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Flag Sizes (Comparative)

Flag dimensions
About Ratios

See also:

by Edward Mooney and Albert S Kirsch, 10 January 2000

Flag dimensions

This is a "Comparative Flag Dimensions" sheet I created to be able to send to people who write in asking about this subject; I have had a few messages about this. Usually they are asking something like this: is a 3x4 flag is longer looking than an 18x25 flag? The chart is a sampler of flag dimensions, for educational purposes.
Edward Mooney, 10 January 2000

About Ratios

Flag ratios are typically measured by the height of the flag (the side closest to the pole or staff, i.e. hoist) by the length of the flag (the top or bottom of the flag extending from the hoist to the free end, i.e. fly). The following are some flag ratios in use. Italicized entries represent current dependencies, departments, subdivisions and colonies. The table is listed in decreasing size.

1:2 | 1:1.9 | 21:40 | 11:20 | 5:9 | 4:7 | 10:17 | 3:5 | 11:18 | 5:8 | 7:11 | 17:26 | 2:3 | 7:10 | 5:7 | 18:25 | 8:11 | 3:4 | 28:37 | 4:5 | 6:7 | 13:15 | 1:1 | 4:3

1:2

10:19

21:40

Guam (United States)

11:20

Qatar

5:9

4:7

Iran
Mexico

10:17

Cape Verde

3:5

11:18

Finland

5:8

8:11

3:4

28:37

Denmark

4:5

Monaco

6:7

Niger

13:15

Belgium

1:1

Switzerland
Vatican City (Holy See)

4:3

Nepal

In some instances, the ratios have been reduced by the highest common denominator. Nepal is the only country where the hoist dimension is greater than the fly.
compiled by Christopher Southworth, James Dignan, Phil Nelson 5-6 December 2004

Historically the sizes of flags were determined in part by the width of the bunting available. The selvage edge of the fabric provides the greatest strength, so the selvages were incorporated in the seams of garrison flags to give the greatest strength. For storm or smaller flags, the fabric was split down the center so that each seam had at least one selvage edge for strength. This criterion was most important for the construction of a large flag.
Fonda Ghiardi, 15 June 2020