Best Sun Hats in Australia (2026 Guide)
The best sun hats Australia offers in 2026 — UPF50+ broadbrims, legionnaires and surf hats from Cancer Council, Bedhead, Akubra and Rip Curl, compared against the SunSmart brim rules, with live prices checked on Amazon Australia.
Last updated: 27 October 2026The short answer
For most adults, the Bedhead Adult Broadbrim is the best sun hat in Australia in 2026 — UPF50+ tested to AS/NZS 4399, a full 10 cm brim (Cancer Council’s guidance is at least 7.5 cm) and packable for travel. Kids? The Bedhead Legionnaire (UPF50+, sized brims from 5.5 cm). Surfing? The Rip Curl Surf Series Cap — UPF 50+ with a chin strap and floating brim. Full rankings of the best sun hats Australia sells below.
Quick picks — the best sun hats Australia 2026
| Hat | Best for | UPF (as listed) | Brim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Council Wide Brim Reversible | Best everyday wide-brim | UPF 50+ (as listed) | Wide (not specified) | Check Price |
| Bedhead Adult Broadbrim | Best adult broadbrim | UPF50+ (AS/NZS 4399) | 10 cm | Check Price |
| Bedhead ‘Vacationer’ Linen | Best travel | UPF50+ | Wide (not specified) | Check Price |
| Akubra Rough Rider | Best heritage | Rated UPF50+ | Wide (not specified) | Check Price |
| Rip Curl Surf Series Cap | Best surf hat | UPF 50+ (retailer) | Floating brim + neck flap | Check Price |
| Bedhead Legionnaire (Kids) | Best kids | UPF50+ (AS/NZS 4399) | 5.5–7.2 cm by size | Check Price |
| Bedhead Swim Legionnaire | Best kids swim | UPF50+ (AS/NZS 4399) | 5.5–7.2 cm by size | Check Price |
| Kmart Draw String Bucket | Best budget | Not stated on listing | 8 cm | Check Price |
The best sun hats Australia has for every head
Eight picks — every UPF claim quoted exactly as listed, and every missing spec flagged instead of guessed.
1. Cancer Council Women’s Wide Brim Reversible Sun Hat
Reversible and foldable with a removable chin strap and ponytail opening — listed at BIG W with “UPF 50+ Excellent Sun Protection”, and every Cancer Council hat is independently tested and rated UPF50+ by the Cancer Council Shop.
The practical default: two looks in one hat, an adjustable elastic toggle, and a foldable build that survives a beach bag. It’s the best sun hats Australia pick for everyday wear. One honest gap: the retail listing we opened didn’t publish the fabric composition or a numeric brim width, so we can’t check it against the 7.5 cm guidance from that listing alone — the brand-level UPF50+ testing claim is what carries this pick.
- Independently tested brand range (UPF50+)
- Reversible + foldable + ponytail opening
- Removable chin strap for windy days
- Composition and brim width not on the listing checked
- Women’s styling only in this design
2. Bedhead Hats Adult Broadbrim Sun Hat
Soft stretch cotton rib with a generous 10 cm brim — “UPF50+ Excellent Protection”, fabric and finished hat tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4399. Sizes 60 cm (S–M) and 65 cm (L–XL).
The fully-specified pick from Australian brand Bedhead Hats: the brim number is published (10 cm — beyond Cancer Council’s 7.5 cm broadbrim guidance), the testing standard is named, and clever details abound — the back pocket is also a ponytail opening and stores the removable chin strap. Bedhead calls it “lightweight and packable for travel”. Note: it’s a cotton rib hat, not a swim fabric — water days need the swim styles.
- Published 10 cm brim + named test standard
- Packable, machine washable
- Strap stashes in the back pocket
- Only two sizes — measure first
- Cotton rib is not a swim fabric
3. Bedhead Hats ‘Vacationer’ Ladies Sun Hat
Breathable 100% linen, fully reversible (print one side, plain the other), UPF50+ — positioned by Bedhead for holidays, walks, markets and sidelines.
