How to Order Cap and Gown: The Complete Guide

Ordering your cap and gown should feel like the first step of your celebration, not a final exam. The whole process for how to order a cap and gown really comes down to three things: knowing exactly what regalia your degree requires, getting your measurements right, and giving yourself plenty of time before the ceremony. Get those three things sorted, and you'll have everything you need—from the gown itself to the right tassel and hood—for your big walk across the stage.

Your Essential Guide to Graduation Regalia

Figuring out what to order for graduation can seem a little complicated, but I've been helping graduates through this for years, and it's simpler than you think. Whether you're a high school senior excited for your first big academic milestone or a doctoral candidate finally ready for that velvet tam, paying attention to the details is what makes the moment special. This guide is designed to walk you through the specifics of how to order cap and gown, stress-free.

The demand for graduation gear has exploded. The global market is expected to jump from $1.9 billion in 2025 to an incredible $3.3 billion by 2032. It makes sense when you think about it—with over 4 million high school seniors graduating in the US every year, that's a lot of gowns!

Experience shows that 70% of purchases happen in the 3-6 months right before ceremonies, which always creates a last-minute scramble. That’s why we at Gradshop prioritize same-day dispatch for many of our in-stock items. We want to make sure no one gets left out. If you're interested in the numbers, you can explore the full market report to see how these trends are shaping graduation planning.

Key Components of Your Regalia

First things first, let's get the terminology down. Knowing the basic pieces of academic attire is the key to ordering your cap and gown correctly. Each element has its own history and symbolic meaning.

This simple diagram shows the core parts of a standard graduation outfit.

Think of it as your complete academic uniform, from the cap on your head to the academic hood that proudly displays your field of study.

What You Need for Your Academic Level

The specific pieces of regalia you'll wear depend entirely on your degree. High school is pretty straightforward, but the requirements get more specific as you move up through higher education.

Here's a quick-reference table to help you easily see what's typically required for each level of achievement.

Graduation Regalia Checklist by Academic Level

This table covers the basics, but always double-check with your institution for any unique requirements they might have.

A Tip from Experience: The most common mistake I see is graduates ordering the wrong pieces or simply waiting too long. Figure out your needs early—whether it’s a full doctoral set or a simple high school cap and gown—and you'll have a much smoother and more enjoyable experience.

Getting Your High School Cap and Gown Just Right

Ordering your high school cap and gown is one of those moments when it all starts to feel real. It's more than just a purchase; it's a rite of passage, a tangible piece of the celebration you've worked so hard for. The whole process should be exciting, not a headache, so let's walk through it together. We'll cover everything from getting the size right to picking out the perfect colors and finish.

At Gradshop, we’ve made our high school caps and gowns collection incredibly simple to navigate. Honestly, the only measurement you really need is your height. Just measure yourself from head to toe, then pop over to the size chart on any product page. It'll show you exactly which size to get.

Shiny vs. Matte: Picking Your Gown's Finish and Color

One of the first choices you'll make is about the fabric's finish: shiny or matte. A shiny gown has that classic, traditional look that really pops under the bright lights of a ceremony. On the other hand, a matte finish offers a more modern, subdued elegance. There's no wrong answer here; it usually comes down to what your school prefers or your own personal taste.

Color is the next big decision. Most high schools have set colors for their graduates, so you’ll want to double-check with your school before you buy. We offer a huge range of shades, so you're almost certain to find the exact one you need.

A Quick Sizing Tip from Experience: If your height falls between two sizes on the chart, always go with the larger size. A gown that's a little too long looks much more graceful and drapes better than one that's too short. Trust me, you'll be glad you did when you see the photos.

Make it Easy with a Package Deal

To take all the guesswork out of how to order your cap and gown, our package deals are a lifesaver. These bundles are super popular because they pull all the must-haves together in one easy click.

