14 Top Beach Hats of 2022

As wonderful as it is to get outside for your dose of vitamin D – especially on a day at the beach – protecting your skin from the sun is extremely important. While sunscreen and sunglasses seem to get all the attention, another key component of your summer sun protection is a hat. Like all hats, beach hats come in a variety of styles, so you can choose accordingly to stay trendy while still being sheltered from the sun’s rays.

Whether you’re looking for pure fashion, considering more practical factors like a hat with added UV protection, or seeking a packable option – or maybe all of the above – finding the right hat for your activity is key.

Note: Photos without credits are courtesy of Amazon.

U.S. News editors researched dozens of review sites, including Amazon, online retailers, travel industry review sites and more, to come up with this selection of the best beach bags.

(Note: Prices and availability were accurate at the time of publication; they may fluctuate due to supply chain issues.)

For a packable style with plenty of color options, the classic Ultrabraid Large Brim Visor from San Diego Hat Company checks all the boxes. The visor rolls up easily for packing and can be worn when your hair is up or down, making this hat perfect for beach vacations. The 4-inch brim and UPF 50 protection ensure your face is safe from the sun’s rays. Given the array of color options including pink and orange or aqua and lime, you’ll be able to match this summer hat to your cover-up. Users love the extra protection your face gets, as well as the hat’s ability to easily roll up.

[San Diego Hat Company Signature Women’s Packable Ultrabraid Large Brim Visor: $26 or less. View deal.]

Made with 100% straw, the Pierside Hat from Quiksilver is a must-have for men at the beach, in the garden or venturing outside. This classic style has a wide brim to ensure full protection, and the chin strap provides security in windy weather. Recent beachgoers love the extensive coverage they get from the wide brim, but as it is a real straw hat, they caution not to smash it into your bag or suitcase. Constructed of raffia in natural or dark brown, the lifeguard hat is available in three sizes including XXL, which is perfect for anyone with a hard-to-fit larger head.

[Quiksilver Men’s Pierside Straw Lifeguard Hat: $30 or less. View deal.]

The quintessential straw hat is always a good idea for a day at the beach. This foldable and packable UPF 50 sun hat has an adjustable interior band, removable chin strap and moisture-wicking sweatband so you won’t have to worry about sweat dripping into your eyes on the hottest of days. Available in three sizes, the large hat can fit over a head of thick curly hair; several wearers of the style say they love having finally found a hat that fits their bigger heads.

[Furtalk Women’s Straw Foldable Hat: $29.99 or less. View deal.]

This oversized floppy hat will be the talk of the beach this summer. Made with a lightweight, breathable polyester weave that will keep your head cool under the hot sun, it also has a chin strap to keep it from flying off your head on windier days. The 7-inch brim offers maximum UV protection, and the wire rim makes adjusting easy so you can create shade no matter where the sun is coming from. Reviewers love how this floppy beach hat rolls up for simpler packing, making it an ideal choice for a seaside vacation.

[Coolibar Women’s Convertible Roll-up Shelby Shapeable Poolside Hat UPF 50+: $59 or less. View deal.]

Make a statement with this oversized hat from Lulus. Made out of 100% wheat straw, this floppy hat, with its 12-inch extra-wide brim and adjustable 23-inch interior circumference, will keep you shaded while also ensuring you look fashionable. It only comes in one color, but that won’t matter, since no one will be looking at anything else you are wearing when you have this stylish hat on. Buyers note it’s a major statement piece, sure to bring you lots of admiring looks as you laze on the beach.

[Lulus Take Me Away Beige Oversized Floppy Straw Hat: $79 or less. View deal.]

This ultra-light packable hat easily folds up for convenient transport in a suitcase or bag of any size, whether you tuck it into your carry-on luggage or your beach bag. Between its breathable UPF 50+ material and nearly 3-inch brim, you can be certain you’ll be protected during a long day at the beach, in the garden or on your walk around town. This summer hat is available in more than 20 colors – so the worst part about it may be trying to decide which color to select. Beachgoers love how stylish and durable the hat is at an affordable price.

[Lanzom Women’s Fedora Beach Sun Hat UPF50+: $29.99 or less. View deal.]