The holiday pick: linen breathes in real heat, and reversible means two hats in one suitcase slot. Honest flags: Bedhead’s collection page didn’t state a numeric brim width for this style, and it doesn’t claim “crushable” — linen is lightweight, but it will crease, so pack it on top, not underneath.
- Breathable natural linen
- Two looks, one hat
- UPF50+ range
- Brim width not published on the page checked
- Linen creases — not claimed crush-proof
4. Akubra Rough Rider
100% rabbit fur felt, made in Australia — “Rated UPF50+” in Akubra’s materials section, in sizes 53–65. Akubra’s own site rates it 4.96/5 from 48 reviews.
The buy-it-for-decades pick: Akubra states an Akubra takes six weeks and 162 steps to make, and rabbit fur felt is, in the brand’s words, “an inherently strong and water resistant fibre”. Flags: no chin strap is listed as included (it’s a separate accessory on the page), no numeric brim width is published, and felt is warm — this is the heritage hat, not the beach hat.
- Decades-long build quality
- Rated UPF50+ on the brand page
- Huge size range 53–65
- Warm, structured felt — not for the surf
- Chin strap is a separate accessory
5. Rip Curl Surf Series Cap
100% polyester with a floating brim, secure adjustable chin strap, neoprene headband and removable neck flap — listed by an AU surf retailer as UPF 50+. S/M 58 cm, L/XL 60 cm.
The water pick: everything about it answers “will it stay on?” — chin strap, shock-cord crown adjuster, and a brim that floats if it does come off. Coverage honesty: it’s cap-shaped at the front, so full ear/neck cover depends on attaching the removable neck flap. Our specs come from an AU retailer’s listing of the Rip Curl product (the brand’s own AU page wasn’t opened in our research), so verify colours and availability at checkout.
- Built to stay on in the surf
- Floating brim = recoverable
- Neck flap included
- Cap front = narrower shade than a broadbrim
- Specs from a retailer listing — verify at checkout
6. Bedhead Hats Legionnaire Flap Sun Hat (Kids)
95% cotton / 5% elastane jersey, UPF50+ tested to AS/NZS 4399, with size-scaled brims (5.5 cm at 0–3 months up to 7.2 cm at 3–6 years), an anti-flop foam brim and a soft neck flap that lies flat in prams.
The childcare-standard shape: flap over ears and neck, brims sized to the SunSmart guide (kids’ buckets at least 5 cm; this table runs 5.5–7.2 cm), and a stretch chin strap with a toggle. Bedhead positions it for “newborns, crawlers and toddlers using prams, strollers, car seats, carriers and slings” — and even, in their words, as “a great first style for little hat-haters”.
- Neck + ear coverage by design
- Brims scale with head size
- Machine washable
- Cotton jersey isn’t the swim version
- Table tops out at 3–6 years
7. Bedhead Hats Kids Swim Legionnaire
Quick-drying, chlorine-friendly 85% polyester / 15% elastane swim fabric, UPF50+ tested to AS/NZS 4399 — same legionnaire shape and brim table as the cotton version.
Same beloved shape, water fabric: this is the swim-lessons and beach-days version, with the soft back flap, anti-flop foam brim and toggle chin strap. The honest structure of the Bedhead system: everyday cotton and swim fabric are two separate hats — budget for both if your kids live at the pool.
- Made for water: quick-dry, chlorine-friendly
- Same proven coverage shape
- A second hat on top of the everyday one
8. Kmart Draw String Bucket Hat
Cotton bucket with an 8 cm brim and 57 cm head circumference — the brim width clears the 6 cm bucket guidance, but the Kmart page states NO UPF rating.
