Flag sizes in Switzerland: formats and matching pole heights

A flag that is too small disappears on a tall pole; one that is too large almost drags on the ground in still air and strains the pole in a storm. Switzerland has no official rule for private poles. There are, however, two well-documented reference points: the ratio in the Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations and the tables of the Swiss trade.

The proportions of the Swiss flag

The Swiss flag is square. The Coat of Arms Protection Act describes the cross as upright, free-standing and white, with equal arms that are each one sixth longer than they are wide. The model in Annex 2 of the Act governs the shape, colour and proportions. The Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations note that the length of a white arm relates to the side of the flag as 20 to 32 in this model, and that the central position of the cross, never defined before 2013, now follows from the model drawing.

Most cantonal and communal flags are also square. Swiss, cantonal and communal flags flying side by side are the same size under the flag regulations. When the Swiss flag flies beside rectangular foreign flags, all have the same height.

The 4:1 ratio

The Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations give a guide value for pole and flag: the ratio of pole height to flag height should ideally be about 4:1. For square flags, that gives:

The trade table

The Swiss flag retailer top-fahnen.ch gives as a rule of thumb for square Swiss, cantonal and communal flags a quarter to a fifth of the pole height, with this table:

For rectangular national flags, the same retailer gives a fifth of the pole height, for example 100 × 150 cm for poles of 5 and 6 metres and 150 × 225 cm for poles of 7 to 9 metres. For pole height, it gives 6 metres for gardens, 7 or 8 metres for private buildings and smaller businesses, and 8 or 10 metres for large companies.

Distance from the ground

Heimgartner Fahnen AG gives a minimum of 3 metres between flag and ground for a balanced overall look. For banners and outrigger flags, it mentions a pole twice as high as the flag. For hoisting and outrigger flags up to 120 × 300 cm, it lists poles of 5 to 6 metres, and for poles of 9 to 10 metres flags up to 150 × 500 cm.

Other factors

Besides pole height, a few other points play a part:

• Wind and location: a large flag increases the wind load on the pole. Manufacturers state a maximum flag size for their poles.
• Half-mast: at half-mast the flag hangs lower. A large flag on a low pole can then almost touch the ground. More in the guide to half-mast.
• Several poles: those who fly the Swiss, cantonal and communal flags side by side choose the same size for all under the flag regulations.

The size for a given pole height is calculated by the flag size calculator.