Buying a flagpole in Sweden – price and what affects the cost

Anyone looking to buy a flagpole quickly finds big differences in price, even between poles that look identical in pictures. The differences usually have an explanation: height, material, construction, base and accessories. This guide gives no prices, since they vary between retailers and over time. Instead it describes what affects the price of a flagpole, what is usually included and which rules apply to the purchase.

What affects the price of a flagpole?

Flagpole price and height

Height is often the single biggest factor. A taller pole needs a larger diameter and thicker walls to withstand the wind, and the foundation grows with the height. Common heights at houses are 6–8 metres, while businesses and public buildings often have 10–12 metres. Riksarkivet recommends that a flagpole at a house does not reach more than 3.5 metres above the ridge of the roof. More in the guide to flagpole heights.

The height also affects the flag. According to Riksarkivet’s rule of thumb, the flag’s length is about one quarter of the pole’s height, so a taller pole means a larger and therefore more expensive flag. More in the guide to buying a flag.

How the material affects the price

• Glass fibre: the most common material for flagpoles in Sweden according to Riksarkivet. Light, rustproof and common at houses and holiday homes.
• Aluminium: stiffer and common at businesses and in public settings. Often more expensive than glass fibre at the same height.
• Steel: used mainly for very tall poles and demanding environments. Heavy, which affects both delivery and foundation.
• Wood: rare today and needs more maintenance.

A comparison of the materials is in the guide to flagpole materials.

External or internal halyard

A pole with an external halyard is simpler in construction. A pole with an internal halyard has the line inside the pole, behind a lockable hatch, which protects against theft and vandalism and reduces the noise of the line slapping. That construction is common at businesses and public buildings and affects the price. How the halyards work is described in the guide to flagpole mechanics.

Base, foundation and installation

Flagpoles stand in a ground sleeve set in concrete, in a hinged base bolted to a foundation or in a prefabricated foundation. A hinged pole allows maintenance to be done from the ground, which many take into account when buying. The manufacturer states the size of the foundation based on height, flag size and wind exposure.

When comparing prices, it can be useful to bear in mind what is actually included: concrete, ground sleeve or hinged base, bolts and installation are sometimes included and sometimes not. More about digging, foundations and raising in the guide to flagpole installation.

Accessories that affect the total price

What is on the price tag is not always everything needed to fly a flag. Common parts are:

• finial and pulley at the top
• halyard with flag clips or snap hooks
• cleat or hatch for the halyard
• flag and pennant
• lighting, if the flag is to stay up after sunset.

A run-through of the parts is in the guide to flagpole accessories.

Delivery and transport

A flagpole is often longer than an ordinary car can carry, which means delivery can be a noticeable part of the cost. Anyone collecting a pole themselves is subject to the traffic rules on long loads. More in the guide to flagpole transport.

Planning permission and other costs outside the purchase

A flagpole counts as a mast under the Planning and Building Act. According to Boverket (the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning), planning permission is required if the pole is taller than 20 metres or is placed closer to the boundary than its own height. Planning permission is applied for from the municipality, which charges a fee according to its schedule of charges. The local development plan can contain further requirements. More in the guide to flagpole installation.

Consumer rights when buying

• Right of withdrawal: when buying at a distance from a business, for example online, there is normally a 14-day right of withdrawal under the Distance Contracts Act. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency, the period runs from the day after the goods were received. Under the Act, the right of withdrawal does not apply to goods made to the consumer’s specifications or clearly personalised. There is no statutory right of withdrawal when buying in a shop.
• Complaints: according to the Swedish Consumer Agency, the business is responsible for original defects for at least three years from the purchase under the Consumer Sales Act. During the first two years, the burden of proof is on the business. A complaint within two months of discovering the defect always counts as within a reasonable time.
• Guarantee: a guarantee is voluntary and can supplement, but not replace, the right to complain.

The Consumer Sales Act applies when a consumer buys from a business. Different rules apply when buying a used pole from a private individual.

Comparing offers

Because the price of a flagpole depends on so many parts, offers can be easier to compare when it is clear exactly what is included: height above ground, material, halyard, base, accessories, delivery and installation. The manufacturer’s information on which wind load and flag size the pole is dimensioned for is also part of the comparison. More about safety in the guide to flagpole safety.