Collection: Cotton bucket hats

Choose by head measurement, not by gender: Ghelter lists its cotton bucket hats in centimeters and does not split the sizes into men's and women's. Adult sizes start at 54 cm (21.3 in) and top out at 61 cm (24.0 in), and the most common spans are 56-59, 55-59 and 56-58 cm.

A bucket hat is meant to sit low, so measure where the band will rest. Run a soft tape measure level around your head, 1 to 2 cm (0.5 to 1 inch) above your eyebrows, and match the number to the span on the listing. Between two sizes, go up: a loose bucket hat slides down over your eyes, while a tight one sits on top of your head. Some models are adjustable, and a few have a cord inside the band. Our sizing page lists the US equivalents.

Yes, cotton can shrink in hot water or a dryer, so wash a cotton bucket hat by hand in cool water and let it air dry. Check the label inside your hat first, because Ghelter's listings do not carry care instructions.

A basin of cool water and a little mild detergent is enough. Blot the hat in a towel rather than twisting it, which warps the crown and the brim, and shape both by hand while it is still damp. Leave it flat in a shaded spot or over an upturned bowl, not on a radiator. Wash dark and bright prints on their own the first time, because the color can bleed, and wash a reversible hat the same way, letting both sides dry. For other fabrics, see our hat cleaning guide.

No, cotton is not waterproof: it soaks up water and takes a while to dry. A bucket hat's all-around brim keeps a light drizzle off your face, but steady rain soaks through.

If your hat gets wet, shake it out, shape the crown and brim by hand and let it dry at room temperature, never on a radiator or with a hair dryer. For a day of real rain, pick a hat made for wet weather and keep the cotton one for dry days.

Not quite: canvas is a heavy, tightly woven plain-weave cloth, today usually made of cotton (it can also be linen or a blend), while cotton only names the fiber. So a cotton canvas bucket hat is a cotton bucket hat, but many cotton bucket hats are cut from lighter, softer cloth.

Ghelter's listings state the fiber, 100% cotton or organic cotton, and not the weave, and none of them is sold as canvas. To judge the weight, look at the photos: a stiff cloth with a visible weave points to something closer to canvas, while a smooth, soft finish is lighter and more relaxed.

Fisherman hat is another name for the bucket hat: the same soft hat with a flat top and a brim that slopes downward, so there is no difference in the hat itself.

Ghelter files them together, and six of the cotton hats carry fisherman in their name, so shop by the look and the size you want, not by the label.

Expect your hat in about 5 to 12 business days for most orders: it leaves the warehouse within 1-2 business days and travels tracked and insured. Shipping is free once an order passes 50 EUR, and returns can be requested for 30 days after delivery.

To start a return, email support@ghelter.com with a photo of the hat and another of the shipping label. Send it back as you received it: never worn, with tags, packaging and your proof of purchase. The return label is free if the hat arrives damaged, in the wrong size or unlike its listing photos (slight color differences are not covered). Sale items and orders paid with a discount code are the exception, and you cover that shipping. To swap sizes, return the hat and place a separate order.