The budget floor of our best sun hats Australia list — with the guide’s clearest honesty flag: width is verified (8 cm), UV performance is not, because the listing claims no UPF at all. Cancer Council’s guidance for unrated clothing is closely woven, dark-coloured fabric — check the weave in store. If a tested rating matters (it should, for kids), the Cancer Council range above is the verified route. That closes our best sun hats Australia rankings.
- 8 cm brim meets the bucket width guidance
- Cheapest everyday option
- No UPF rating stated — UV performance unverified
- One size only
Sun hat buying notes: brim rules and what UPF50+ means
The brim rules (Cancer Council Australia): a broad-brimmed hat needs a brim of at least 7.5 cm to shade face, ears and neck; bucket hats at least 6 cm; legionnaire styles cover the neck with a flap. Baseball caps are NOT recommended — they leave ears, cheeks and the back of the neck exposed. For children, bucket brims should be at least 5 cm as a guide. That’s why our top picks publish their brim numbers.
What UPF50+ means: Cancer Council explains UPF as the factor by which UV exposure is reduced — UPF 50 lets one-fiftieth of UV through, and ratings of 50+ are classed “excellent”, blocking at least 98% of UV. Bedhead adds the local detail: components are tested by ARPANSA under AS 4399 and the hat’s rating follows its lowest-performing component. Pair any hat with our Sunglasses guide — a 7.5 cm brim alone blocks more than 50% of UV to the eyes, not all of it.
Fabric honesty: unrated hats aren’t useless — closely woven, dark fabric protects better than loose, light weaves — but only a tested UPF claim is a number you can trust. When in doubt, buy the rated hat.
Sun hat questions, answered
What are the best sun hats in Australia in 2026?
The Bedhead Adult Broadbrim leads our list — UPF50+ tested to AS/NZS 4399 with a 10 cm brim. For everyday wear, the Cancer Council Wide Brim Reversible; for heritage, the Akubra Rough Rider (rated UPF50+). All are ranked in our best sun hats Australia guide.
How wide should a sun hat brim be?
Cancer Council Australia’s guidance: broad-brimmed hats at least 7.5 cm, bucket hats at least 6 cm, and legionnaire styles with a neck flap. For children, bucket brims of at least 5 cm as a guide. Baseball caps are not recommended — they leave ears, cheeks and neck exposed. These brim widths are a practical starting point when comparing the best sun hats Australia shoppers can buy.
What does UPF50+ mean on a hat?
UPF is the factor by which UV exposure is reduced: UPF 50 lets one-fiftieth of UV through, and Cancer Council classes 50+ as “excellent”, blocking at least 98% of UV. In Australia, hat components are tested under AS 4399 and the rating follows the lowest-performing part. That rating is one reason the best sun hats Australia guide leans on tested UPF claims.
Are unrated hats useless?
No — Cancer Council notes fabrics don’t need a UPF rating to protect, and closely woven, dark-coloured fabric protects best among unrated options. But only a tested rating is a number you can trust, which is why most picks in this guide are rated UPF50+. For shoppers comparing the best sun hats Australia has on offer, a tested rating removes the guesswork.
What is the best sun hat for kids?
A legionnaire. The Bedhead Legionnaire is UPF50+ tested, with brims scaled by size (5.5 cm at 0–3 months up to 7.2 cm at 3–6 years), a neck flap and an anti-flop foam brim. For water, the Bedhead Swim Legionnaire uses quick-drying chlorine-friendly fabric. Parents shopping for the best sun hats Australia offers for kids should check brim size and neck coverage together.
What hat should I wear surfing?
One that stays on: the Rip Curl Surf Series Cap combines a listed UPF 50+, a secure chin strap, a floating brim and a removable neck flap. Cap fronts shade less than a broadbrim, so attach the flap for full ear and neck cover. Among the best sun hats Australia surfers reach for, a secure fit matters as much as shade.
Related guides: Best Swimwear in Australia · Best Sunglasses in Australia · Best Sandals in Australia · browse all categories on the homepage.
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