Flag sizes in Germany: formats and matching pole heights

No law in Germany prescribes how large a flag should be. The Order on the German Flags only sets the proportions, and for federal buildings the flag decree requires the size of the flags to be in appropriate proportion to the size of the building and the pole. Several flags on one building are to be the same size. For choosing a suitable size there are therefore standard formats and a rule of thumb common in the trade.

The proportions of the federal flag

Under the Order on the German Flags, the federal flag and the federal service flag have a ratio of height to length of 3 to 5. The three stripes are of equal width. The European flag, by contrast, has a ratio of 2 to 3, as do many other national flags. Flags of the same height hanging side by side are therefore not always the same length.

Standard formats according to Protokoll Inland

Protokoll Inland lists the following standard formats for the federal flag and federal service flag:

For banners, Protokoll Inland lists the standard sizes 120 × 300 cm, 150 × 400 cm and 150 × 500 cm (width × height). On official occasions, the square Swiss flag is chosen so that its area matches the flag hanging next to it, for example 175 × 175 cm next to 150 × 250 cm.

Rule of thumb for pole height

Germany has no official formula as some other countries do. The following rule of thumb is common in the trade: a hoisted flag in still air covers at most the upper third of the visible pole. If the pole stands behind a wall or hedge, only the visible part counts. The retailer Fahnenzentrum Neumeyer gives these guide values:

According to the retailer, these values are ideal values; larger flags on smaller poles also occur. Not all formats in the shops have the official ratio of 3 to 5. For a federal flag in the ratio 3 to 5, the formats follow from the Protokoll Inland table. The flag size calculator shows which standard format suits a particular pole height.

Portrait flags

For portrait flags (Hochformat- or Knatterflaggen), a different rule of thumb applies in the trade: the flag’s lower edge reaches at most to about half the height of the visible pole. On a 9-metre pole, the flag would therefore be about 5 metres long. Frequently mentioned combinations are 200 × 80 cm for 5-metre poles, 300 × 100 or 300 × 120 cm for 6 to 7 metres and 400 × 150 cm for 7 to 8 metres.

Wind, pole and flag

The flag size affects the load on the pole. A large flag catches more wind and increases the forces on the pole and foundation. Many manufacturers therefore state a maximum permissible flag size for their poles, often depending on the wind zone. More in the guides to flagpole safety and flagpole heights.

A mourning ribbon to match the flag

Protokoll Inland also gives dimensions for the mourning ribbon: its length equals twice the height of the hoisted flag, and its width is 10 cm for smaller and 20 cm for large outdoor flags. A flag of 120 × 200 cm therefore goes with a mourning ribbon of 240 × 10 cm, and a flag of 240 × 400 cm with one of 480 × 20 cm. More in the guide to half-mast.