Buying a German flag: price, size and quality
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the German original. Where the two versions differ, the German text is the original.
German flags are sold in very different versions and at very different prices, even in the same size. The differences often only show after some time in the wind: in how quickly the colours fade and how long the edges hold. This guide gives no prices, because they differ between manufacturers and retailers and change over time. It describes what affects the price of a flag, what an officially correct federal flag looks like and which rights apply when buying.
What affects the price of a flag?
| Factor | Effect on the price |
|---|---|
| Size | Larger flags need more fabric and more work |
| Fabric | The fabric’s weight and weave affect price and durability |
| Printed or sewn | Stripes sewn from separate pieces of fabric take more work than a print |
| Edges and fly end | Reinforced hems and multiple seams at the flying end mean more work |
| Fastening | Snap hooks, eyelets, line or sleeve hem differ between models |
| Flag type | Hoisted flag, banner, portrait or outrigger flag have different formats |
| Custom-made | Flags with a logo or custom design are usually made to order |
Flag price and size
Size is usually the most important single factor. Under the Order on the German Flags, the federal flag has a ratio of height to length of 3 to 5. Protokoll Inland lists the following standard formats:
| Format (height × length) | Use according to Protokoll Inland |
|---|---|
| 15 × 25 cm | Table flag |
| 100 × 150 cm | Indoor use |
| 120 × 200 cm | Hoisted flag |
| 150 × 250 cm | Hoisted flag |
| 200 × 335 cm | Hoisted flag |
| 240 × 400 cm | Hoisted flag |
| 300 × 500 cm | Hoisted flag |
Which size fits depends on the pole. There is no official formula; for federal buildings, the flag decree only requires an appropriate proportion to the building and pole. A rule of thumb common in the trade is that a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. The flag size calculator shows the matching standard format, and further tables are in the guide to flag sizes. A flag that is too large catches more wind and puts more load on the pole.
Fabric, print and finish
Most flags today are made of polyester. Even so, fabrics differ in weight, weave and colourfastness. Price and durability are affected, for example, by:
- Printed or sewn: in a sewn flag, the three stripes are sewn together from separate pieces of fabric; in a printed flag, the colours are printed onto the fabric.
- Reinforced fly end: the flying end wears most in the wind and is reinforced with additional seams on some flags.
- Colourfastness: UV-resistant colours fade more slowly.
A flag that hangs outside permanently wears considerably faster than one raised only on particular days. More about care in the guide to flagpole maintenance.
Buying a German flag: which flag is correct?
When buying a German flag, it helps to know the official specifications:
- Federal flag: under the Order on the German Flags, three horizontal stripes of equal width, black at the top, red in the middle and gold at the bottom, in the ratio 3 to 5. According to Protokoll Inland, anyone is free to use it.
- Colours: the order sets no exact colour values such as RAL or Pantone; it speaks of black, red and gold-coloured.
- Federal service flag: it additionally bears the federal shield and is reserved for federal bodies. Its unauthorised use is an administrative offence under section 124 OWiG, as is that of flags that can be confused with it.
- Flag with an eagle: according to Protokoll Inland, many eagle flags sold in shops show the centred federal coat of arms and not the federal shield. This flag has no official definition; Protokoll Inland informally calls it a “federal coat-of-arms flag”.
- Form: the hoisted flag and the banner are officially permitted. Portrait, outrigger and hanging flags are not provided for in official use; there is no rule on this for private individuals.
More about colours and history in the guide to black-red-gold, and about the forms in the guide to flag types.
State flags, the European flag and mourning ribbons
Besides the federal flag there are state flags, municipal flags and the European flag. Something similar applies to the state flags as to the Federation: the state service flags with a coat of arms are reserved for the authorities under section 124 OWiG. The European flag has a ratio of 2 to 3; when several flags hang side by side, under the flag decree they are to be the same size. For flags in mourning that cannot be lowered to half-mast, Protokoll Inland gives matching dimensions for a mourning ribbon. More in the guide to half-mast.
