5 Best Sunglasses for Wide Faces | Slimming Styles Under $50

Maybe your mom told you that your head was big because you were so smart (which is a tiny bit true). But that doesn’t help when it comes to shopping for sunglasses. Wide faces need larger frames to account for that extra brain size. If not, the arms will smash into your temples, causing red lines and headaches after long periods of time.

While you may not be able to walk into Target and find a pair of sunglasses that fit you, tons of online retailers make sunglasses specifically with wide faces in mind. So, struggle no longer with your frames, and try one of these five best sunglasses for wide faces under $50.

How to Find Sunglasses for Wide Faces

Check The Frame Size

To find sunglasses for a wide face, check the frame size. For wide faces, you need to purchase sunglasses with a frame size of over 139mm. When looking for sunglasses online, check the product description for the frame size to ensure it will be the right fit before purchasing.

If you want to get a better sense of your frame size, grab a ruler. Hold the ruler just underneath your eyes. In mm, measure the distance from the edge of one temple to the other. Ideally, stay within a distance of 2-3 mm from this measurement when you shop for the perfect fit.

Know Your Face Shape

Another helpful tool to find the best sunglasses for big heads is to know your face shape. While you don’t have to stick to sunglasses that match your face shape exactly, these rules can help you know what will look best on you when ordering online. Here are the six types of face shapes, their defining features, and what types of sunglasses look best on them.

Square Faces

Flat chins with wide foreheads and hairlines (making a “square”). Rounded frames out of wire or thin plastic look best.

Round Faces

Approximately the same length around the entire circumference of the head from forehead to jaw and temple to temple. Thick frames with bold lines look best.

Heart-Shaped Faces

The face is wide at the forehead and pointed at the jaw. Cat-eyes or a wide frame with rounded lenses look best.

Triangular Faces

The jaw is the widest part of the face and the forehead is narrower. Wide sunglasses with details on the top of the frame (like browline glasses) look best.

Oval Faces

A long face with a forehead and jaw similar in width. Most sunglasses look good on you, but a wide frame helps balance out your long face.

Diamond-Shaped Faces

A small chin and jaw with wide, pointy cheekbones. You look best in round or oval frames that accentuate your cheeks.

The Best Wide Fit Sunglasses for Big Heads

Frames with Flex Hinges

Frames with flex hinges work great as sunglasses for large heads because they ensure that the arms of the sunglasses won’t dig into your temples too hard if the shades fit a little tight. 

WMP Eyewear offers two wide frames with flex hinges. Lance is a double-bridge frame that’s light as a feather with stainless steel arms. Offering a bold, square look and colors such as Jade Black, Crystal Brown, and Carmel Brown, these frames are ideal for anyone with a Square, Oval, Heart, Diamond, or Round face.

Oftentimes, men style their fashion simply. Another flex-hinge option, Jacob features a minimalist look that’s perfect for daily wear. With sturdy rectangular polarized shatter-resistant lenses and stainless steel arms, these were built to last. People with a Square, Oval, Diamond, or Round face will look great in Jacob.

Side Shield Shades

Anyone who enjoys time outdoors and wants maximum sun protection for a large face should consider sun shield shades. These frames offer oversized lenses and thick polycarbonate around the edge to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, which may come through the side of regular sunglasses.

For a tried-and-true side shield shade, check out Harvey. At 141mm, these square sunglasses are perfect for wide faces. The frame is a mix of durable polycarbonate and lightweight stainless steel, an ideal combination for all-day wear. 

Featuring a fashionable double-nose bridge and sensible side-shield eye protection, these sunglasses offer the style men crave that’s both smart and edgy. Try Harvey if you’ve got a Square, Oval, Diamond, or Round face.

Modern Aviator Sunglasses

Aviators tend to always have a wider frame due to the oversized lenses. But modern aviators look even better on wide faces because they offer square lenses and extra-thick frames that balance out large heads.

If you need a quintessential modern aviator, add Emerson to your wardrobe. Composed of sturdy, lightweight acetate, Emerson touts a single nose bridge, wide rectangular lens, and adjustable frame to better fit wide faces. These square sunglasses were made with medium and large heads in mind, and look great on Square, Round, Oval, Heart, or Diamond faces.

Hunter elevates the classic aviator into a contemporary geometric fit. This wide frame includes a double nose bridge that adds an extra angle, five different acetate color options, and 100% UV polarized lens protection. Anyone with a Square, Oval, Heart, Diamond, or Round face would love Hunter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Accurately Determine if My Face Is Considered “Wide” in Terms of Sunglass Selection?

To determine if your face is wide in terms of sunglass selection, you need to measure the width of the front of your face. Grab a ruler that has the millimeter as a unit of measurement. Look in the mirror and hold the ruler horizontally underneath your eyes. Then, measure the distance from the edge of your left temple to the end of your right temple.

If your measurement is over 139mm, then you will need wide sunglasses.

Do Sunglasses for Wide Faces Differ in Terms of UV Protection and Lens Quality Compared to Other Types of Sunglasses?

UV Protection and lens quality are the same for sunglasses with wide faces as it is with regular sunglasses. What’s most important is where you buy your sunglasses from. Choose a retailer such as WMP Eyewear that creates shatter-resistant lenses with 100% UV protection for all of their frames. 

Never assume that lenses have UV protection. It must be written on the label or in the product description that the sunglasses offer 100% UV protection or are rated UV 400. If it doesn’t say that, then choose another pair.

Are There Any Specific Materials That Are Recommended for Sunglass Frames for Wide Faces, in Terms of Comfort and Durability?

For comfortable and durable sunglass frames for wide faces, choose materials like acetate, polycarbonate, or stainless steel. Acetate is a hypoallergenic, eco-friendly material that’s extremely flexible and doesn’t weigh much. Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that’s durable and lightweight, making it popular for both lenses and frames.

Last, stainless steel is flexible, so it can be shaped to better fit the face. It’s also non-corrosive and feels light on your face, so it’s comfortable to wear all day.