# Flagpole

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Pole for supporting a flag

For the magazine, see [Flagpole Magazine](/source/Flagpole_Magazine).

One of the two 18-metre-tall flagpoles in the [Siena Cathedral](/source/Siena_Cathedral). During the [battle of Montaperti](/source/Battle_of_Montaperti) (1260), Bocca degli Abati, a Sienese spy, brought Florence's flag down, causing panic among the Florentine soldiers and ultimately their defeat.

A **flagpole**, **flagmast**, **flagstaff**, or **staff** is a pole designed to support a [flag](/source/Flag). If it is taller than can be easily reached to raise the flag, a cord is used, looping around a pulley at the top of the pole with the ends tied at the bottom. The flag is fixed to one lower end of the cord, and is then raised by pulling on the other end. The cord is then tightened and tied to the pole at the bottom. The pole is usually topped by a flat plate or ball called a "[truck](/source/Truck_(rigging))" (originally meant to keep a wooden pole from splitting) or a [finial](/source/Finial) in a more complex shape. Very high flagpoles may require more complex support structures than a simple pole, such as a [guyed mast](/source/Guyed_mast).

[Dwajasthambam](/source/Dwajasthambam) are flagpoles commonly found at the entrances of [South Indian](/source/South_India) [Hindu temples](/source/Hindu_temple).[1]

## Design

Flagpoles are usually made of wood or metal. Flagpoles can be designed in one piece with a taper (typically a steel taper or a [Greek entasis](/source/Entasis) taper),[2] or be made from multiple pieces to make them able to expand. In the United States, [ANSI/NAAMM](/source/ANSI) guide specification FP-1001-97 covers the engineering design of metal flagpoles to ensure safety.

		- Flagpole of modest size, with simple [truck](/source/Truck_(rigging)) ([United Kingdom](/source/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom))

		- Large flagpole, showing structured [truck](/source/Truck_(rigging)) ([New Zealand](/source/Flag_of_New_Zealand))

		- [New Caledonia](/source/New_Caledonia) has two flags, flown here in Nouméa, the capital city, on a single flagpole with a crossbar

		- [Dwajasthambam](/source/Dwajasthambam) (flagpole) at [Brihadeeswarar Temple](/source/Brihadeeswarar_Temple) in [Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu](/source/Thanjavur%2C_Tamil_Nadu), India

## Flag orientation

Vertical flags in Switzerland

Most flags are flown horizontally, with the shorter edge attached to the pole (no. 1 in the following illustration.) Vertical flags, with the longer edge attached to the pole, are sometimes used in lieu of the standard horizontal flag in central and eastern Europe, particularly in the German-speaking countries. This practice came about because the relatively brisk wind needed to display horizontal flags is not common in these countries.[3] Nevertheless, horizontal flags are still the most common even in these countries.[4]

The standard **vertical flag** (German: *Hochformatflagge* or *Knatterflagge*; no. 2) is a vertical form of the standard flag. The flag's design may remain unchanged (No. 2a) or it may change, e.g. by altering horizontal stripes to vertical ones (no. 2b). If the flag carries an emblem, it may remain centred or may be shifted slightly upwards.[3][4]

The **vertical flag for hoisting from a beam** (German: *Auslegerflagge* or *Galgenflagge*; no. 3) is additionally attached to a horizontal beam, ensuring that it is fully displayed even if there is no wind.[3][4]

The **vertical flag for hoisting from a horizontal pole** (German: *Hängeflagge*; no. 4) is hoisted from a horizontal pole, normally attached to a building. The topmost stripe on the horizontal version of the flag faces away from the building.[3][4]

The **vertical flag for hoisting from a crossbar** or [banner](/source/Banner) (German: *Bannerflagge*; no. 5) is firmly attached to a horizontal crossbar from which it is hoisted, either by a vertical pole (no. 5a) or a horizontal one (no. 5b). The topmost stripe on the horizontal version of the flag normally faces to the left.[3][4]

## Record heights

Parts of this article (those related to Azerbaijan’s flagpole was demolished, and a new one was built.) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Last update: 2025 (October 2025)

View from the top of the [Dushanbe flagpole](/source/Dushanbe_Flagpole).

Since 26 December 2021, the [tallest free-standing flagpole](/source/List_of_flagpoles_by_height) in the world is the [Cairo Flagpole](/source/Cairo_Flagpole), located in the [New Administrative Capital](/source/New_Administrative_Capital), [Egypt](/source/Egypt) at a height of 201.952 m (662.57 ft), exceeding the former record holders, the [Jeddah Flagpole](/source/Jeddah_Flagpole) in [Saudi Arabia](/source/Saudi_Arabia) (height: 171 m, 561 ft) and the [Dushanbe Flagpole](/source/Dushanbe_Flagpole) in [Tajikistan](/source/Tajikistan)[5][6] (height: 165 m, 541 ft).

Following this, the [St. Petersburg Flagpoles](/source/Saint_Petersburg_Flagpoles) were erected in [Russia](/source/Russia) in June 2023. At 175 m (574 ft 2 in) tall, they became the third, fourth and fifth tallest flagpoles in the world.

