Flags in mourning, at deaths and funerals in Sweden
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Swedish original. Where the two versions differ, the Swedish text is the original.
When someone has died, a flag at half-mast is a quiet and widely understood way of showing grief and respect. Sweden has an established custom for when it is done. This guide describes the custom at deaths, funerals and national mourning. How half-mast is done, with height and order, is described in the guide to half-mast.
After a death
According to Swedish custom, the flag is flown at half-mast on the day of death or the day after the news of the death has arrived. The usual flying times apply: the flag is raised at 08:00 or 09:00 depending on the season and lowered at sunset, no later than 21:00. Before it is lowered in the evening, it is traditionally raised to the top.
It is mainly the family who fly the flag, but it is common for neighbours, relatives, friends and associations that were close to the deceased to fly it as well. At workplaces it is often decided by the organisation’s own flag policy.
On the day of the funeral
On the day of the funeral the flag is again flown at half-mast. By custom it stays at half-mast until the funeral is over, and is then raised to the top and stays there until the usual lowering time.
When the time of the funeral is unknown, some choose a fixed time in the afternoon. Stockholm University, for example, raises the flag to the top at 15:00 in such cases.
When a flag day and mourning coincide
According to Riksarkivet, flying the flag at half-mast takes precedence if it coincides with a general flag day, for example if a funeral takes place on National Day.
Royal and national mourning
Special regulations apply on a death in the Royal House and at state funerals. According to Riksarkivet, flags fly at half-mast all day at the funeral of a member of the royal family. At a state funeral, special regulations are issued for flag flying.
During national mourning, for example after a national disaster, it is possible to fly flags at half-mast on several flagpoles where there are several, otherwise on the main flagpole. In all cases only the Swedish flag is used.
Which flags are used
According to Riksarkivet, only the Swedish flag is used in mourning. The pennant is not flown at half-mast, and neither are international flags, company flags or association flags. Anyone who has the pennant up can swap it for the flag. Foreign private individuals in Sweden may fly their own national flags.
Banners at the funeral
At many funerals, banner bearers from associations, trade unions or orders take part. The Swedish Association of Funeral Directors (Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund) describes the custom: the Swedish banner is placed to the right of the coffin as seen with one’s back to the altar, and association banners and standards to the left. The banners are lowered when the congregation rises and during the committal. The association’s own banner often carries a mourning ribbon, while under older rules the Swedish banner does not. More about banners in the guide to flag protocol at ceremonies.
The custom in brief
| Occasion | Swedish custom |
|---|---|
| Death | Half-mast on the day of death or the day after the news |
| Day of the funeral | Half-mast until the funeral is over, then to the top |
| Raising | First to the top, then two thirds of the pole’s height |
| Lowering | To the top again before the flag comes down |
| Flag | The Swedish flag, not the pennant |
Frequently asked questions
When is the flag flown at half-mast after a death in Sweden?
According to Swedish custom, the flag is flown at half-mast on the day of death, or the day after the news of the death has arrived, and then on the day of the funeral.
When is the flag raised to the top on the day of a funeral?
By custom the flag stays at half-mast until the funeral is over and is then raised to the top. Stockholm University, for example, has the practice of raising the flag to the top at 15:00 if the time of the funeral is unknown.
Can neighbours and friends fly the flag at half-mast?
Yes. It is mainly the family who fly the flag, but it is common for neighbours, friends, associations and workplaces that were close to the deceased to fly it as well.
For how long is the flag flown at half-mast?
After a private death it is common to fly the flag at half-mast for one day in connection with the death and then on the day of the funeral, not during the whole period in between.
Can the Swedish flag carry a black mourning ribbon?
Under older rules, the Swedish banner does not carry a mourning ribbon, while association banners often do at funerals. The rule has been relaxed in recent years. On a flag flown from a pole, half-mast is the expression of mourning.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Swedish:
- Sveriges flagga – vid dödsfall och begravning – Riksarkivet
- Flaggregler vid begravning – Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund (SBF)
- Fanor och fanbärare – Sveriges Begravningsbyråers Förbund (SBF)
- Policy för flaggning vid Stockholms universitet – Stockholms universitet
Related guides
- Half-mastHow high the flag sits at half-mast in Sweden, how it is customarily raised and lowered, and which flags are not flown at half-mast – according to Riksarkivet.
- Flag protocol at ceremoniesFlags and banners at ceremonies in Sweden: flag or banner, banner bearers, placement at funerals, the place of honour and raising the flag at formal occasions.
- Flag rulesFlying times in Sweden, lighting, the pennant and worn-out flags – and which rules are law and which are recommendations from Riksarkivet.
- Flag daysAll general flag days in Sweden in 2026 and 2027 with dates and weekdays, under Ordinance (1982:270). Includes election days and Veterans’ Day.