Flag size calculator for Germany: which flag suits the flagpole?
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.
Which flag suits which pole? The calculator below gives guidance. It combines two things: the standard formats of the federal flag listed by Protokoll Inland of the Federal Government, and the rule of thumb from the trade under which a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. Germany has no official formula.
How to read the results
- Nearest standard format: the largest format of the federal flag from the Protokoll Inland list (100 × 150, 120 × 200, 150 × 250, 200 × 335, 240 × 400 and 300 × 500 cm) whose length does not exceed the rule of thumb.
- Upper limit by the rule of thumb: length equal to one third of the visible pole height, height in the ratio 3 to 5 under the Order on the German Flags. This is the calculated maximum, not a standard format.
- Portrait flag (Knatterflagge): according to the trade’s rule of thumb, its lower edge reaches to about half the pole height, so its length is roughly half the visible pole height.
Examples
| Visible pole height | Standard format within the rule of thumb | Portrait flag up to about |
|---|---|---|
| 6 m | 120 × 200 cm | 3 m |
| 7 m | 120 × 200 cm | 3.5 m |
| 8 m | 150 × 250 cm | 4 m |
| 10 m | 150 × 250 cm | 5 m |
| 12 m | 240 × 400 cm | 6 m |
For poles 6 to 7 metres high, the trade also often mentions the smaller format 100 × 150 cm. The rule of thumb describes an upper limit; smaller flags are always possible and put less load on the pole.
What the rule of thumb does not take into account
- Manufacturer’s specifications: many poles are designed for a certain maximum flag size. This information takes precedence over any rule of thumb. More in the guide to flagpole safety.
- Wind zone: on the coast and in exposed locations, the wind load is higher than in sheltered gardens.
- Surroundings: a pole in front of a large building looks different from a pole in an open garden. The flag decree therefore speaks of an appropriate proportion to the building and pole.
- Several flags: when several flags hang side by side, under the flag decree they are to be the same size.
- Half-mast: with large flags on short poles, the flag at half-mast reaches far down. More in the guide to half-mast.
All formats and tables are in the guide to flag sizes, and the usual pole heights in the guide to flagpole heights.
Frequently asked questions
How does the German flag size calculator work?
The calculator uses the rule of thumb common in the trade, under which a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. It shows the largest standard format of the federal flag according to Protokoll Inland that lies within this limit, and the upper limit in the ratio 3 to 5.
Is the result an official specification?
No. Germany has no official formula for flag size. For federal buildings, the flag decree only requires an appropriate proportion between flag, building and pole. The rule of thumb is guidance from the trade.
Which height goes into the calculator?
It is the visible height of the pole above the ground. If the pole stands directly behind a wall, hedge or fence, according to the trade’s rule of thumb only the part that rises above it counts.
Can a larger flag be used than the calculator shows?
Larger flags on smaller poles do occur. It plays a role that a larger flag catches more wind: many manufacturers state a maximum permissible flag size for their poles, and this information takes precedence over any rule of thumb.
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 – Protokoll Inland der Bundesregierung
- Erlass der Bundesregierung über die Beflaggung der Dienstgebäude des Bundes vom 22. März 2005, Abschnitt V Absatz 3 – Bundesministerium des Innern
- Die empfohlenen Größen für Masten und Fahnen – 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.
- Flagpole heightsHow tall a flagpole in Germany usually is, which flag suits which height, and what building codes and development plans say about pole height.
- Half-mastHalf-mast in Germany: how high the flag hangs, why it is first raised fully, when a mourning ribbon is used instead of half-mast and who orders it.
- Flag typesHoisted flag, banner, portrait, outrigger and hanging flag explained – which forms of the German federal flag are officially permitted. Flagge or Fahne?