The flagpole in North Korea is the ninth tallest flagpole in the world, however, it is not free-standing. It is a radio tower supported-flagpole.

Many of these were built by American company Trident Support: the Dushanbe Flagpole, the first National Flagpole in Azerbaijan, the [Ashgabat flagpole](/source/Ashgabat_Flagpole) in Turkmenistan at 133 m (436 ft); the [Aqaba Flagpole](/source/Aqaba_Flagpole) in Jordan at 130 m (430 ft); the [Raghadan Flagpole](/source/Raghadan_Flagpole) in Jordan at 126.8 m (416 ft); and the Abu Dhabi Flagpole in the United Arab Emirates at 122 m (400 ft).[7]

The current tallest flagpole in India is the 110-metre (360 ft) flagpole in [Belgaum](/source/Belgaum), Karnataka which was first hoisted on 12 March 2018.[8][9] The tallest flagpole in the United Kingdom from 1959 until 2007 stood in [Kew Gardens](/source/Kew_Gardens). It was made from a Canadian Douglas-fir tree and was 68.5 m (225 ft) in height.[10]

The current tallest flagpole in the United States (and the tallest flying an American flag) is the 400-foot (120 m) pole completed before [Memorial Day](/source/Memorial_Day) 2014 and custom-made with an 11-foot (3.4 m) base in concrete by [wind turbine](/source/Wind_turbine) manufacturer Broadwind Energy. It is situated on the north side of the [Acuity Insurance](/source/Acuity_Insurance) headquarters campus along [Interstate 43](/source/Interstate_43) in [Sheboygan, Wisconsin](/source/Sheboygan%2C_Wisconsin), and is visible from [Cedar Grove](/source/Cedar_Grove%2C_Wisconsin). The pole can fly a 220-pound flag for in light wind conditions and a heavier 350-pound flag in higher wind conditions.[11]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Hiltebeitel, Alf](/source/Alf_Hiltebeitel) (1991). *[The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 2: On Hindu Ritual and the Goddess](https://books.google.com/books?id=diPh4qYtjPUC)*. University of Chicago Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0226340473](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0226340473). pp. 91–92.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Cone Tapered vs. Venetian Entasis Tapered"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050228014231/http://lingoinc.com/tapers.htm). Lingo Flagpoles Inc. Archived from [the original](http://lingoinc.com/tapers.htm) on 2005-02-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DGF_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DGF_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DGF_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DGF_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-DGF_3-4) ["Flaggentypen"](http://www.flaggenkunde.de/deutscheflaggen/d-typ.htm) (in German). German Vexillological Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Flaggenkunde e. V., DGF). Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FMI_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FMI_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FMI_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FMI_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FMI_4-4) [German Federal Ministry of the Interior](/source/Federal_Ministry_of_the_Interior_(Germany)): *[Hissflagge](http://www.protokoll-inland.de/PI/DE/Beflaggung/Allgemeines/Hissflagge/hissflagge_node.html) [Deprecated link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Archive.today_guidance) archived 2012-09-08 at [archive.today](/source/Archive.today)*. (in German) Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Jeddah Flagpole inaugurated"](https://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/634401). arabnews.com. September 24, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Former record: ["Wer baut den hoechsten Fahnenmast"](https://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/architektur-wer-baut-den-hoechsten-fahnenmast-fotostrecke-35119.html). *[Der Spiegel](/source/Der_Spiegel)* (in German). September 9, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Looking for Afghanistan? Turn Left at the Enormous Flagpole"](https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/out-of-eden-walk/articles/2017-09-looking-afghanistan-turn-left-enormous-flagpole/?sf111671937=1#!). *[National Geographic](/source/National_Geographic)*. September 5, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Karnataka's Belgaum is now home to India's tallest flag"](https://www.timesnownews.com/the-buzz/article/tallest-flag-in-india-attari-border-indian-national-flag-belgaum-ramesh-jarkiholi-largest-biggest-flagpole-flag-hoisting-rules-and-regulation/206890). *[Times Now](/source/Times_Now)*. March 13, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Tallest flag in India: Country's tallest tricolour to be hoisted in Belagavi"](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/countrys-tallest-tricolour-to-be-hoisted-in-belagavi/articleshow/63249848.cms). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. Mar 12, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Timber! Steeplejacks to dismantle Kew Flagpole"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160817234628/http://www.kew.org/press/flagpole.html). Kew.org. Archived from [the original](http://www.kew.org/press/flagpole.html) on August 17, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Weyandt, Janet (May 25, 2014). ["High-flying: Up in time for Memorial Day, Acuity flag is world's tallest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150403170745/http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20140525/SHE0101/305250197/High-flying-Up-time-Memorial-Day-Acuity-flag-world-s-tallest). *[The Sheboygan Press](/source/The_Sheboygan_Press)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20140525/SHE0101/305250197/High-flying-Up-time-Memorial-Day-Acuity-flag-world-s-tallest) on April 3, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2014.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Flagpole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagpole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.