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Flag size calculator for Switzerland: which flag suits which pole?

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This page is an English translation of the German original. Where the two versions differ, the German text is the original.

The flag size calculator shows which square flag suits a given pole height. It is based on two Swiss sources: the guide value in the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations and the size table of the flag retailer top-fahnen.ch. The pole height can be set with the slider or in the number field between 4 and 15 metres.

metres
4:1 ratio of the army flag regulations
175 × 175 cm
Flag height about a quarter of the pole: 175 cm. Nearest standard size: 150 × 150 cm
Row of the Swiss trade size table
150 × 150 cm
The table of top-fahnen.ch lists this size for a 7 m pole, with 200 × 200 cm beside it

How the calculator works

4:1 ratio: the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations state that the ratio of pole height to flag height should ideally be about 4:1. The calculator therefore divides the pole height by four and rounds to 5 cm. Because the Swiss flag is square, this also gives the width. Below it is the nearest size from the series 80, 100, 120, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 400 cm that is common in the Swiss trade; if the result lies exactly between two sizes, it shows the smaller one.

Trade table: top-fahnen.ch gives as a rule of thumb a flag of a quarter to a fifth of the pole height and publishes a table for poles of 5 to 12 metres. The calculator shows the row closest to the height entered, with the alternative that the table lists beside it.

Examples

Pole height4:1 ratioTrade table
5 m125 × 125 cm100 × 100 cm (or 120 × 120 cm)
6 m150 × 150 cm120 × 120 cm (or 150 × 150 cm)
7 m175 × 175 cm150 × 150 cm (or 200 × 200 cm)
8 m200 × 200 cm150 × 150 cm (or 200 × 200 cm)
10 m250 × 250 cm250 × 250 cm
12 m300 × 300 cm300 × 300 cm

The two values differ a little for low poles, because the trade table starts from a fifth of the pole height while the flag regulations start from a quarter.

What the calculator does not take into account

  • Wind load and pole: manufacturers often state a maximum flag size for their poles, depending on diameter, wall thickness and location. That figure takes precedence over the calculation.
  • Rectangular flags: company flags and rectangular national flags come in other formats. top-fahnen.ch gives a fifth of the pole height for rectangular national flags, for example 150 × 225 cm for 7 to 9 metres.
  • Hanging and outrigger flags: other ratios apply; Heimgartner Fahnen AG mentions a pole twice as high as the flag.

More on formats and proportions is in the guide to flag sizes, and more on common pole heights in the guide to flagpole heights.

Frequently asked questions

How does the flag size calculator work?

The calculator divides the pole height by four, following the ratio of about 4:1 between pole height and flag height in the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations, and rounds to 5 cm. It also shows the nearest standard size and the row of the top-fahnen.ch size table closest to the height entered.

Is the result an official requirement?

No. The 4:1 ratio is a guide value in the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations, and the table comes from the trade. There is no rule on flag size for private poles. Manufacturers often state a maximum flag size for their poles.

Which height is entered in the calculator?

The height of the pole above the ground is entered, without the part in the foundation. For a pole on a roof or a façade, that is the visible length of the pole.

Does the calculator also work for cantonal and communal flags?

Yes, most cantonal and communal flags are square like the Swiss flag. Under the flag regulations, Swiss, cantonal and communal flags flying side by side are the same size.

Sources

This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in German:

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