A typical high school package includes:

• The graduation gown (in your chosen size, color, and finish)
• A classic mortarboard cap (which is one-size-fits-all)
• A tassel with a current year charm

Going with a bundle means you won't accidentally forget something important, and it’s often a better value. For a deeper dive, take a look at our guide on what to expect with your high school cap and gown.

Show Your Story with Graduation Stoles

While the cap and gown are the standard uniform, a stole is where you can really let your personality and achievements shine. High school stoles are the perfect way to customize your look. We've seen a massive 40% jump in demand for themed stoles—like Kente cloth, military service designs, or custom class-year styles—thanks to graduation fashion trends all over social media.

This isn't just a fleeting trend. Personalization now makes up 25% of the global $3.3B cap and gown industry. It's a new tradition. Finding yours is easy; just head over to Gradshop's high school stoles page and find the one that tells your story.

Beyond the regalia itself, many schools and students also look for other forms of school merchandise to commemorate the big day, creating lasting keepsakes of their academic journey.

The Finishing Touch: Tassel Colors

Don't forget the tassel! The color is a small but significant detail, and it’s almost always decided by your school. Some schools go with one solid color for everyone, while others use two or even three colors to show off school spirit.

It's always smart to confirm your school's graduation dress code to make sure you grab the correct one. If you order one of our packages, the tassel is included, and you can easily select the right color combo when you place your order. Getting that little detail right is what pulls the entire look together for your big walk across the stage.

Ordering for Masters, Doctoral, and Faculty Members

Once you reach the master's or doctoral level, your regalia becomes more than just a uniform. It's a visual story of your academic journey, your specific field, and the institution you represent. Ordering for advanced degrees is a bit more involved than for high school or college because every single element—from the cut of the sleeve to the color of the velvet—is steeped in tradition and has a specific meaning.

Getting these details right is important. Faculty and advanced degree candidates are expected to wear regalia that precisely reflects their academic standing. This means paying close attention to distinct gown styles, very specific hood colors, and often, more formal headwear.

Gown Distinctions: Masters vs. Doctoral

The first thing you’ll notice is that not all black gowns are the same. The difference is all in the details, especially the sleeves.

A master's gown has a very unique design with oblong sleeves that are sealed at the end. You'll see a slit near the wrist where your arms come through. It's a classic, traditional look that immediately distinguishes a master's recipient.

On the other hand, a doctoral gown is much more ornate, designed to signify the highest level of academic achievement. These gowns feature full, bell-shaped sleeves marked with three velvet chevrons. You'll also see matching velvet panels, called facings, running down the front.

When you look through Gradshop’s Masters & Doctoral Regalia collection, you'll see these differences side-by-side. Choosing the right gown is the first and most important step.

Decoding the Academic Hood

The academic hood is easily the most meaningful and colorful part of your entire outfit. It’s a code that tells everyone your degree level, your field of study, and the university that granted your degree. Nailing this part is crucial.

The hood has three key components:

• Shell Fabric: This is almost always black to match the gown.
• Velvet Trim: The color of the velvet trim is the key. It signifies your specific field of study—light blue for Education, gold for Science, drab for Business, and so on.
• Satin Lining: These are your school colors! The satin lining is folded to display the official colors of your university, making it instantly recognizable to fellow alumni.

Ordering an advanced degree hood is about more than just tradition; it’s about joining a legacy. With over 1 million advanced degrees awarded in the U.S. each year, the need for accurate regalia is huge. We've seen demand for specialized items like velvet tams—worn by 95% of doctoral recipients—grow significantly.

Figuring out the right hood colors can be a headache, but getting it right ensures you follow proper academic protocol. In fact, statistics show 55% of universities now require custom hoods, a big jump from just 30% back in 2010. While sizing issues affect nearly 40% of buyers industry-wide, our detailed charts and free samples take the guesswork out of the equation.

Pro Tip: Before you place an order, always double-check the official velvet color for your specific field of study. Most are standardized, but some universities have their own unique traditions. Our product pages list out the options clearly to help you match your degree perfectly.

