Hat Etiquette: When And Where To Wear Your Hat

If you are a consistent hat wearer or have just purchased your very first hat, you may have wondered what proper hat etiquette, or 'hatiquette', is and how it can change depending on where you are and where you're going. Some people remove their hats indoors, yet others keep them on. Who is right and who is wrong?

In this article, we explain the etiquette guidelines to follow when wearing a hat. While most people agree that you should remove your hat when you enter any building, we argue that the rule can be modified based on the situation. Hat etiquette is more than just removing your hat indoors.

Why Do We Remove Our Hats?

The origins of the idea of removing our hat upon entering a building are somewhat convoluted. Some sources, including Emily Post, claim it dates to medieval times when knights would remove their helmet to identify themselves when inside someone's home or business as a sign of peace, respect, and honour.

Others claim that the removal of hats indoors wasn't popular until the peak of hat wearing during the 19^th century, when removing one's hat upon entry became customary in order to avoid tracking in dirt, rain, snow, or bird poop if you became an unwilling target during your travels.

Regardless of its history, the removal of hats when entering someone's home or business has remained customary across many cultures. In many places, removing your hat when you walk inside a building is considered very respectful.

Why Do We Wear Hats?

Hats, in general, do more than shield our eyes from the sun and keep our head warm; they provide cover from the elements such as rain and snow, shield our heads from avian projectiles, and protect our heads in hazardous work environments.

Hats can represent ceremony (graduation caps), status (as in the old-time theatre of war), or style. If you are a stylish gent, be aware of these 16 Style Mistakes Killing Your Look.

Apart from ball caps, hats aren't as prevalent today as they once were. Gone are the days of milliners and hatters having physical shops on street corners of busy intersections. These days you may find a handful of hat specialty shops, but they pale in comparison to what you would find back during the golden age of menswear where it was uncommon to see a gentleman (or gentlewoman) without a hat on.

When Should You Remove Your Hat? 

No strict code of conduct exists when it comes to removing your hat inside. Depending on the formality of the event, you may not need to remove it at all. We recommend that you take off your hat when entering a private place.

What is a private place? A private place is anywhere that you must pay for entry or services, or an individual's home. Examples of private places include restaurants, office buildings, concert halls, and professional buildings like doctors' and dentists' offices.

The removal of your hat in a private place is a sign of respect to the host, to the workers at that establishment, and to yourself for practicing good manners and etiquette.

Are There Times You Can Wear A Hat Indoors?

You can wear your hat indoors if you are in a public place like a mall, sports complex, airport, elevator, city bus, or are just walking through one building to get to another.

Fast food restaurants are considered very casual. You can keep your hat on if you are getting your food to go, but if you decide to sit down and eat your meal, you should remove your hat.

If you decide to wear a hat indoors in a public area, be considerate of those around you. Try not to block anyone's view or invade their personal space. If you are asked to remove your hat, do so.

If you are unsure if the place you are in is considered private or public, it's best to remove your hat.

What About Wearing Hats In Waiting Rooms, Foyers, Lobbies, Vestibules, And Entryways?

Some private buildings may have waiting areas. Sometimes these areas include a reception desk (like in doctors' offices), a coat check or concession (like sports complexes and concert halls), or chairs to sit in while you wait (like in an apartment building or condominium). 

These are grey areas; they're indeed part of a private building or business, but they are less formal compared to offices and seats behind more sets of doors in the same building. We recommend removing your hat if you are going to be sitting to wait or if you are giving your jacket to coat check (leaving your hat with the tenant is up to you).

... And What About Hat Etiquette On Public Transit And Elevators?

If you are someone who relies on public transit to get you to your destination, you may have wondered if you should remove your hat once you step into the vehicle. Fret not; public transit facilities and vehicles are considered public areas, even though you must typically pay to ride.

Elevators follow the same rule as public transit. Since elevator rides are so short, removing your hat is typically unnecessary. If you want to learn more about elevator etiquette, our article Elevator Etiquette Explained: How To Navigate Social Norms is a place to start.

Since you are in motion, people are getting on and off, and there's no proper place to rest your hat, you may keep it on your head. If the bus, train, or elevator you are on is very busy and the brim of your hat may poke someone's eye out, you should remove it and just hold it by your side or somewhere it won't get damaged by other riders.

Can You Wear A Hat In Church? It Depends

Some religions don't have strict rules when it comes to wearing hats inside their places of worship. Jewish kippahs, also referred to as yarmulkes, are perfectly fine. Traditionalist Catholic churches allow women to wear church hats, also called Church Crowns, during sermons and services.

Regardless of your religious background, you should always dress your best.

What If The Hat Is Part Of Your Uniform?

If you served time in the military or are part of a group where a hat is part of your uniform, you do not need to remove it. If you are asked to remove your hat, say, during the national anthem when everyone else does, do so politely.

Others may not understand that it is part of your uniform, so to them, keeping it on may appear disrespectful.

Summary

At the end of the day, hat etiquette comes down to politeness, consideration, and respect for those around you. If you feel like you should remove your hat indoors, then do so. 

Some cultures may have different stances on hats, so if you are visiting a different country, abide by their rules as well. When in doubt, remove your hat.

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