Party Hats and Crowns for Kids, Adults and Pets

Standard or mini: which party hat size do you need?

Standard cones are the classic birthday hat: tall enough to show in group photos and wide enough to perch on an older child's or adult's head. Mini cones are about two-thirds the height and sit as a small topper. On an adult, a mini hat looks like a novelty accent, which is fine for a joke photo but not for wearing all evening.

If your guest list mixes kids and adults, the rainbow 7.9 in party hats or the pastel 8.4 in 12-pack are the safer picks. Our party hat sizes guide compares every set, including base circumference.

How many party hats to buy

A common rule of thumb is one hat per child plus a couple of spares for bent or lost hats, with about 15% extra for bigger groups. Twelve-packs cover a small party in one box; for a class of 20, plan on two. The guide to party hat counts works through guest lists, and the party supply calculator adds balloons and banner length too.

Assembly and fit

Flat-pack hats follow the same steps: roll the sheet into a cone, lock the tab, press a glue dot on the seam, add the pom pom and thread the elastic. Build them the day before and store them upright in a box so the tips don't crush. Our step-by-step assembly guide shows each stage.

If elastic feels loose on a small head, tie a knot to shorten it rather than stretching it. Put hats on at cake time, when kids are seated, and see keeping party hats on kids for more fit tips. Pom poms and glue dots are small parts, so assemble the hats yourself and keep an eye on toddlers.

Hats for stuffed animals, pets and crafts

Mini cones suit most huggable plush and dolls. The pre-assembled beaver set skips the folding, so you only press on the pom poms. The gold pet crown is a short-session photo prop for small dogs and cats, not a chew toy; its listing doesn't give a measurement, so compare the photos and measure your pet's head first.

The mini top hats are rigid matte plastic for snowman ornaments, doll outfits and miniature scenes. They aren't wearable and aren't for food contact; use a pick or barrier if you place one on a cupcake.