Academic Hood Velvet Color Guide by Field of Study

The velvet trim on an academic hood is a universal code that identifies a graduate's field of study. This tradition dates back centuries and provides a quick visual reference for a person's academic discipline. The table below outlines the most common velvet colors and their corresponding fields.

Using this guide can help ensure you select the correct regalia that proudly and accurately represents your hard-earned degree.

Headwear: From Mortarboard to Tam

While a master's graduate can certainly wear the classic mortarboard cap, doctoral candidates and faculty members typically upgrade to the more distinguished velvet tam. It's a soft, brimless cap that many find more comfortable and prestigious.

Our doctoral tams come in four, six, or eight-sided versions and are often finished with a gold bullion tassel for an extra touch of elegance. Whether you choose a tam or a mortarboard often depends on your school's tradition or your own personal preference, but the tam is widely seen as the symbol of a doctorate. If you want to dive deeper, you can explore our guide on the differences between various PhD cap and gown components.

Essential for Institutions: Free Samples

For department heads and administrators ordering for a group of faculty or an entire graduating class, quality control is everything. This regalia isn't a one-time-use item; it's an investment meant to last for years of commencements and academic ceremonies.

That's exactly why Gradshop offers free samples for institutional orders.

Getting a sample in your hands lets you feel the quality of the fabric, check the stitching, and see the richness of the velvet for yourself. It’s a simple step that provides total peace of mind, ensuring that the final bulk order will meet your institution's high standards. It’s the best way to guarantee your graduates and faculty look polished and professional on the big day.

Add Your Personal Touch with Stoles, Cords, and Medals

The cap and gown set the stage, but it's the accessories—the stoles, cords, and medals—that tell your real story. Think of these pieces as more than just decoration. They're vibrant, tangible symbols of your unique journey, your hard-won accomplishments, and the communities you belong to. Learning how to order the right accessories is the final, most personal step in building a look that says everything about what you’ve achieved.

These additions are what let you stand out in a sea of graduates, showcasing your heritage, academic honors, or club memberships. It's your chance to wear your story on your sleeve—or, more accurately, around your neck.

Tell Your Story with Graduation Stoles

A graduation stole, sometimes called a sash, is a long piece of cloth worn over your shoulders that acts as a canvas for your identity. It's easily one of the most visible and versatile ways to put your own stamp on your regalia.

At Gradshop, our graduation stoles collection is packed with options. You’ll find pre-designed stoles that represent all sorts of different parts of your life and academic career.

Some of the most popular choices we see are:

• Kente Stoles: Featuring vibrant, intricate patterns rooted in Ghanaian tradition, these are often worn by students to honor their African heritage.
• International Flag Stoles: A great way for students to represent their home country or celebrate a life-changing study abroad experience.
• Military Service Stoles: For active-duty service members and veterans, this is a proud way to display their commitment to their country.
• Greek Life Stoles: Members of fraternities and sororities can show their brotherhood or sisterhood with stoles displaying their organization's letters and colors.

Ordering is a breeze. You can pick from our huge selection of in-stock designs or go for a truly one-of-a-kind piece with our custom embroidery services. A custom stole lets you add your name, graduation year, or a specific club logo, making your regalia truly unforgettable.

Understanding Honor Cords and What Their Colors Mean

Honor cords are those braided ropes with tassels on each end, draped around the neck to signify academic achievement, leadership, or membership in a specific honor society. But the colors are anything but random; each one has a specific meaning.

While some colors are fairly universal—gold, for instance, often represents summa cum laude or the highest honors—many schools have their own unique color systems. One university might use silver for magna cum laude, while another reserves it for a particular academic department.

To help you get it right, we've put together a detailed honor cord color meaning guide. This is an invaluable resource for figuring out what each shade represents, so you can wear your achievements with both pride and accuracy. That said, it's always a good idea to double-check with your school’s registrar or student services office to confirm their specific color designations before you order.

