Sunscreen? Check. Sunglasses? Check. But how about your sun hat? Do you have a stylish hat to protect your face from sun damage? Let’s take a look at the best sun hats for women you can choose this summer.

What to think about when choosing your sun hat

There are a number of things to consider when choosing the best sun hats for you,

What do you need it for?

Are you heading off on vacation? Do you need your hat to travel well? Or do you want your sun hat for when you’re in the garden at home for example?

How wide is the brim?

Best sun hats for women - Dawn Lucy in a floppy hat | 40plusstyle.com

To protect your face, you’ll want a hat with a good size brim. Plus, as an added bonus, wide brim hats tend to add a touch of glamour.

Dawn Lucy @fashionshouldbefun above (read her style interview here) matches her hat to her bag.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option here), shorts, sandals, tote, sun hat and necklace.

How about one with extra sun protection?

Just as you can get clothing specially designed to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, you can get hats with a UV rating. If you’re particularly worried about keeping your face protected, looking out for a hat with built-in UV protection is a good idea.

Your face shape

Just as you would choose any other style of hat to match your face shape, whether it is for a wedding or to keep you warm in winter, you should choose your hat to flatter you. Take a look at how to choose a hat for your face shape

best sun hats for women

Now, let’s look at some of the most stylish, well-recommended hats you could choose this summer.

Beach hat

The beach hat below comes in a good choice of colors and prints, and should keep the delicate skin on your face protected while you relax on the beach. It has UV protection and a stylish wide brim. Reviewers say it offers superb sun protection.

Best sun hats for women - Coolibar UPF 50+ Brittany Beach Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Coolibar UPF 50+ Brittany Beach Hat

Foldable hat with an SPF

One of the problems with a hat when you’re heading off on vacation is how do you pack it? Or do you have to wear it on your journey? Opting for a foldable hat means it will pack in your suitcase and still look great when you get to your destination.

For more travel essentials, also look at these stylish travel clothes.

Best sun hats for women - FURTALK Wide Brim UPF 50 Foldable Floppy Hat | 40plusstyle.com

FURTALK Wide Brim UPF 50 Foldable Floppy Hat

fedora

Best sun hats for women - Sandra in a fedora | 40plusstyle.com

A fedora can add a little edge to your outfit as it takes inspiration from menswear. So this can create a lovely juxtaposition if you team it with a feminine dress like Sandra @lapecosapreciosa above

Check out this linen dress, sandals, fedora, handbag and sunglasses.

Best sun hats for women - Lanzom Fedora Beach Sun Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Lanzom Fedora Beach Sun Hat

Bucket hat

Bucket hats are particularly on trend now, and can lend your outfit a youthful feel. The bucket cap (below) has UV protection and is designed to be packable so you can pop it in your luggage. It comes in a huge choice of colors and reviewers say it’s the perfect beach hat.

Best sun hats for women - Somaler UPF 50+ UV Packable Bucket Cap | 40plusstyle.com

Somaler UPF 50+ UV Packable Bucket Cap

Sun protection straw hat

A straw hat is always a timeless choice for the beach. The hat below features a wide black band and there’s also a velcro band so enable you to adjust it to your head size.

Best sun hats for women - Verabella Packable Sun Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Verabella Packable Sun Hat

Sun visor

If you are concerned about protecting your face, you don’t necessarily need to opt for a full hat. The visor (below) comes in a vast array of neutral and bright shades so you should find one to suit your favorite vacation wear.

Best sun hats for women - San Diego Hat Company Ultrabraid Large Brim Visor | 40plusstyle.com

San Diego Hat Company Ultrabraid Large Brim Visor

Floppy hat

Best sun hats for women - Suzette in a floppy hat | 40plusstyle.com

A big, floppy hat will never go out of style and will add more than a touch of glamour. Suzette @suzettepetrov above looks beautiful in her hat and matching bikini.

Recreate her look with this similar two-piece swimsuit (another option here), sunhat and sunglasses.

You could also try the floppy hat below. It rolls up and should pop back into its original form. Reviewers describe it as the best hat ever.

Best sun hats for women - Lanzom Wide Brim Floppy Foldable Sun Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Lanzom Wide Brim Floppy Foldable Sun Hat

Muryobao

I also like the wide brim hat (below) with the stripe detailing on the brim. Reviewers say its a great option for the money. Although some said it does crease so this is a good choice if you don’t want to pack it.

Best sun hats for women - Muryobao Wide Brim UV UPF 50 Summer Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Muryobao Wide Brim UV UPF 50 Summer Hat

Wide brim bucket hat

If you like the style of a bucket hat but want to ensure that the brim is wide enough to cover your face, then the wide brim bucket hat (below) could be the right choice for you. There are 13 different colors, and reviewers say it is a good choice for sun protection.