For a truly distinctive bucket hat, look no further than the Black-owned Meji Meji, a company that aims to create pieces celebrating Nigerian culture through Black lenses. This bucket hat embraces Meji Meji’s goal: It’s made from adire, a cotton cloth indigenous to southwestern Nigeria that is traditionally hand-dyed indigo by women. Made by Nigerian artisans with sustainable materials, the hat is also lined with satin, so your hair will stay protected no matter how long you wear it. What’s more, this beach-ready bucket hat has hooks on the sides to attach the matching face mask that’s included.

[Meji Meji Blue Flam Combo Bucket Hat: $80 or less. View deal.]

Little ones have a tendency to lose things, so the drawstring on the Rambler Sombrero Hat from Outdoor Research comes in handy. Made with a lightweight UPF 30 fabric, this kids beach hat offers sun protection without being bulky, whether your child wears it at the shore, pool or playground. Along with the choice of three sizes and 10 colors, parents appreciate the hat’s ability to float for the times it (inevitably) falls off in the water.

[Outdoor Research Kids Rambler Sombrero Hat: $43.88 or less. View deal.]

Infants aren’t typically supposed to wear sunscreen until they are 6 months old, and many babies don’t have much (if any) hair, so protecting their little heads and faces is extremely important. This hat from Green Sprouts is lightweight, extends down the neck for added coverage, and has an adjustable toggle so it can grow along with your baby. A chin strap adds extra security, and a wicking liner keeps your child cool. This sun hat is available in four sizes and nine colors, including white, pink and aqua. Parents appreciate that it’s adjustable, so babies can continue wearing it even as they rapidly grow bigger.

[Green Sprouts Flap Sun Protection Hat: $22.49 or less. View deal.]

This hat from Sunday Afternoons helps keep toddlers safe from the sun while they enjoy time outside. Not only is this cute hat available in multiple sizes, but it has DermaSafe UPF 50+ material so you can rest easy knowing your child is protected. What’s more, the hat is resistant to water and stains, so it can be worn in the water and – when the typical toddler spills happen – easily wiped clean. This toddler beach hat comes in a variety of solid colors, along with several fun patterns such as butterflies or reptiles that will let your toddler’s personality shine through. Parents love the durability of this hat, noting it lasts more than one summer.

[Sunday Afternoons Kids’ Play Hat: $29 or less. View deal.]

There is something classic about a simple black sun hat, and this option from Muryobao is no different. Adjust the size using the rope on the inside of the sweatband to make sure you have the perfect fit. With UPF 50+ protection and an extra-wide floppy brim, this black straw hat is practical – but, paired with large sunglasses, it’s on-trend, too. And, since it’s available in 12 colors, you may even find yourself needing more than one after you secure the quintessential black beach hat. Recent purchasers say the ultra-chic bowknot ribbon adds an element of elegance to the hat.

[Muryobao Women’s Wide Brim Straw Sun Hat: $18.99 or less. View deal.]

Right up there with the black beach hat is the white beach hat. Simple yet elegant, Epoch Hats Company’s white bucket hat with a ribbon has a packable design, making it convenient to include on any trip to the beach. This hat has 3-inch brim with UPF 50 sun protection and an adjustable drawstring for security that also allows you to customize your size. While this hat is a top pick in white, it is available in six other colors as well, in case you need one to coordinate with another beach ensemble. Wearers of this hat love how small it folds up for quick and simple storage in your purse or beach tote.

[Epoch Angela & William Poly Braid Bucket Sun Hat with Ribbon: $36 or less. View deal.]

You’re almost guaranteed to have fun on the beach when you wear this cowboy hat. Made with lightweight raffia, this San Diego Hat Company option is breathable yet still provides the protection your head and face need from the sun’s rays. Recent buyers love the way you can shape the brim into whatever style you like, as well as the toggle chin strap to keep it from blowing off your head. This straw cowboy hat is available in two neutral colors, making it easy to match it to your attire.

[San Diego Hat Company Raffia Cowboy Hat: $31.03 or less. View deal.]

If you’re looking for a basic trucker/baseball cap with a few added bells and whistles, look no further than this trucker cap from Gill. Its water-repellent fabric also has built-in sun protection, so you can wear it into the water if you so desire. The cooling mesh panels on the side and on the back mean your head won’t get too hot no matter what the temperature reaches, and the adjustable clasp in back ensures you can fit it to your head for ultimate comfort.

[Gill UV Tec Trucker Cap: $27.95 or less. View deal.]