Rights when buying
- Right of withdrawal: when buying online from a business, there is in principle a 14-day right of withdrawal under sections 312g and 355 BGB. Under section 312g(2) no. 1 BGB, it does not apply to goods made according to the consumer’s individual choice, such as flags with the buyer’s own logo or design.
- Warranty: under section 438 BGB, claims for defects usually become time-barred two years after delivery.
When the flag is worn out
A faded or frayed flag is often replaced. Protokoll Inland stresses that national flags are state symbols that deserve respect. Polyester flags count as textile waste, which public waste management authorities have been collecting separately under section 20 KrWG since 1 January 2025. A new pole is covered in the guide to buying a flagpole.
Frequently asked questions
What affects the price of a flag in Germany?
The price of a flag depends mainly on size, fabric quality, printing or sewing method, the finish of the edges and how it is attached to the pole. Flags with a custom logo or design are usually made to order and priced separately.
What size is a German flag?
Under the Order on the German Flags, the federal flag has a ratio of height to length of 3 to 5. Protokoll Inland lists standard formats including 120 × 200, 150 × 250, 200 × 335, 240 × 400 and 300 × 500 cm, and 100 × 150 cm for indoor use.
May a German flag with an eagle be bought?
Under the Order on the German Flags, the federal service flag with the federal shield is reserved for federal bodies; its unauthorised use is an administrative offence under section 124 OWiG, including with flags that can be confused with it. According to Protokoll Inland, however, many eagle flags sold in shops show the federal coat of arms and not the federal shield. Anyone may use the federal flag without a coat of arms.
Which flag size suits a particular flagpole?
There is no official formula. A rule of thumb common in the trade is that a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. For poles 6 to 7 metres high, 100 × 150 cm is often mentioned there. The flag size calculator shows the matching standard format.
Can a custom-printed flag be returned in Germany?
When buying online from a business, there is in principle a 14-day right of withdrawal. Under section 312g(2) no. 1 BGB, however, it does not apply to goods that are not prefabricated and are made according to the consumer’s individual choice or specification, such as flags with the buyer’s own logo.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in German:
- Anordnung über die deutschen Flaggen (FlaggAnO 1996) – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Hinweise zur Beflaggung – Standardformate und Bundesdienstflagge – Protokoll Inland der Bundesregierung
- Arten von Flaggen – Protokoll Inland der Bundesregierung
- § 124 OWiG – Benutzen von Wappen oder Dienstflaggen – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- § 312g BGB – Widerrufsrecht – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- § 355 BGB – Widerrufsrecht bei Verbraucherverträgen – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Erlass der Bundesregierung über die Beflaggung der Dienstgebäude des Bundes vom 22. März 2005, Abschnitt V Absatz 3 – Bundesministerium des Innern
- § 438 BGB – Verjährung der Mängelansprüche – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- § 20 KrWG – Pflichten der öffentlich-rechtlichen Entsorgungsträger – Bundesministerium der Justiz
- Fahnenmast-Höhe und Fahnengrößen richtig wählen – Fahnenzentrum Neumeyer (Fachhandel)
Related guides
- Flag sizesStandard formats of the German federal flag from 100 × 150 to 300 × 500 cm, banners, portrait and table flags – with the trade’s rule of thumb for pole height.
- Flag size calculatorThe calculator shows, for a given flagpole height, the matching standard format of the German federal flag, the rule-of-thumb limit and the portrait flag.
- Flag typesHoisted flag, banner, portrait, outrigger and hanging flag explained – which forms of the German federal flag are officially permitted. Flagge or Fahne?
- Black-red-goldWhere black-red-gold comes from, what the colours mean, why it is gold and not yellow, and how the flag became the federal flag between 1832 and 1990.
- Buying a flagpoleBuying a flagpole in Germany: what affects the price – height, material, halyard, foundation, delivery and installation – and buyers’ rights under the BGB.
- Flag rulesTimes, lighting, federal flag or service flag and old flags: which flag rules in Germany are law and which apply only to public authorities.