Best sun hats for women - Somaler Wide Brim Bucket Cap | 40plusstyle.com

Somaler Wide Brim Bucket Cap

Wide brim panama

Another choice that takes its inspiration from menswear but looks fabulous on a woman is a panama. I think the J Crew hat (below) would look great with a maxi dress or palazzo pants.

Best sun hats for women - J.Crew Wide Brim Panama Hat | 40plusstyle.com

J.Crew Wide Brim Panama Hat

havana hat

The best sun hats for women to protect your face from those harmful rays | 40plusstyle.com

If you love the look of a panama but want a slightly smaller brim, the havana hat below looks great. Carelia @carelia_medich above (read her style interview here) looks beautiful in her classic, stylish outfit and hat.

Check out this similar striped tank, skirt, sandals, sun hat, straw handbag, earrings and sunglasses.

Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Sunday Afternoons Havana Hat

Hiking hat

If you’re planning on some serious walking and you know you’ll be out in the sun for a while, then a hat especially designed for hiking will be a good idea. The outdoor hat (below) should keep the sun (or rain) off your head.

You might also want to take a look at the best shoes for hiking to finish off your outfit.

Ordenado Outdoor Waterproof Sun Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Ordenado Outdoor Waterproof Sun Hat

JACQUARD KNIT hat

If you want a hat that is a little out of the ordinary, then COS is a good place to take a look. The knit bucket hat (below) can be worn down or with the brim folded to give a different look.

COS Jacquard Knit Bucket Hat | 40plusstyle.com

COS Jacquard Knit Bucket Hat

stripe hat

Another choice from COS is the striped option (below) which would look good worn with your shorts and t-shirt or your black summer dress.

COS Crochet Paper Hat | 40plusstyle.com

COS Crochet Paper Hat

Oversized hat – best sun hats for women

Best sun hats for women - Sheree in a floppy hat | 40plusstyle.com

Sheree @shesheshow above looks fabulous in her very wide brim hat which he cleverly matches to the stripes in her dress (and the chairs!). She is wearing a dress from Coldesina Designs, sun hat from San Diego Hat Company and sandals from Tara Grinna.

Anthropologie Oversized Floppy Straw Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Anthropologie Oversized Floppy Straw Hat

Polka dot hats

You don’t have to opt for plain colors when you choose your summer hat. You could always opt for a playful print. I think the Anthropologie hat (below) would look great with a floaty white or red summer dress.

Anthropologie Greenpacha Kona Bucket Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Anthropologie Greenpacha Kona Bucket Hat

Foldable brim

For a hat that you can alter the way the brim folds up, the Scala medium brim hat (below) is a good choice. There are cords on the inside that you can tie to make it fit well to your head.

Scala Medium Brim Cotton Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Scala Medium Brim Cotton Hat

Wallaroo hat company

For a classic choice that comes in a great choice of colors, including bright shades and pastels, try the Wallaroo hat company option below. Women who have worn it say it is sturdy and well made but lightweight.

Wallaroo Hat Company Victoria Sun Hat | 40plusstyle.com

Wallaroo Hat Company Victoria Sun Hat

Canvas bucket hat

The J Crew bucket hat (below) has a little fringe detailing which gives it a casual edge – perfect to wear with your shorts and t-shirt.

J.Crew Canvas Bucket Hat With Fringe | 40plusstyle.com

J.Crew Canvas Bucket Hat With Fringe

Capri sun hat

Sun hats for women - Emms in a straw hat | 40plusstyle.com

Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above looks summer ready in her flat-top straw hat and summer outfit, against that beautiful floral backdrop.

Get her look with this similar dress, espadrilles, hat and straw tote.

The flat top of the straw hat (below) from Gigi Pip will add a point of difference to your outfit.

Gigi Pip Capri Short | 40plusstyle.com

Gigi Pip Capri Short

Rag and Bone fedora

If you are looking for the best sun hats for women and want to invest in a sunhat that won’t date, then the Rag & Bone packable fedora (below) is a deigner choice that you can wear summer after summer.

rag & bone Lexie Packable Wide Brim Fedora | 40plusstyle.com

rag & bone Lexie Packable Wide Brim Fedora

shop the best sun hats for women below:

Tell me about your sun hat recommendations. Can you add your best sun hats for women recommendations in the comments below?

Continue reading:

  1. How To Choose A Hat For Your Face Shape
  2. The Best Bathing Suits For Women Over 40 – Swim Suits That Make You Feel Fabulous!
  3. The Best Sunglasses For Women & Most Flattering For Your Face Shape

Like this article on the best sun hats for women? Share it on Pinterest

The best sun hats for women to protect your face from those harmful rays | 40plusstyle.com

Feature image by Carelia @carelia_medich

Sylvia

Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.

Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.

You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.

Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!