Feather flags: types (feather, teardrop, rectangle) and prices

Three shapes and how they differ

All feather flags (also called beach flags) work the same way: a flexible fibreglass and aluminium pole with the flag tensioned on it, all set in a base that lets it rotate with the wind. They differ in the shape of the flag, and that affects what you can show on it.

• Feather (winder): a tall, narrow flag with a rounded top corner. The most popular, because it is the tallest for a given width and easy to see from afar. It fits a logo and a short slogan read from top to bottom or turned vertically.
• Teardrop: a drop-shaped flag, wider at the top. It gives a large, compact area for a round logo or mark. It looks striking, but it is shorter than a feather at a similar price and leaves less room for text.
• Rectangle: the most room for text, because the area is regular. In strong wind a rectangle works harder than a feather, so a well-weighted base matters.

In practice feathers are ordered most often. Teardrops are chosen by companies with a strong round mark, and rectangles when the flag must carry, say, a name and phone number at a legible size.

Feather flag and base prices

Teardrop and rectangle flags do not have fixed list prices with us: we quote them once we know the height and quantity. They are usually in a similar price range to a feather of the same height.

A sample calculation: two Midi flags on cross bases outside a showroom come to 2 × €75 + 2 × €14 = approx. €180 net. The same flags on a roadside lawn with ground spikes: 2 × €75 + 2 × €19 = approx. €190 net.

Which height: 2, 3.4 or 4.4 m

The height is chosen by the distance from which the flag needs to be noticed.

• Mini, approx. 2 m: for interiors, trade show stands, by the till, in a shop window. Outdoors it gets lost.
• Midi, approx. 3.4 m: outside a shop or showroom, at an event entrance. Visible from the car park and from across the street.
• Maxi, approx. 4.4 m: by the road, in a large car park, at a fete or sports event, where it has to rise above branded gazebos and the crowd.

A note on interiors: a Maxi will not fit under the low ceiling of most exhibition stands, and organisers often limit the height of stand elements. Check the rules before ordering.

Choosing a base: a checklist

Most mistakes happen with the base. The flag itself can take a lot, but the wrong base means it is lying on the pavement after the first gust.

• Hall floor, stand, paving outside a shop in light wind: cross base. For stability, add a weight.
• Lawn, sports field, beach, soil: ground spike. The cheapest and very stable, but only on soft ground.
• Car park, square, pavement, windy spots: 12 kg steel plate base. Dearer, but the flag does not fall or slide.
• Flag standing outside for several weeks: a plate base or a weighted cross base, plus an occasional check that the pole has not worn its socket.

In very strong wind we still advise taking the flags down. The pole is flexible but not indestructible, and the most common damage we see in repairs is a broken top section after a stormy night.

Artwork for a feather flag: a few rules

A flag is narrow, tall and constantly moving. What works on a flyer usually does not work on a flag.

1. One word or a logo, big. The text is read from tens of metres away, on the move.
2. Contrast. White text on a dark background, or vice versa. Pastel colours next to each other merge at a distance.
3. The bottom of the flag is often hidden by people and cars: nothing important below about 1 m.
4. The reverse side. On an ordinary single-ply flag, the reverse shows a mirror image of the print. How strong that show-through is with different printing methods is covered in UV-printed or dye-sublimated flags.

We provide templates with the exact flag shape for each model: do not design by eye in a rectangle, because the curves can cut off half the logo.