 cm; female

    2) adult; 62.5 cm; 22.75 cm; male

    Reply
  69. ArtNomadix

    Wow thought I’d posted my details days ago, but they’re not here, here goes again.

    1)Me@8years2)54.5cm3)?4)me as girl
    1)Me@27yrs 2)56cm 3)? 4)young woman
    1)Me@47yrs2)56.5cm3)21.75cm4)female

    I was surprised to find my head had grown a bit more, from in my twenties,there goes my theory that it’s nearly full size at 8.

    1)adult2)56cm3)19cm4)female(my mum)
    1)18mths 2)58.5cm 3)? 4)male
    This boy had a bigger head than me, at that age!, bet he’ll grow very tall!

    Reply
  70. sarah

    Hi, measured today.

    1)Adult: 2)58cm: 3)22cm:4)Female
    1)8yrs : 2)53cm: 3)19cm:4)Male
    1)10yrs: 2)55cm: 3)19cm:4)Female
    1)2yrs : 2)48cm: 3)15cm:4)Female

    Hope this helps

    Reply
  71. Anonymous

    1)Adult 2)57cm 3)22 4)Female
    1)7.5 months 2)47cm 3)17cm 4)Male

    Reply
  72. my7kids

    I have 8 currently at home in my family, should give you a good sampling.

    1) adult 2) 57 3) 20 4) male

    1) adult 2) 58 3) 24 4) female

    1) adult 2) 55 3) 19 4) male

    1) 16 2) 58 3) 19 4) male

    1) 13 2) 53 3) 20.5 4) female

    1) 10 2) 56 3) 20 4) female

    1) 8 2) 54 3) 20 4) male

    1) 19 mos 2) 48 3) 18 4) female

    I also forwarded your link to my oldest daughter so she can measure her family of 4. Best of luck, hope it helps you!

    Reply
  73. Hamncheezr

    1) 6.5 mo 2)44 3)15 4)female
    1) 3yrs 2)53 3)21.5 4)male
    1) adult 2)58 3)21.5 4)female
    1) adult 2)57.5 3)23 4)male

    Reply
  74. Anonymous

    1) adult 2) 56.5 3) 23 4) female

    Reply
  75. Jean

    Hi Ruth,

    Here’s mine:
    1) adult 2) 54.61cm 3) 20.32cm 4) female.

    And hubby’s:
    1) adult 2) 58.42cm 3) 21.59cm 4) male.

    Happy figuring!!

    Jean in Maine

    Reply
  76. juliet

    Sorry, posted it in wrong bit!
    Joseph, age 3, 52cm round, and 17 cm crown to base of ear.

    XX

    Reply
  77. Linuxwitch

    1) Adult
    2) 58 cm
    3) 23 cm
    4) Female

    Reply
  78. KarenS

    Here’s a stray Aussie!
    a) adult
    b) 55.5cm
    c) 22cm
    d) female

    Yes, I have a small skull, and thin hair.

    Reply
  79. Eve

    1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 21.5cm 4) female

    add to this that I am bald, so my meassurements are like for those with Chemo hair

    Reply
  80. Anonymous

    1)adult 2)57 3)22 4)f

    Reply
  81. Anonymous

    male, age 8yr.7mo
    circumference: 55 cm
    Crown to ear 13.5 cm
    Crown to nape of neck 21 cm

    male, age 6 yr. 7 mo
    circumference: 52 cm
    Crown to ear 13.0 cm
    Crown to nape 22 cm

    Reply
  82. Anonymous

    copy 2 of post

    male, age 8yr.7mo
    circumference: 55 cm
    mid crown to top of ear 13.5 cm
    mid crown to nape of neck 21 cm

    male, age 6 yr. 7 mo
    circumference: 52 cm
    mid crown to top of ear 13.0 cm
    mid crown to nape of ceck 22 cm

    Reply
  83. Harriet

    Hope this is not too late.

    1. Adult
    2. 58.5cms
    3. 23cms
    4. Male

    1. Adult
    2. 58.25cms
    3. 21cms
    4. Female

    Reply
  84. robot head

    1 adult
    2 62cm
    3 24cm
    4 male

    Reply
  85. beadntat

    adult, 57cm, 22cm, female

    Reply
  86. The Binge Knitter

    I also have baby head circ-es from when the kids were little if you find them of any help, but no length obviously:
    1. 0mns 34cm female
    2. 1mns 38cm female
    3. 4mns 42cm female
    4. 6mns 44cm female
    5. 9mns 45cm female
    6. 10mns 46cm female

    1. 0mns 33cm male
    2. 2mns 37.5cm male
    3. 6mns 42cm male

    Reply
  87. JanKnit

    Thanks for doing this! It should be very interesting!! Here’s mine:
    1) adult, 2) 57cm, 3) 22cm, 4) female

    Reply
  88. D Louise

    59.7 cm/22.9 cm/female/adult

    Reply
  89. Lillybet

    1) Man’s head 55 YO 2) 61 cm 3) 33 cm24"

    Reply
  90. Wanderer

    1) Adult 2) 57.8cm 3)22 cm – female

    Reply
  91. Kybosh

    1) Adult 2) 53.75 3) 21.5 4) female

    Reply
  92. knitter

    1) adult 2) 57 3) 22 4) f

    Reply
  93. Patricia Huff

    Adult Female 56 years old

    1. 62.2 cm

    2. 20 cm

    Reply
  94. Nicole

    1) adult 2) 54.5cm 3) 22cm 4) male
    1) adult 2) 56cm 3) 25cm 4) female

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *