# Half Helmets ## Shop Half Helmets by Brand We carry DOT-approved half helmets from five trusted brands — Daytona, HJC, Bell, Z1R, and Sena — so you can jump straight to the maker you trust. - **[Daytona Half Helmets](/collections/half-helmets?filter.p.vendor=Daytona%20Helmets)** — the widest selection of DOT-approved half helmets and skull caps. - **[HJC Half Helmets](/collections/half-helmets?filter.p.vendor=HJC)** — lightweight, great-value DOT half helmets. - **[Bell Half Helmets](/collections/half-helmets?filter.p.vendor=BELL)** — classic, heritage-style half helmets. - **[Z1R Half Helmets](/collections/half-helmets?filter.p.vendor=Z1R)** — budget-friendly half helmets. - **[Sena Half Helmets](/collections/half-helmets?filter.p.vendor=SENA)** — a half helmet with integrated Bluetooth. ## What Is a Half Helmet? A half helmet — sometimes called a "shorty" — covers the top of your head down to about your ears, making it the lightest, lowest-profile street helmet style. It's a cruiser-culture staple: minimal, cool, and unrestrictive. Half helmets deliver the open, free feeling many riders want, with maximum airflow and visibility. Just know what you're choosing — this is the least protective of the street-legal styles. ## Benefits of Half Helmets Half helmets are the lightest and coolest option, with maximum airflow and visibility and a classic minimalist look — popular with cruiser and custom riders. - **Lightest & least restrictive** — minimal weight and bulk. - **Maximum airflow** — nothing keeps you cooler in hot weather. - **Wide-open visibility** — no shell in your peripheral vision. - **Classic cruiser style** — the traditional look for many riders. - **Easy on/off** — simple to wear with sunglasses or goggles. ## Are Half Helmets Safe and Legal? A DOT-certified half helmet is street-legal and protects the top of your head, but it covers the least of any street helmet — so it offers less protection than open-face or full-face styles. Critically, make sure it's DOT-certified, not a "novelty" helmet. **DOT vs. "novelty" — this matters.** Some thin, lightweight half helmets are sold as "novelty" lids: they are _not_ DOT-certified and offer little real protection. Always look for the DOT certification sticker. A real DOT half helmet is legal protection; a novelty shell is not. Daytona is one of the best-known makers of genuinely DOT-approved half helmets — see our [Daytona helmets](/collections/daytona-helmets). ## How to Choose the Right Size Measure your head about an inch above your eyebrows, match it to the brand's size chart, and choose a snug fit that sits level and doesn't lift at speed. - **Measure right** — widest part of the head, level, measured twice; use the larger number. - **Snug fit** — a loose half helmet can shift or lift in the wind. - **Between sizes? Size down** for a secure fit. **Find your exact size:** our [brand-by-brand sizing charts](/pages/size-charts) cover every helmet we carry, plus how to measure and match your head shape. ## How to Care for a Half Helmet Wipe the shell with mild soap and lukewarm water and let any removable padding air dry — half helmets are simple to maintain. - **Shell** — lukewarm water and a microfiber cloth; avoid harsh chemicals. - **Padding** — hand-wash removable pads and air dry fully. - **Lifespan** — replace after any impact or about every five years. ## Half vs. Open-Face vs. Full-Face A half helmet is the lightest and most open but the least protective; an [open-face](/collections/open-face-helmets) adds coverage around your head; a [full-face](/collections/full-face-helmets) adds chin and face protection for the most safety. ## Half Helmet FAQs Are half helmets legal? A DOT-certified half helmet is street-legal in most states. Always confirm the DOT certification sticker — and check your state's specific helmet law. What's the difference between a DOT half helmet and a novelty helmet? A DOT half helmet meets the federal safety standard and offers real protection. A novelty helmet is not DOT-certified, is not legal protection, and provides very little safety. Look for the DOT sticker. Are half helmets safe? They protect the top of your head and, when DOT-certified, meet the federal standard — but they cover the least of any street helmet. They offer less protection than open-face or full-face styles. How should a half helmet fit? Snug and level, with no lifting at speed. Measure around the widest part of your head about an inch above your eyebrows and size down if you're between sizes. ## Products in this collection - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Make 'Em Pay](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-make-em-pay) - 45.86 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Freedom](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-freedom) - 45.86 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Cross Bones](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-cross-bones) - 45.86 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Diamond Skull](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-diamond-skull) - 45.86 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Barbed Roses](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-barbed-roses) - 45.86 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap Jr.- Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-jr-hi-gloss-black) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. Hawk- Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-hawk-hi-gloss-black) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. Hawk- Dull Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-hawk-dull-black) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. German- Military Green](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-german-military-green) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. German- Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-german-hi-gloss-black) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Silver Metallic](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-silver-metallic) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Pearl White](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-pearl-white) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Gun Metal Grey Metallic](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-gun-metal-grey-metallic) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Black Cherry](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-black-cherry) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds W/O Visor- Hi-Gloss White](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-hi-gloss-white) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Hi-Gloss White](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-hi-gloss-white) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds W/O Visor- Hi-Gloss Pink](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-hi-gloss-pink) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Hi-Gloss Pink](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-hi-gloss-pink) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. German Style Half Helmet - Dull Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-german-dull-black) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds W/O Visor- Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-hi-gloss-black) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-dull-black-1) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds W/O Visor- Dull Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-dull-black) - 89.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Skull Cap Half Shell Motorcycle Helmet - Beanie Style for Motorcycles, Cruisers, Scooters, and Mopeds - Dull Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-dull-black) - 89.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap W/ Inner Shield- Hi-Gloss Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-inner-shield-hi-gloss-black) - 98.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap W/ Inner Shield- Dull Black](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-inner-shield-dull-black) - 98.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap W/O Visor- Leather Covered](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-leather-covered) - 98.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap- Leather Covered](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-leather-covered) - 98.95 USD - [Z1R CC Beanie Justice Helmet](https://helmetshop.com/products/z1r-cc-beanie-justice-helmet) - 99.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Flowers](https://helmetshop.com/products/dot-approved-daytona-motorcycle-half-face-helmet-skull-cap-graphics-for-men-women-scooters-atvs-utvs-choppers-w-flowers) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Boss Bitch](https://helmetshop.com/products/dot-approved-daytona-motorcycle-half-face-helmet-skull-cap-graphics-for-men-women-scooters-atvs-utvs-choppers-w-boss-bitch) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Ignite Grey](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-ignite-grey) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Rockin' Reaper](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-rockin-reaper) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Thunder](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-thunder) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Freedom 2.0](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-freedom-2-0) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Live Fast](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-live-fast) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Lovesee](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-lovesee) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Wild At Heart](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-wild-at-heart) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ USA](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-usa) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Rose](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-rose) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Purple Rose](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-purple-rose) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Pistons Skull](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-pistons-skull) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Guns](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-guns) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Dragonfly](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-dragonfly) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Come Get 'Em](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-come-get-em) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Butterfly](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-butterfly) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ Barbed Wire Heart](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-barbed-wire-heart) - 107.95 USD - [DOT Approved Daytona Motorcycle Half Face Helmet - Skull Cap Graphics for Men & Women, Scooters, ATVs, UTVs & Choppers - W/ 2nd Amendment](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-2nd-amendment) - 107.95 USD - [HJC C20 Helmet - Solid](https://helmetshop.com/products/c20-helmet-solid) - 119.99 USD - [HJC IS-Cruiser Helmet - Solid](https://helmetshop.com/products/is-cruiser-helmet-solid) - 119.99 USD - [HJC C20 Probe Helmet MC5SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-c20-probe-helmet-mc5sf) - 139.99 USD - [HJC C20 Probe Helmet MC7SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-c20-probe-helmet-mc7sf) - 139.99 USD - [HJC C20 Probe Helmet MC8](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-c20-probe-helmet-mc8) - 139.99 USD - [HJC IS-Cruiser Fior Helmet MC10](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-is-cruiser-fior-helmet-mc10) - 139.99 USD - [HJC IS-Cruiser Fior Helmet MC5SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-is-cruiser-fior-helmet-mc5sf) - 139.99 USD - [Bell PS PITBOSS PIN/ORANGE MATTE BLACK ORANGE](https://helmetshop.com/products/pit-boss_pin_matte-black-orange) - 159.95 USD - [Bell PS PIT BOSS PIN/PINK MATTE BLACK PINK](https://helmetshop.com/products/pit-boss_pin_matte-black-pink) - 159.95 USD - [Bell PS PIT BOSS PIN MATTE ND/BLACK MATTE NARDO BLACK](https://helmetshop.com/products/pit-boss_pin_matte-nardo-black) - 159.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap W/O Visor- Grey Carbon Fiber](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-w-o-visor-grey-carbon-fiber) - 179.95 USD - [D.O.T. Daytona Skull Cap- Grey Carbon Fiber](https://helmetshop.com/products/d-o-t-daytona-skull-cap-grey-carbon-fiber) - 179.95 USD - [HJC i20N Helmet - Solid](https://helmetshop.com/products/i20n-helmet-solid) - 229.99 USD - [HJC i20 Helmet - Solid](https://helmetshop.com/products/i20-helmet-solid) - 229.99 USD - [HJC V31 Firo Helmet MC5](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-v31-firo-helmet-mc5) - 259.99 USD - [HJC i20N Thorn Helmet MC5SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-i20n-thorn-helmet-mc5sf) - 269.99 USD - [HJC i20N Thorn Helmet MC9SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-i20n-thorn-helmet-mc9sf) - 269.99 USD - [HJC i20N Vena Helmet MC1](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-i20n-vena-helmet-mc1) - 269.99 USD - [HJC i20 Scraw Helmet MC10SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-i20-scraw-helmet-mc10sf) - 269.99 USD - [HJC i20 Scraw Helmet MC5SF](https://helmetshop.com/products/hjc-i20-scraw-helmet-mc5sf) - 269.99 USD - [SENA Cavalry 2 Half Helmet](https://helmetshop.com/products/cavalry-2-half-helmet) - 349.0 USD --- > Source: [The Helmet Shop](https://helmetshop.com/collections/half-helmets) > Updated: 2026-06-21