Best sun hat for 2025 to keep your face and skin protected from UV rays

Yahoo

5 hours ago

With beach stays and pool days calling your name, it's time to stock up on all your summer faves — stylish sundresses, killer shades and the best sun hat to throw in your vacation luggage. But as you grab the gear that will support your outdoor adventures, it's important to remember that soaking up every last minute of summer fun shouldn't mean soaking up every last ray of summer sun.
For one thing, avoiding sunburns is just smart living — they hurt! But more to the point, prolonged sun exposure on any of your skin, including your ears, the back of your neck and your scalp, can lead to serious and long-term health concerns, including premature skin aging, eye damage and skin cancer — the most common form of cancer in the United States. And while regular sunscreen application is one of the best ways to stave off the dangerous UV rays that are a significant contributor to the cellular damage that leads to melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, according to some studies, hats and other sun protective clothing may be even more effective.
"Skin cancer is more likely to develop on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, such as the ears, nose, scalp, forehead and neck," explains Dr. Susan Taylor, a board-certified dermatologist and president of the American Academy of Dermatology. The vast majority of skin cancer is what's known as basal cell carcinoma, she says, and 85% of basal cell carcinomas occur on the head and neck region.
The best way to lower your risk is to be proactive by applying sunscreen daily, using sunglasses and wearing sun protective clothing like hats. However, not all sun hats are created equally. "To get the most protection from the sun's harmful rays, be sure to choose a hat with a wide brim that shades your face, ears and neck," Taylor says. "These are the areas on your body that are most exposed to the sun." Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a board-certified dermatologist, concurs, adding that "the tighter the fabric weave, the better."
With those tips in mind, you won't find any traditional baseball caps or beanies on this list (although in a pinch, some protection is always better than none!), and you'll also find we've prioritized options with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) ratings that indicate a product has been verified to block out UV rays. With guidance from dermatologists and a lot of research and hands-on (heads-on) testing, we rounded up the best sun protection hats around for every preference and need.
Best overall sun hat
More sun hats we like for 2025
Factors to consider when purchasing a sun hat
How we chose
Other products we tested
Meet the experts
Sun hats might be a fun summer accessory, but choosing the right option goes beyond just finding something that looks good. Instead, there are a number of factors to take into consideration.
Material: Different kinds of material have different benefits, particularly when it comes to sun protection. "Hats made from tightly woven fabrics, such as canvas, offer better protection than those with open weaves, like some straw hats, which allow sunlight through," says Taylor.
According to Nazarian, polyester and nylon are two of the best synthetic fabrics you can choose. "They do a great job of blocking sunlight," she says. Not only are these materials tightly woven, they often come in darker colors.
Weave density: While certain synthetic fabrics are inherently denser, that doesn't mean you can't opt for a hat made from straw or raffia. According to the experts, raffia is typically a better option than straw, but either can be fine as long as you make sure they have a high-density weave.
"With straw and raffia, you can hold the hat up to the sun and see how much light comes through," says Chacon. "That will be your indicator of the amount of exposure."
UPF rating: Another huge factor is the UPF rating, which indicates how much UV radiation a fabric absorbs. The higher the rating, the better the sun (and skin) protection. Look for a hat with a UPF rating of 50+, which is the highest option available.
Coverage: Think about how much coverage the hat provides. "Avoid baseball caps, which leave your ears and neck exposed," says Taylor. Instead, opt for a wide-brimmed hat, ideally with a brim of at least 2 or 3 inches. Some hats also have additional neck coverage, which can be important depending on how long you plan to be outside.
Color: According to Chacon, color absolutely matters when it comes to sun protection. "Dark colors offer more protection than light colors because they absorb more UV rays," she says. Bright colors can also be a good choice.
Style: Finally, think about style and choose a hat you actually like. After all, if you don't like the way a hat looks, you probably aren't going to wear it!
To find the best sun hats for summer, we consulted with three different experts, all board-certified in dermatology, to get a better understanding of what to look for in terms of sun protection. Using their expertise, we considered more than 20 different options from various companies to find the right hat for every style, price point and need. We tested the top contenders to verify their style, comfort, durability and effectiveness.
Gigi Pip Ozzy Packable Straw Sun Hat: We loved the style and versatility of this cute straw hat, and it came close to being our top pick for women, but it lacks verified UPF protection and costs a pretty penny.
Eric Javits Squishee Bucket: This hat has a lot going for it that we really love — UPF 50+ protection, a wide brim and a construction that you can fold or roll without ever losing the hat's shape. It's even super stylish, with a fun fringed edge and 10 different colors to choose from. The only reason it didn't make our list was its price — at almost $300, we couldn't justify the cost when there are so many other cute options at a fraction of the price. That said, if you're in the market for a high-quality sun hat that's perfect for travel or hanging out on the deck, this is a good choice.
Dr. Susan Taylor, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology
Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist
Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, board-certified dermatologist
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.