Feather Flag Printing

The Classic Flag Shape, and the Most Usable

The feather is the right-angle flag — straight up the pole, square across the top, then tapering down the trailing edge. It's the shape most people mean when they say "flag banner", and there's a practical reason it's the most common.

That square top gives you more usable print area than any other shape in the range. A teardrop curves away at the top, a crest tapers at both ends, a fin is narrow throughout. The feather keeps its full width where the eye lands first.

Four sizes up to 5140mm, with collapsible poles and a carry bag included. Free UK delivery.

Sizes

Worth thinking about where it's going. The Small and Medium suit shop doorways, exhibition stands and indoor use. The Large and Extra Large are for open ground — forecourts, showgrounds, roadside positions — where you need height to clear vehicles and crowds.

Left-Facing or Right-Facing?

The thing to get right before ordering, because the two aren't interchangeable.

Right-facing puts the pole and base on the left of the graphic. Left-facing puts them on the right.

Choose based on where people approach from, so the graphic is presented first and the pole second.

Each orientation has its own artwork template. If you're producing a mirrored version of an existing design, flip the template shape, not the design content. Flipping the artwork gives you a graphic that reads backwards on the front, and is only legible as show-through from the back.

Single or Double Sided

Single sided is printed on one face. Dye-sublimation pushes ink through the fabric, giving 80–90% show-through on the reverse — legible from behind, just softer. Fine for most positions and considerably cheaper.

Double sided is two printed flags with a blockout membrane between them, stitched into one unit. Full colour density both sides, no show-through.

One caveat: double-sided flags are substantially heavier, and flag bases aren't designed to carry that weight. Bases are not covered by warranty when used with a double-sided flag. If you're going double sided, a ground spike into soft earth is the safer anchor.

Flag Polyester or AirMesh?

Flag Polyester is the standard — denser colour, crisper print, and the better-looking flag in normal conditions.

AirMesh Polyester is perforated, so wind passes through rather than pushing against it. Colour is slightly less dense as a result, but on an exposed site it takes considerably less punishment and lasts longer.

The feather has more surface area than the other shapes, which means it catches more wind. If the flag is going somewhere exposed, AirMesh is worth more consideration here than on a narrower shape.

What's Included

• Printed flag with black elasticated sleeve
• High-performance aluminium and GRP poles, collapsible into sections
• Carry bag for pole and graphic

A base is not included. Choose one to suit the flag size and the ground it's standing on — see our flag bases and accessories. Grass or soil takes a ground spike; hard standing needs a weighted cross-brace or parasol base.

Assembly is push-fit, no tools needed.

Designing for the Shape

The feather's advantage is that square top, and it's worth using.

The top third of any flag is what people see first and from furthest away — it clears heads, vehicles and stands. On a feather that area is full width, so put your logo or headline there rather than burying it lower down.

The taper is at the bottom of the trailing edge, so content in the lower portion needs keeping clear of the angle. The template shows exactly where.

Wind, Weather and Lifespan

Take the flag down above Beaufort 4 — 13 to 18mph, a moderate breeze with small branches moving. Heavy rain with wind is worse than wind alone, since a soaked flag gains significant weight and strains the pole.

Realistic lifespan is around six months of regular flying, depending entirely on exposure and hours in the air. A flag out at weekends in a sheltered forecourt will outlast one flying continuously on an exposed roadside.

Air pollution greys white areas and UV gradually fades the fabric.

Machine washable at 30°C with no detergent. Dry completely before storing, or you'll get mildew.

Check the flag isn't catching on its own pole or anything nearby, and don't site poles too close together — a snagged flag tears.

Replacement Graphics

The poles and base outlast the graphic several times over. Replacement flags can be ordered on their own, so a worn or out-of-date graphic means a new flag rather than a new kit.

Artwork Requirements

Use the template matching your exact size and orientation — each size differs in shape and proportion, so a medium template won't scale up to a large.

• Supply at the exact size of the template
• Fonts outlined, images embedded
• Important content inside the safe area line — background should run to the bleed line
• No template guide lines included or flattened into the file
• No crop marks, bleed marks or colour bars
• PDF preferred, AI or EPS also accepted
• Double sided: supply both front and back designs

The template marks where the elasticated sleeve sits — keep logos and text clear of it, since that strip wraps round the pole and isn't visible.

Every file is checked by a real person before printing, so obvious problems get flagged. We don't make changes or fixes to artwork — files should be supplied print-ready.

Turnaround & Delivery

Production takes 3–4 working days. Turnaround covers production only — delivery is on top of that.

Standard UK delivery is free on all feather flag orders, whatever the size or quantity. Collection from our Burnley production facility is also available.

Other shapes: teardrop flags for the classic promotional curve, crest flags for a symmetrical shape, and fin flags for a narrow profile on exposed ground. On a budget? Our cheap feather flags include the base.

FAQs

What sizes are available?
Four: Small 2560mm, Medium 3150mm, Large 4080mm and Extra Large 5140mm standing height.

What's the minimum order?
One. Order a single flag or a set.

Is a base included?
No. Poles and a carry bag are included, but the base is chosen separately to suit your flag size and the ground surface.

Why choose a feather over a teardrop?
The square top gives more usable print area, particularly in the upper third where the flag is seen from furthest away. A teardrop curves away there.

Should I choose left-facing or right-facing?
Right-facing puts the pole on the left of the graphic; left-facing puts it on the right. Each uses a different artwork template.

Can I see the design on the back of a single-sided flag?
Yes, at around 80–90% show-through. Legible but softer than the printed face.

Why aren't bases warranted with double-sided flags?
Double-sided flags are considerably heavier and the bases aren't rated for that load. A ground spike is the more reliable anchor.

How much wind can it take?
Rated to Beaufort 4, or 13–18mph. Above that, take it down.

How long will it last?
Around six months of regular flying, depending on exposure.

What's the difference from your cheap feather flag?
That one is a single smaller size, single sided only, with the base included. This range offers four sizes up to 5140mm, double-sided options, AirMesh, and a heavier pole system.

Is delivery really free?
Yes. Standard UK delivery is included on all feather flag orders.