A common mistake is thinking cords are only for top grades. Many students earn cords for things like student government, community service, or university leadership programs. Don't miss the chance to showcase these important parts of your college experience!

Bringing It All Together for a Complete Look

The real magic happens when you start combining these different pieces. Picture a graduate wearing their gown adorned with a Kente stole, a gold honor cord for their GPA, and a red, white, and blue cord for their military service. That combination doesn't just look impressive—it tells a powerful, multi-layered story at a single glance.

Your regalia is really a summary of your academic life. Each piece you add builds on that story, creating a look that is entirely your own. Medals, often awarded for specific achievements or competitions, can also be worn around the neck to add another layer of distinction.

As you get ready for graduation, take a moment to think about all the milestones you’ve hit and the groups you've been a part of. Personalizing your regalia is the perfect way to honor that entire journey as you walk across the stage.

Placing Your Order Timelines and Bulk Purchases

When it comes to getting your graduation regalia, timing is everything. Seriously, leaving it to the last minute is a recipe for stress you just don't need. The best thing you can do for your future self is to figure out your ordering timeline well in advance.

For most graduates, the sweet spot for ordering is a few months before you walk across that stage. If you're getting anything custom—like a uniquely embroidered stole or a specific faculty gown—you'll want to place your order 3-6 months before your ceremony. This gives everyone enough breathing room for production and shipping, especially during that crazy-busy spring graduation season.

But hey, life happens. What if you're behind schedule? Don't panic. We offer same-day dispatch on thousands of in-stock items, which is an absolute lifesaver for students who need standard regalia in a hurry. Ordering early is always the best bet, but it's good to know you have a solid backup plan.

A Guide for School Administrators

Coordinating regalia for hundreds of students or an entire faculty department is a huge undertaking. We get it. That's why we've focused on making bulk ordering as simple and cost-effective as possible. It's truly the best way to handle graduation prep on a large scale.

Placing one big, consolidated order just makes sense:

• You'll Save Money: Bulk purchases unlock significant discounts, which can make a real difference for your school's budget and, ultimately, for your students.
• Everyone Matches Perfectly: Ordering together guarantees that every single gown, cap, and tassel is consistent in color and style. That uniform, polished look on commencement day? This is how you get it.
• Logistics Get So Much Easier: Managing one large shipment is infinitely simpler than tracking hundreds of individual orders. It makes distribution a breeze and dramatically cuts down on potential mix-ups.

We want you to be completely confident in what you're ordering. That’s why we always encourage administrators to request a free sample. There's no substitute for seeing and feeling the fabric, checking the stitch quality, and verifying the colors with your own eyes before you commit. Our team is here to walk you through the whole process, but for more great pointers, check out our article on tips for graduation regalia ordering.

We know that managing a bulk order has a lot of moving parts. Our team specializes in creating custom packages for schools that fit specific needs and budgets, making the entire process seamless from quote to delivery day.

Shipping, Returns, and Tracking Your Order

Once your order is in, the final piece of the puzzle is getting it to you. We've got a range of shipping options to fit different budgets and deadlines. As you plan, it's always smart to have a general idea of how long does shipping take to get from our warehouse to your front door.

As soon as your package is on its way, we’ll send you a tracking number. You'll be able to follow its journey online and see the estimated arrival date, so you'll know exactly when to expect it.

And if something isn't quite right? No problem. Our return and exchange policy is straightforward. If you accidentally ordered the wrong size or your plans change, we make it easy to process a return. Our goal is to make every step of ordering your cap and gown a simple, worry-free experience.

Getting Your Cap, Gown, and Hood Just Right

You’ve figured out how to order your cap and gown, and the package has finally arrived. Awesome! But the job isn't quite done yet. Wearing your regalia correctly is just as important as ordering the right size—it's about showing up on your big day with the confidence you've earned. Let's get you looking polished and ready for the ceremony.

First thing's first: get that gown out of the bag and hang it up immediately. It's almost guaranteed to have some creases from being folded during shipping, and a little prep work now will save you a headache later.

Pro Tip: A garment steamer on a low setting is your best friend for getting rid of wrinkles. If you use an iron, be extremely careful and use the lowest heat setting—these fabrics can damage easily. This one small step makes a huge difference in photos.

How to Wear Your Cap and Tassel

Your graduation cap, often called a mortarboard, should sit flat on your head, parallel to the floor. It's not a fashion hat, so resist the urge to tilt it back or to the side. The front point of the cap should be centered on your forehead, creating that classic diamond shape. It might feel a bit strange at first, but that's the proper way to do it.

Now, for the tassel. Its placement is a crucial part of the ceremony.

• Before the ceremony: Your tassel hangs on the right side of your cap.
• After your degree is conferred: You'll move it over to the left side. This is the moment for many graduates!

A few bobby pins are the secret to keeping your cap from slipping while you're walking across the stage. Just slide them through the cap and into your hair to lock it in place.

Nailing the Academic Hood

If you're earning a master's or doctoral degree, the academic hood is the star of the show. It’s a beautiful piece of regalia that signifies your university, your specific degree, and your field of study. Wearing it correctly is key to displaying all that hard work.

Draping the hood can feel a little awkward, so here’s a quick breakdown:

1. Start by placing the hood over your head, making sure the velvet side is facing up and it drapes down your back.
2. Adjust it so the velvet trim lies flat against your gown, framing your neck and shoulders.
3. The satin lining—the part with your university colors—needs to be turned out so the colors are visible. You’re looking to create a colorful chevron on your back. There’s usually a small cord or loop you can use to fasten it to a shirt button or your gown to prevent it from slipping.

The most common mistake people make is forgetting to flip the satin lining out. You definitely want those school colors showing! Getting this right is the final touch that completes the distinguished look of your masters and doctoral regalia and represents your achievements perfectly.

Answering Your Cap and Gown Questions

When it comes to ordering graduation gear, a few questions always pop up. It's totally normal. Getting the details right on everything from sizing to timelines is key to a stress-free experience. Let's walk through some of the most common things people ask when figuring out how to order their cap and gown.

How Do I Figure Out My Gown Size?

This is the easiest part—it’s all about your height.

Every single product page, from our classic high school caps & gowns to our distinguished doctoral sets, has a clear size chart. Just measure yourself from head to toe and find that number on the chart. That's your size. The gown is designed to have a loose, flowing fit and should hang somewhere around your mid-calf.

A little tip from our years of experience: If you're right between two sizes, always go for the larger one. A slightly bigger gown drapes much better and gives you that polished, comfortable look you want for the ceremony. Don't worry about the cap; most of ours are one-size-fits-all and have a handy elastic band to keep them snug.

What's the Real Difference Between a Masters and Doctoral Gown?

It all comes down to the sleeves and the velvet trim, which are visual cues of a higher academic degree.

A master's gown is distinct, featuring unique oblong sleeves that are closed at the end. A doctoral gown, on the other hand, is much more ornate. You'll notice three velvet chevrons stitched onto each of its bell-shaped sleeves, with matching velvet panels running down the front of the gown. You can get a good look at these details in our Masters & Doctoral Regalia collection.

Can I Just Buy a Tassel or an Honor Cord by Itself?

Of course! We get it—sometimes you just need one specific item.

Maybe you lost your tassel, earned a last-minute academic honor, or want to add a special stole to a gown you already have. Whatever the reason, you can buy all our regalia components individually. It’s easy to grab just what you need from our dedicated collections, like our popular graduation stoles for that perfect final touch.

At Gradshop, our goal is to make getting ready for graduation as simple as it can be. Take a look at our complete range of regalia and accessories to find exactly what you need for the big day. Visit us today at https://www.gradshop.com and place your order with total confidence.