Buying an American flag: price, size and quality

American flags are sold everywhere, from hardware stores and online marketplaces to flag makers’ own shops, and the price of two 3 × 5 ft flags can differ considerably. The differences usually come down to size, fabric, construction and origin. This guide does not list prices, as they vary between sellers and change over time. Instead it explains what affects the price of an American flag, how quality can be compared and which rules apply to the purchase.

What affects the price of a flag?

Flag price and size

Size is the most visible factor. A 3 × 5 ft flag is the usual size for homes; a flag for a 30 or 40 ft commercial pole is 6 × 10 ft or larger and uses many times as much fabric. According to Annin Flagmakers, the flag’s length is between one quarter and one third of the height of an in-ground flagpole. The sizes are in the guides to flag sizes and the flag size calculator.

Fabric and price

Annin describes three fabric categories for outdoor flags:

The Flag Code states that the flag is not displayed in inclement weather “except when an all weather flag is displayed” (4 U.S.C. § 6(c)); according to the Congressional Research Service, the provision reflects the popular use of flags made of synthetic fabrics that withstand bad weather. According to the Senate document Our Flag, flags flown over the US Capitol are sold through members of Congress in 3 × 5 ft or 5 × 8 ft, in cotton or nylon.

Sewn or printed

On many flags, the stripes are sewn together and the stars are embroidered or appliquéd on the union; on others, both are printed on one piece of fabric. Sewn flags take more work and usually cost more. According to Annin, polycotton flags have printed stars and stripes. Large flags get reinforcement: Annin finishes its 15 × 25 ft nylon flags with reinforcing corner patches on the fly hem.

Made in USA and price

The origin of the flag is part of the price. Under the FTC’s Made in USA Labeling Rule (16 C.F.R. part 323), a label saying Made in the United States requires the final assembly or processing and all significant processing to take place in the United States, and all or virtually all components to be made and sourced there. According to the FTC, US flags or outlines of US maps in advertising can themselves convey a claim of US origin. Imported products carry the name of their country of origin under the rules of US Customs and Border Protection.

Federal agencies have their own rule: under the All-American Flag Act of 2024 (41 U.S.C. § 6310), a US flag bought with agency funds is 100 percent manufactured in the United States from materials grown or produced there, with some exceptions, including purchases below the simplified acquisition threshold.

Wear and the cost over time

A cheap flag that wears out quickly can cost more over a year than a durable one. According to Annin, the US government generally expects a flag flown daily from sunrise to sunset, but not in inclement weather, to last about 90 days, and tests have shown that a flag flown 24 hours a day can last only a quarter as long. Wind, sun, rough surfaces and wet storage shorten the life of a flag, as described in the guide to flagpole maintenance.

The buyer’s rights

• Implied warranties: according to the Federal Trade Commission, laws in every state create implied warranties that cover almost everything sold by merchants. The warranty of merchantability means that the product does what it is supposed to do; the warranty of fitness for a particular purpose applies when a buyer relies on the seller’s advice, for example that a flag suits high winds.
• “As is”: implied warranties apply unless the seller gives written notice that there is no warranty or marks the product “as is”, where state law allows it.
• Ordinary wear: implied warranties do not cover problems caused by misuse, ordinary wear or failure to follow care instructions, according to the FTC.
• Delivery: under the FTC’s Mail, Internet or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, a seller that states no shipping time must have a reasonable basis to ship within 30 days, and must seek the buyer’s consent to a delay or refund the money, as described in the guide to buying a flagpole.

Comparing offers

Offers for flags are easier to compare when the size, fabric, construction (sewn or printed), finish and origin are known. How the flag is displayed and cared for is covered in the guide to the US Flag Code, and the other flags of the United States in the guide to flags of the United States.