Anchor Flag, INC.  

 2044 Hwy 9 W.  Longs , SC. 29568    800-637-3002

How Long Should My Flag Last ?

            We hear this question almost every day, and for the last 38 years our standard answer has always been “Depends on the weather, as there is no way to determine how long a flag will last”.

            Well I have a new answer that may help explain why it is so difficult to determine how long a flag will last. It really is pretty simple to understand.

If the average wind speed is 10 MPH and your flag flies 24 hours per day, you could say that is 10MPH x 24Hr. = 240 Miles of air that passes your flag every day. If your flag is flown 365 days a year that would equal 87,600 miles of air passing your flag in a year. So let’s say that your flag should last at least 90,000 miles.

Now if the average wind speed is 25 MPH, for lets say, 90 of the 365 days flown; that’s 25 MPH x 24 Hrs = 600 miles per day of air passage, x 90 days that would equal 54000 miles in just those 90 days. That’s more than half is useful life used up in 25 % of it’s days.

Which makes it clear, flags flown in strong winds do not last as long as flags flow on normal weather days. Flags flow in winds higher that 30 – 35 MPH will start to come apart very quickly and if not repaired won’t last much longer. Remember, were talking fabric here not stainless steel.  

So, you can see, if cared for properly, (re-hemmed when signs of ware are apparent) and flow in reasonable weather conditions, you could expect between 240 days to 365 days life out of a flag. Or say roughly 100,000 miles of air passage.

Flags flown off the front of homes seem to last much longer than the example above as they are, not as high in the air and are protected from the sun and wind simply by the configuration of the house there displayed from. (shaded part of the day, wind blocked by 3 sides, where as a tall flagpole receives no shade and catches the wind from every direction that wind is coming from).

Also note that the quality of the flag you purchase makes a big difference too.  Flags made with poor quality material and poor construction should not be used on tall flagpoles for long periods of time as they will come apart much quicker.

So now were back at the beginning and I guess the right answer all along was,” It depends on the weather “ 

Purchase Premium Quality Flags, From Anchor Flag And Flagpole / Myrtle Beach Flag.

The Flags Below Flown At Fort Sumter, are a perfect example of flags flow in high winds, as the wind here is always blowing 15 to 30 MPH and these flag are changed or repaired every couple of months.