If you’re doing a Lincoln impersonation, that’s stovepipe country. Fred Astaire made over a dozen movies wearing a top hat, notably the 1935 “Top Hat” with Ginger Rogers For refined, self-assurance, men would wear top hats tilted at a 10 degree angle, no more, no less. The height of top hats has changed throughout history. Early on, they stood tall (really tall), some reaching up to eight inches high. Consider something in the 8″ range. As with all good hats, it depends on what looks good on the wearer and the purpose of the hat. Top hats have spanned quite a range of heights over the years. >>What is the best height for a top hat? Early top hats were between 6 and 7 inches tall. Durn good question, especially since I’m contemplating adding a topper to my collection.