How to Store Hats

Last Updated: September 30, 2022

Hats are a great way to protect your skin and finish off an outfit, but they can be difficult to store. You can’t just throw them in a pile without damaging them, so hats will require special storage solutions. Learning how to store hats on pegs, in special hatboxes, or with hat organizers will help you keep your hats safe and within easy reach.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Hanging Hats on Pegs

1
Choose hats to hang up. Most hats can be hung on pegs, but if you have fragile or antique hats, pegs may not be the best choice. Baseball caps, cowboy hats, and sturdier formal hats are all great choices.
2
Choose your pegs. There are many pegs that would be a great choice for hanging up hats. You can buy pegs from home repair stores, furniture and decor shops, or online. You can even use regular nails or make your own hangers! You just need to make sure that your pegs are long enough to hold a hat securely. Most hats will be held up with 2 inches (51 mm) pegs.^{[1]
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3
Pick a space to put the pegs. Choose a space that’s secure and out of direct sunlight, which can damage your hats! Some people prefer to use wall space to turn the hats into art, but you may be more comfortable hanging the pegs on a closet door or entryway.
4
Space the pegs according to hat size. Don’t put the pegs too close together, or your hats won’t have room! How much space to give each peg will depend on your average hat size. If you mostly wear baseball caps or fedoras, you’ll need about 1 foot (0.30 m) between each peg, but wide-brimmed hats will require more space.^{[2]
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- Make sure your pegs are level with each other! Use a leveler if you aren’t sure.
5
Nail or hang up your pegs. Hang up your pegs according to the package instructions. If you don’t have instructions, make sure you nail or screw in the pegs securely, on a section of wall that won’t be damaged.^{[3]
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- You can also buy stick-on adhesives for walls. Since you’re using the pegs to hang up lightweight hats, you don’t need to worry about the pegs being pulled out of the walls.
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Hang each hat on its own peg. You can double up hats on one peg if you want, but it’s best for each hat to have its own peg to prevent damage and clutter.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Hatboxes

1
Buy hatboxes that fit your largest hat. It’s easier to store boxes if they’re all one size, so your hatboxes should be sized to your largest hat. Hatboxes are traditionally round, but they don’t have to be. All they really need to have is a lid. You can buy hatboxes at department stores, craft stores, and specialty clothing shops.^{[5]
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- You don't need to buy actual hatboxes if you don't want to. Wide shoeboxes or even clear plastic boxes would also work well.
2
Nest hats together in the boxes. If you have several hats that are the same size and shape, you can nest them inside each other and put them together in one box. Don’t force any hats into each other, or nest hats that don’t have the same shape!^{[6]
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- Baseball caps, cowboy hats, and derby hats would all nest well.
3
Store fragile or decorated hats in their own box. Some hats are fragile or have decorations like feathers, netting, or anything else that might come off easily. If you have hats like this, they should each have their own box.^{[7]
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4
Label each box (optional). Write or print out a small label with a description of the hat and put it on the box. This will help you find the hat you need quickly without having to open all the boxes. It’s especially useful if you’ll be keeping them on a high shelf or using boxes that are all the same color.^{[8]
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5
Secure the box lids. Make sure each box has a lid and that each lid fits securely onto the box. Most hatboxes have snug lids, but you may want to tape down the sides of the lids to be safe.
6
Store the boxes somewhere safe. You can keep the boxes anywhere you like, but make sure they won’t get stepped on or knocked over, and be sure that nothing will be stacked on top of them. Closet shelves or under beds and dressers are a good idea. You can also use your hatboxes as a decorative element by lining them up along a wall or on top of a table.^{[9]
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- Stacking the boxes on top of each other is a great way to save space!

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Hats in Organizers

1
Choose an organizer. There are many kinds of hat organizers available at home stores and online. They tend to work best with smaller, casual hats like baseball caps and trilbys, but if you find one for larger hats you can use it.^{[10]
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2
Use an over-the-door hanger for baseball caps. You can put these on the inside of your closet or bedroom door to maximize space. This wouldn't work well for larger hats, but baseball caps are more flexible.^{[11]
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Store your organizer under the bed. You can use long, flat plastic organizers that slide under your bed or any other piece of furniture. They look like long, shallow boxes.^{[12]
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4
Use drawer inserts to keep your hats in a dresser. Inserts break up space in the drawer and keep your hats from being crushed by other objects. This is a great option for more fragile hats or hats with decorations, but you can also store casual hats like baseball caps this way.^{[13]
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Try head molds to keep your hats on display. Many hat specialists recommend using head molds as hat organizers, but many people dislike this look. Head molds will keep your hats' shapes intact and keep them on display.^{[14]
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Install your organizer. Set up your organizer according to the product instructions. Most organizers have very simply, quick installation processes.
7
Line your hats up neatly into the organizer. Put each hat in its own space in the organizer. For casual hats like baseball caps, you can nest them. Fill up your organizer. If you have any extra space, you can try using it to store similar items like scarves and sunglasses.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you organize and store your hats?

Ashley Moon, MA
Professional Organizer
Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.

Ashley Moon, MA

Professional Organizer

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Donate the hats you're no longer wearing. Hang your most-used hat on a hook by your door. Store the rest of your hats in a basket with the out-of-season caps in the back.
Question

How do you store baseball hats DIY?

Ashley Moon, MA
Professional Organizer
Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.

Ashley Moon, MA

Professional Organizer

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Put your favorite hats where you can reach and admire them. If you have space, place all your hats on interesting hooks across the wall.
Question

I can't seem to find organizers specifically for hats. Also, where can one buy hat holders that some stores use to store one hat per device?

Community Answer

You can find amazing storage for hats in vintage shops. Vintage shops have very elegant and beautiful hat boxes. You could also find a necklace holder and put your hats on there. Try stores like IKEA, Walmart, and Target, and you'll surely find something for a good price. Don't be afraid to DIY something as well.