Hat etiquette: Should you still take your hat off at dinner, during the national anthem, etc.? (2024)

Jodie Filogomo

Jodie Filogomo is a retired dentist turned fashion blogger. Jodie loves experimenting with new styles and having fun with outfits. Her fashion blog includes her mother (the 80+ model) along with her stepmom (the 70+ model) because it’s never too late to look great.

Byron Tully

Byron Tully is the author of “The Old Money Book,” “The Old Money Guide To Marriage,” and “Old Money, New Woman: How To Manage Your Money and Your Life.” His blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014. He lives in Paris where he wears a Panama hat, a Borsalino beret, a fedora, and a custom baseball cap, depending on the weather and his mood.

I live in Paris, where men wear hats often and elegantly, from the iconic beret to the classic fedora. Proper hat etiquette is essential if you want to come across as a gentleman. It has nothing to do with your profession, your income level, or your social position. It involves manners, nothing more.

During the national anthem, you should take your hat off and place it over your heart. If you fail to do this, be prepared for a dirty look or a sharp word from someone standing nearby who has more sense and more respect for our country.

When you enter any establishment, especially a restaurant, you should immediately remove your hat. You should leave it off until you exit the establishment.

This applies to churches, residences, and courthouses as well. When you approach the receptionist or security guard at an office or hotel, remove your hat.

When you say hello to someone on the street, if they are a woman, you may want to tip your hat to them or simply touch the brim as you say hello. If you stop to talk with a woman on the street, remove your hat for the duration of the conversation.

When you are sitting at a restaurant table, do not put your hat on the table. Put it in a chair, on your knee, or ask the server if there’s a place it can be kept during your meal.

Lisa Mirza Grotts

Lisa Mirza Grotts has been prominently featured in a wide range of media, including Fox News, NBC, The Today Show, and BBC News, serving as an on-air contributor and offering commentary on social graces and etiquette.

All hats, including baseball hats, should be removed when indoors. This includes homes, restaurants, theaters, etc. What is excluded are public places such as corridors, gardens, elevators, and the like.

Hats should be removed during the singing of the national anthem, whether it be indoors or outdoors. This is to show a sign of respect.

Dave Bowden

As the founder of IrreverentGent.com, Dave Bowden helps thousands of guys sharpen their style, strengthen their confidence, and stand out from the crowd.

We live in a much more casual world than decades past, and just as the style has relaxed over the years, so have the rules around proper hat etiquette. In previous generations, there were basically no circ*mstances where men wore their hats indoors, never mind at the dinner table. But the rules are a little looser now, which can make things a little trickier to navigate. So, when is it appropriate to wear or remove your hat?

As a good rule of thumb, I recommend that guys remove their hats in any situation that might be considered “personal.” For instance, visiting a friend in their home is a personal experience where face time is highly valued, and wearing a hat (especially a ball cap) might obstruct your face, so the polite thing to do is take it off. When you’re eating a meal out at a restaurant, you’re obviously not in somebody’s home, but breaking bread is still a personal experience, so the hat should come off.

By contrast, if you’re out somewhere in public that happens to be indoors – think malls, the subway, or sporting events – then hats of any sort are perfectly appropriate.

As for the national anthem, taking your hat off is still mandatory. The tradition stems from medieval times when knights use to raise the visor on their helmets (or remove them entirely) to show their faces to their monarchs or those of higher rank. It’s meant as a sign of respect and friendliness to your country—two traits that every country could use a little more of.

Jodi RR Smith

Jodi RR Smith is a nationally known etiquette consultant. She has appeared on the CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, and the Today show. Jodi has been quoted in the Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today as well as in magazines such as Real Simple, Martha Stewart, and Redbook. She has also been heard on NPR, the BBC, and CNN radio.

Hats are both a fashion accessory and a functional part of our wardrobe. This means we must understand the dos and don’ts of hat etiquette to ensure we are being polite.

Functional headwear should be removed when no longer needed, this includes knit-winter hats once you are indoors or baseball hats once out you are of the sun.

Fashionable headwear follows these guidelines: Women wear hats that complete their outfits in or outdoors until 6:00 pm. After 6:00, women do not wear hats indoors. Men wear hats while out and about, but remove the hat indoors or when meeting someone outdoors. Think “a tip of the hat to you.”

Religious headwear is exempted from these guidelines.

Hats are removed as a sign of respect during burials or when the national anthem is played.

Nate Bailey

Nate Bailey was a Lieutenant, serving our country in the United States Army. As a Platoon Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nate was charged with the safety and leadership of 42 soldiers as they served our country in Kuwait. Nate has a simple philosophy on life – “live you what you teach.” Nate sees what needs to be done, and he does it. He pushes his teams to the max, and he makes sure he’s always leading from the front by pushing himself one step beyond.