The timeless tradition of men’s hat etiquette is a social grace worthy of attention. Yes, it’s still relevant and guidelines continue to exist.

Times have changed and some may think we have strayed far away from tradition because we live in a much more casual world then decades past. The truth is even today, in most situations, wearing a hat indoors is still considered poor etiquette. It’s important to understand why the tradition is in place. It has nothing to do with social position or income level. It involves respect.

Traditional guidelines are pretty clear. There definitely are places where it is still considered rude and disrespectful for a man to keep his hat on. All hats, including baseball hats, should be removed when indoors. This includes the homes of friends and family, and in public places like restaurants and places of worship (unless a hat or head covering is required). A lesser-known social situation that warrants removing one’s hat is when an introduction is made, indoors or out.

A strict rule of Western etiquette worthy of sharing exists in the United States Flag Code. It advises men to remove their hats during the national anthem. This rule applies both indoors and outside. It’s a longtime sign of respect and one of those etiquette rules that hopefully never goes out of style.

When in doubt fall back on tradition and remove your hat out of respect for others.