Buying a flag in Ireland: price, size and quality

The price of a flag in Ireland depends on a handful of choices: how big it is, what it is made of, how it is finished for the flagpole, and whether the design is a stock flag or made to order. This guide goes through what affects the price and what consumer law says about buying a flag. It gives no prices; they vary between sellers and over time.

Size

Size has the biggest effect on the price, since a larger flag uses more fabric and more work. Irish flag makers sell the tricolour in sizes from around 60 × 90 cm to 180 × 360 cm. According to an Irish flagpole supplier, a 900 × 1800 mm flag suits poles of 2 to 7 metres, 1200 × 2400 mm poles of 8 and 9 metres, and 1500 × 3000 mm poles of 10 and 12 metres. The flag size calculator shows the size by pole height.

The guidelines of the Department of the Taoiseach allow the National Flag to be made to any convenient size, as long as the width is twice the depth. A 2:1 size such as 90 × 180 cm has those proportions; common sizes such as 90 × 150 cm (5 × 3 ft) do not. More in the guide to flag sizes.

Material and making

Flags Ireland, a Dublin flag maker, offers the tricolour in digitally printed polyester and in heavy woven dyed polyester. A heavier flag lasts longer in wind and rain but also weighs more on the pole and its fittings, especially when wet.

Finish

The finish decides how the flag is attached, and adds to the price:

• rope loop and tail or brass rings on the hoist side, for hoisting on a flagpole
• four corner rings, for hanging on a wall or frame
• a sleeve, for a hand-held or indoor pole

An Irish flagpole supplier notes that cheap flags with eyelets can fail on a flagpole and leave the flag stuck at the top.

Stock or custom

National flags, the EU flag and county, provincial and rugby flags are sold from stock. Custom flags with a company logo or club crest are printed to order, and the design work, the print run and the delivery time all affect the price. The harp and shamrock are State emblems: using them in connection with a business needs ministerial consent under the Trade Marks Act 1996, as described in the guide to flags of Ireland.

The colours

The price of a flag does not guarantee the colours. According to the guidelines, the tricolour is green, white and orange, with Pantone 347 green and Pantone 151 orange, and yellow or gold instead of orange is a misrepresentation. The meaning of the colours is explained in the guide to the Irish flag and its meaning.

VAT

The standard rate of VAT, which applies to most goods, is 23% according to Revenue’s list of rates from 1 January 2026. Prices shown to consumers include VAT; the CCPC notes that a business selling online states the total price before the purchase.

Consumer rights

Consumer rights in Ireland are enforced by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). According to the CCPC:

• if a fault arises within 30 days of buying or delivery, the consumer can terminate the purchase and get a full refund
• after 30 days, the consumer can generally choose between a repair or a replacement, with a refund in serious cases
• consumer rights for faulty goods last up to six years if the product can reasonably be expected to last that long
• in the first year, a fault is presumed to have existed from delivery, unless the business proves otherwise
• for most goods bought online, there is a 14-day cooling-off period from the day the goods arrive, and the business refunds within 14 days of being told

A flag is exposed to wind and weather, and wear and tear is not a fault. An Irish flagpole supplier warrants its flags for one month. A guarantee from the seller comes on top of the statutory rights and does not replace them.

Flag and flagpole

A flag is often bought together with a flagpole. What affects the price of a pole is covered in the guide to buying a flagpole, and the rules for flying the flag in the guide to flag flying rules.