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United States

Flag size calculator for US flagpoles

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Which size of flag suits a flagpole? Annin Flagmakers gives a guide for in-ground flagpoles: a flag length, the fly, between one quarter and one third of the height of the pole. The calculator below applies the guide to a pole height in feet and compares the result with the standard US flag sizes in Annin’s chart.

feet

7.6 meters above ground

Flag length by the ¼ to ⅓ guide
6 ft 3 in – 8 ft 4 in
The fly, the long side of the flag: 1.9–2.5 m
Standard sizes in that range
5 × 8 ft
Hoist × fly, from the common US flag sizes
Nearest standard size
5 × 8 ft
The size closest to the middle of the range: 1.5 × 2.4 m

How to read the results

  • Flag length by the ¼ to ⅓ guide: the range for the fly, the long side of the flag, from a quarter to a third of the pole’s height, in feet and inches.
  • Standard sizes in that range: the common sizes, from 3 × 5 ft to 30 × 60 ft, whose fly falls within the range.
  • Nearest standard size: the standard size whose fly is closest to the middle of the range. Sizes are given as hoist × fly.

Examples

Blue tape measure with a centimeter scale
Tape measure. Photo: Clément Bucco-Lechat, Blue tape measure / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
Pole heightFlag length by the guideStandard sizes in the rangeNearest standard size
15 ft3 ft 9 in – 5 ft3 × 5 ft3 × 5 ft
20 ft5 ft – 6 ft 8 in3 × 5 ft, 4 × 6 ft4 × 6 ft
25 ft6 ft 3 in – 8 ft 4 in5 × 8 ft5 × 8 ft
30 ft7 ft 6 in – 10 ft5 × 8 ft, 6 × 10 ft5 × 8 ft
40 ft10 ft – 13 ft 4 in6 × 10 ft, 8 × 12 ft8 × 12 ft
50 ft12 ft 6 in – 16 ft 8 in10 × 15 ft10 × 15 ft
60 ft15 ft – 20 ft10 × 15 ft, 12 × 18 ft12 × 18 ft

Annin’s own table gives a somewhat wider span for poles of 18 to 40 ft, for example 3 × 5 ft to 5 × 8 ft for a 20 ft pole; it is in the guide to flag sizes.

What the calculator does not cover

  • Manufacturer’s limits: a flagpole is designed for a maximum flag size and a wind speed, and these take priority over any guide. More in the guide to flagpole safety.
  • Local limits: some cities limit flag size by pole height, and HOA rules and state HOA laws can govern flag size. More in the guide to flags in HOA communities.
  • Official flags: flags bought by federal agencies follow the sizes and the 1 : 1.9 proportions of Executive Order 10834.
  • House-mounted poles: a 5 or 6 ft pole on a house usually carries a 2 ½ × 4 ft banner or a 3 × 5 ft flag, according to Annin.
  • Half-staff: a large flag on a short pole sits low at half-staff. More in the guide to half-staff.

Typical pole heights and local height limits are in the guide to flagpole heights.

Frequently asked questions

How does the flag size calculator work?

It takes the height of an in-ground flagpole in feet and applies Annin Flagmakers’ guide of a flag length between one quarter and one third of the pole’s height. It then lists the standard US flag sizes whose length falls in that range and the standard size nearest to the middle of the range.

Is the result an official requirement?

No. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Flag Code is silent on flag size, and Executive Order 10834 sets sizes only for flags of federal agencies. The one-quarter-to-one-third guide comes from flag makers, and local codes or HOA rules can set limits of their own.

Does the calculator work for a flag on a house?

The guide is meant for in-ground poles. According to Annin Flagmakers, house-mounted flagpoles are typically 5 or 6 ft long and best suited for a 2 ½ × 4 ft banner or a 3 × 5 ft flag.

Why are the sizes in feet?

US flags are sold by hoist × fly in feet, such as 3 × 5 ft or 5 × 8 ft. The calculator also shows the results in meters.

Sources

This guide is based on the following sources:

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